2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Complaints

View complaints related to 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 300 complaints submitted for the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - BALLWIN, MO

    INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ARE SEPARATING FROM THE CHROME PLATING EXACTLY AS IN THE RECALL FOR, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V317000, DEALER WILL NOT CORRECT AS THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN OFFICIAL RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT THESE APPEAR TO BE THE SAME TYPE, STYLE, MAKE HANDLES AS THAT IN THE RECALL. HANDLES ARE SHARP AND WILL CUT PASSENGERS IF HANDLED IMPROPERLY. DICK DEAN OF BALLWIN MISSOURI (DEALER)SUGGESTED PLACEING TAPE OF THE HANDLES WHICH IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. FILING THIS FOR MY FATHER WHO OWNS THE VEHICLE. I OWNED THE SONATA IN THE RECALL AND KNOW FIRST HAND THESE ARE THE EXACT SAME HANDLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO OWN A 2004 SANTA FE WHERE THE PROBLEM HAS NOT STARTED TO OCCUR YET, BUT THEY TOO APPEAR TO BE THE SAME HANDLES.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - ORLANDO, FL

    LEFT FRONT TRAILER ARM CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING, TIRE CAME OFF VEHICLE. SUB FRAME RUSTED THROUGH. CAR USED TO BE KEPT IN ONE OF THE SALT BELT STATES. NO RECALL TO THIS PART ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI, ONLY RECALL FOR COIL SPRING AND REAR TRAILER ARM.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - EAST STROUDSBURG, PA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - CHICAGO, IL

    I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDENT IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE SO I PULLED OVER AND TH3N I FOUND OUT THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - LANSING, MI

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V123000 (SUSPENSION) IN OCTOBER OF 2009. THE SUSPENSION WAS TREATED WITH A RUST PROOFING MATERIAL TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. IN JUNE OF 2015, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE PULLING TO THE LEFT AND A CRUNCHING NOISE WAS PRESENT FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS TILTED OUTWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARM FRACTURED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - HOUSTON, TX

    TODAY 6/17 I WAS DRIVING AT SPEED LIMIT, EVERYTHING WAS FINE JUST LIKE A REGULAR RAINY DAY, I WAS BRAKING LIKE A SHOULD WITH TIME AND DISTANCE. I COME TO A STOP LIGHT AND THEN CONTINUE, I STARTED TO FEEL THAT THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN BY ITSELF LIKE IF IT WAS BRAKING ON ITS OWN,AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, THE CAR WAS STUCK THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE ABS AND TCS OFF LIGHTS STAYED ON AND MY CAR WAS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 8/11/14 SANTA FE VIN#[XXX] YEAR 2003(ODOMETER READER 1100311) MODEL SANTA FE GLS/XL. THEY EVEN SOLD ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 24 MONTH. AT HUB HYUNDAI 17007 KATY FREEWAY, KATY, TX 77094. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR MODEL. MY CAR WAS TOWED AND NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH LOCKED BREAKS. I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - ANAHEIM, CA

    THE BRAKES DO NOT BRAKE PROPERLY AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS EXTENDED BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN IN EARLY MORNING.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - WEST FARGO, ND

    I RAN INTO A VAN TRAVELING 30 MPH. I TOTALED THE FRONT OF MY HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE VAN IN FRONT OF ME WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. HIS VAN HIT WAS PUSHED INTO A TRUCK THAT WAS STOPPED IN FRONT OF HIM. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAGS GO OFF? THE FIREMAN AT THE SCENE EVEN SAID THEY SHOULD HAVE.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - MOOR PARK, CA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ROLL UP THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, THE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL UP AND CURVED. THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE WINDOW. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD ONTO THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR IN THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - ROCHESTER, NY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM ALL OF THE TIRES AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SLIDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE