Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2003)
308 consumer complaints on file.
- #10678474January 23, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10676995January 21, 2015SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LEAK OIL AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10676530January 19, 2015UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I GOT A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL ON SEPT. 19, 2014. I CALL THE PEOPLE ABOUT THE LETTER BUT NO ONE GOT BACK TO ME ABOUT THE RECALL. I NEED TO KNOW IS MY CAR IN DANGER OF HURTING ME OR MY FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10672410January 14, 2015SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DURING ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10670649January 7, 2015SUSPENSION
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V123000 (SUSPENSION) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY FEBRUARY OF 2015. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. DJR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10661983December 3, 2014ENGINE
MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS WERE DRIVING THE 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE HOME FROM A SKI TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS. SHE SAID THE CAR KEEPS ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN UP TO 55-60MPH, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY WERE GOING DOWN HILL. WHEN SHE PUT THE CAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL, THE CAR'S ENGINE REV UP TO 3000 RMP ON IT'S OWN. SHE BARELY PUT HER FOOT ON THE PEDAL AND IT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH. SHE HAD TO USE THE BRAKES A LOT TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. IT WAS VERY SCARY BUT THEY MANAGE TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10653805November 10, 2014SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED THAT A REMEDY FOR THE RECALL HAD NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SIMILAR REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2009. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME WAS 62,635.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10653464November 7, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND USED BY MY SON IN THE METRO NEW YORK - NEW JERSEY AREA. IT IS INVOLVED IN THE HYUNDAI RECALL CAMPAIGN #124 BECAUSE OF A CONCERN WITH CORROSION SINCE IT WAS OPERATED IN 'THE SALT BELT' FOR MANY YEARS. (I OBTAINED THE VEHICLE FROM HIM AND IT HAS BEEN IN FLORIDA FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.) I BELIEVE THAT THE SAME CORROSION FROM ROAD SALT ATTACKED THE BRAKE LINES ON THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THIS FAILURE. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AAA AUTOMOBILE CLUB DRIVER WHO PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORT TO MY SERVICE STATION NOTED THAT HE HAS REPEATEDLY SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SANTE FE MODEL. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE SO THAT OTHERS IN THE CLASS CAN BE SPARED INJURY OR DEATH. ASIDE FROM THE INCONVENIENCE AND LOSS OF THE VEHICLE'S USE, I HAD A DIRECT EXPENSE OF $455.59 TO MAKE THE REPAIR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10652690November 5, 2014SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10652876November 5, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE CAR LOOSES POWER BUT COMES RITE BACK ..SOMETIMES STALLS WHILE IN TRAFFIC BUT STARTS RITE UP..GOING ON INTERSTATE LOST POWER TACT DROPPED TO O ALL POWER LOST CAME BACK ON ITS OWN ALSO CD PLAYER WILL COME ON BY ITSELF I THINK IT MAY BE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL I HAVE READ ONLINE MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SANTE FE OF THAT YEAR ..NO FIX WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THAT NO FIX SOMETHING IS UP WITH THAT LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE THAT I HAVE READ TO MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEM HYUNDAI MUST KNOW WHAT IS WRONG BUT DON'T WANT TO FIX IT TO COSTLY FOR THE COMPANY...TO BAD FOR THE CONSUMER!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10651600October 31, 2014SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE SPRINGS IN THE REAR CONTROL ARMS BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARMS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT LEFT DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER DUE TO CORROSION. IN ADDITION, THE SUB-FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10643896October 10, 2014SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT SPRING FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE SPRING TO CUT INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION), HOWEVER THE REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10643369October 8, 2014AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS NEEDED TO BE CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10641964October 7, 2014SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10640416October 1, 2014SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND FELT THE VEHICLE LEANING TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10639089September 25, 2014SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CONCERN. THE CONTACT HAD NO EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10638669September 24, 2014ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN JUNE OF 2014 WITH 62,450 MILES ON IT. THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR WERE IN GREAT SHAPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A HYUNDAI DEALER IN JULY FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE REAR SUSPENSION PER A RECALL. AT THAT TIME A COMPLETE INSPECTION WAS DONE, WITH ONLY A SMALL OIL LEAK FOUND ON ONE AXLE SHAFT. TWO MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL FOR A BROKEN SPRING. AT THIS TIME A SECOND INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED. THIS TIME SEVERAL ISSUES WERE FOUND FROM CORROSION INCLUDING LEAKING TRANSMISSION LINES, LEAKING ENGINE OIL PAN, LEAKING BOOTS AT THE FRONT DRIVE AXLES REQUIRING THEM BOTH NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE HYUNDAI DEALER STATED HE HAD NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE WITH THIS LEVEL OF CORROSION. ALL COMPONENTS UNDER THE VEHICLE HAVE EXTENSIVE CORROSION WITH APPARENTLY A RAPID RATE OF DETERIORATION. THE VEHICLE IS USED ONLY ON-ROAD BEING DRIVEN BY OUR SON TO AND FROM COLLEGE. THE DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE RAPID DETERIORATION. ALL UNDER BODY COMPONENTS APPEAR TO BE VULNERABLE TO THIS HIGH LEVEL OF DETERIORATION. THE DEALER IS WILLING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER STATED THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHAT OR WHEN OTHER COMPONENTS COULD POSSIBLY FAIL, SUCH AS THE BRAKE LINES ETC. HYUNDAI WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE CONCERN BUT STATED THERE WAS NO ACTION THEY WOULD TAKE AT THIS TIME. THEY DID RELUCTANTLY AGREE TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE WITH THEM ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10638407September 23, 2014SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE SWAYED TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED AND EXPOSED, CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE LOUD NOISE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION), BUT THE REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10630771September 4, 2014ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITH OUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WITHIN 2 TO 3 SECONDS THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AND OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,100.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10630489September 3, 2014STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME AND CONTROL ARM WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT OF A POTENTIAL FRACTURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0