Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2003)

308 consumer complaints on file.

#10257415February 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2003, 4 CYLINDER, 2.4 LITER ENGINE STALLED 4 TIMES. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO SERVICE DIAGNOSED WITH CRANK PRECISION SENSOR. NO COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DOING RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE 2001 AND 2002 WAS RECALLED FOR THIS MATTER. ALSO FOUND OUT THAT MANY 2003'S ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO I FIND IT DISTURBING THAT HYUNDAI WONT COVER THIS BECAUSE IT IS AND ELECTRONIC PART BUT THE ENGINE CAN JUST STALL AT ANY MOMENT. BECAUSE IT WAS RECALLED 2YRS PRIOR SHOULD RAISE A RED FLAG. I WILL BE CALLING HYUNDAI CORP. THANK YOU SORAYA GARCIA *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255360January 16, 2009
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN 9/08. THE DEALER SCANNED THE SYSTEM, CLEARED HISTORIC CODES, CYCLED THROUGH SELF TEST SEVERAL TIMES. CODES DID NOT RESET. LIGHT CAME BACK ON IN 1/09. I WILL TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. MY OPINION IS THAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE MORE RELIABLE . WHEN THE RED LIGHT INITIALLY CAME ON THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM BUT I WILL BE CHARGED APPX. $600 WHEN THEY FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253859January 5, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND THEN SUDDENLY STALLED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS AROUND 60 MPH, CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. A FEW DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS CRACKED AT THE SENSOR END NEAR THE CRANKSHAFT AND TIMING BELT. REPLACING THE PART WAS LABOR INTENSIVE SINCE SEVERAL ENGINE COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REMOVED TO REACH THE SENSOR, THEREFORE THE REPAIR COSTS WERE HIGH. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED AROUND $1,000 TO REPLACE WITH THE PART ONLY COSTING $90. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPLACED, THE VEHICLE NOW STARTS. BOTH THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA REFUSED TO COVER REPAIR COSTS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF REPAIR AND BEFORE I BROUGHT IT ELSEWHERE. BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONTINUE TO REFUSE NOW TO REIMBURSE COSTS AFTER I HAD TO GO TO A LESS COSTLY REPAIR FACILITY. MY CASE # WITH HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA IS #3467755. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION LINE AT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. I NOTIFIED THE REPRESENTATIVE AT HYUNDAI THAT THIS SAME PART WAS RECALLED ON THE 2 PRIOR YEARS MODELS OF SANTA FE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 03V520000) AND THAT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WERE MADE TO NHTSA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2003 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS. CURRENT NHTSA ODI COMPLAINT #'S THAT ARE NEAR EXACT MATCHES FOR THE 2003 MODEL ARE ODI ID# 10238818, 10176719, 10133625, AND 10115680. SIMILAR ARE #10203556, 10199900, 10195530, 10183323, 10128836, AND 10050501. ALSO SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 03V520000 AND THE EPA RECALL #1791 - MFR# 49. A SIMILAR RECALL WAS DONE IN CANADA, SEE TRANSPORTATION CANADA RECALL #2002008, CAMPAIGN CODE R33. APPARENTLY THE PART CONTINUED TO DEFECTIVE AT THE POINT OF MANUFACTURER IN THE 2003 MODELS AS WELL. HIGH SPEED STALLS AND VIOLENT JERKING POSING RISK OF INJURY AND DEATH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247917November 7, 2008
SEAT BELTS
I HAVE A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT WAS NEVER USED BY ANYONE. WE JUST KEPT IT CLIPPED TO THE ATTACHMENT ON THE SEAT. IT QUIT WORKING ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. RECENTLY, THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS STAYING LATCHED. MY 6 YEAR OLD SON SITS IN THAT SEAT SO I WAS VERY CONCERNED. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY RAN OUT ON SEAT BELTS 4 MONTHS AGO SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I DON'T' UNDERSTAND HOW A SAFETY ISSUES SUCH AS A DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT IS NOT COVERED. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE CENTER SEAT BELT WAS NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR SINCE NO EVER SAT THERE. I AM HAVING THESE TO SEAT BELTS REPLACED AT MY COST. SO FAR THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT HAS NOT SHOWN ANY SIGNS OF DEFECT. I HAVE AN 8 YR OLD SON THAT SITS THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD REPLACE THAT TOO. WHAT IS MY GUARANTEE THAT SEAT BELT IS GOING TO WORK IN A COLLISION? OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE SEAT BELTS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHERE THE SEAT BELTS JUST QUIT WORKING AFTER 5 YEARS. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG HERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247865November 6, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. ON AUGUST 16, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD AT A RED LIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND THE FRONT BUMPER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE STRUCK A TRAVEL TRAILER. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, BUT FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT RECEIVED INJURES TO THE NECK, BACK, AND HEAD. THE REAR PASSENGER WAS TRAUMATIZED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DUE TO FAULTY WIRES. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL ONLY DEPLOY UNDER EXTREME EXPERIENCES. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER CRASHING INTO THE TRAILER WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY AT ANY SPEED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. NEVADA POLICE REPORT NUMBER 0808160558 WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10243259September 23, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
I TOOK MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. I WAS TOLD THAT THEIR IS A RUST HOLE A LITTLE LARGER THAN A GOLF BALL IN THE CRADLE WHERE THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM BOLTS INTO THE CRADLE. THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD! AND I SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER REPLACING THE CRADLE TO THE TUNE OF 1700 DOLLARS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238818August 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN
MY 2003 HYUANDAI SANTE FE STALLS ANYTIME THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR GETS HOT (AT LEAST THIS IS WHAT THE SERVICE MANAGER [MR. LABESE] AT JOHN AMATO AUTO - MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN EXPLAINS). I'VE HAD COUNTLESS CLOSE CALL VEHICLE ACCIDENTS AND I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIRED ONLY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE STALL OVER AND OVER AGAIN EVEN AFTER THE PART ABOVE WAS REPLACED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY UNSAFE I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY TO THIS POINT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233908July 3, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH DEFECTIVE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC HOOKED THE VEHICLE UP TO THE SCANNER THAT CAME ACROSS THAT PROBLEM. IT WILL COST ALMOST $400 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. *KB THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAULT CODE CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE OIL PAN WAS LEAKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231073June 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I OWNED A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AND THE HEATED SEAT ELECTRICAL UNIT FAILED TO SHUT OFF AND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE (LEATHER SEATS, DASHBOARD, ROOF OF THE CAR, ETC). THE CAR HAD TO BE TOTALED WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON IT AND HYUNDAI SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. I WENT THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILED A TOTAL LOSS AND MY $25,000 CAR WAS SETTLED FOR $11,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230862June 12, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. LEFT FRONT OUTER BRAKE PAD FRICTION MATERIAL FELL OUT AND WAS FOUND ON GROUND. SERVICED FRONT BRAKES AND FOUND 3 OF 4 PADS FRICTION MATERIAL BROKEN AWAY FROM STEEL BACKER. SAME CONDITION FOUND ON REAR PADS. FRONT PADS HAD APPROX 20% FRICTION MATERIAL LEFT AND REAR HAS APPROX 50%. BACKER PLATES HEAVILY RUSTED INDICATING PARTING OF FRICTION MATERIAL OCCURRED SOME TIME AGO. I LUCKED OUT BY NOT HAVING TO STRONGLY APPLY THE BRAKES AFTER THE PAD FELL OUT AND BEFORE I DISCOVERED IT. DROVE APPROX 20 MILES WITH THE PAD MISSING AND STEEL BACKER DID NOT TOUCH THE ROTOR (DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT). I HAVE ALL PARTS IF ANYONE WISHES TO EXAMINE THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229016May 27, 2008
POWER TRAIN
LEAK IN THE TRANSFER CASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220794March 11, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR OR WITHIN AN INCH OF THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. WHEN HE PUMPED THE PEDAL, IT RESUMED THE PROPER POSITION. THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD EXTEND APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES FROM THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. IF HE STOMPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WOULD GO ALL THE WAY DOWN AS WELL. MIDAS STATED THAT THEY COULD FIND NO FAILURE AND THAT IT WAS A "HYUNDAI PROBLEM". THE MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE PADS, AND FLUID WERE CITED TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215560January 21, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A USED 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN CHANGING GEARS, ACTUALLY LURCHES FORWARD. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A HUGE LIST. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL DONE FOR THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214240January 8, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. SCAN IT NEEDS A NEW CLOCKSPRING(AIR BAG). DEALER WON"T PAY FOR IT. 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS 88,000KM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211821December 13, 2007
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE HEARD A LOUD THUD AND NOTICED THAT THE TWO BARS THAT HOLD THE TIRE IN PLACE WERE COMPLETELY MISSING, INCLUDING THE LUG NUTS. SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE BOLTS WERE SHEARING OFF. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208839November 13, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I OWN A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE (V6 2.7L 4 WD). MY ISSUE HAS A LONG HISTORY. ONCE THE BRAKES GET WARMED UP (USUALLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC) AND I BEGIN TO COAST THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL SHUDDER AND I HEAR A LOW ROARING OR RUBBING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE NOISE WILL STOP IF I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL - EVEN JUST A LITTLE. THIS GOES FROM A MILD ISSUE TO A BIG PROBLEM - THE VIBRATION AND NOISE WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT I STOPPED AND HAD THE CAR CHECKED IMMEDIATELY. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIPS ONE TIME IT WAS NOTHING AND ANOTHER TIME, IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE MY CAR. THE LAST (AND HOPEFULLY LAST) SOLUTION WAS SOME SORT OF LUBRICANT PUT ON THE BRAKES. I HAVE YET TO GO A FULL YEAR WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM RECURRING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR AND WHILE SOME OF THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COVERED, OTHERS HAVE NOT AND I BELIEVE I HAVE PAID FOR UNNECESSARY REPAIRS. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR THIS ISSUE 9 TIMES. NO MORE HYUNDAI'S IN MY FUTURE. HOPEFULLY THIS INFO WILL HELP SOMEONE ELSE AND MAYBE SOMEONE AT HYUNDAI READS THESE COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203556September 20, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUR 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS HAD OVER 25 INSTANCES OF ENGINE STALLING AND POWER LOSS. WE HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION THAT IT WAS BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES AND OVER A 50,000 MILES AND A 2-1/2 YEAR SPAN. EACH TIME IT IS TAKEN IN, THE DEALER CANNOT RESOLVE IT AS THEY STATE THEY REQUIRE AN ERROR CODE OR FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE TO BEGIN TO TROUBLESHOOT. I HAVE CONTACTED HUNDAI AMERICA AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF FAXING OVER ALL DOCUMENTATION AND NHTSA COMPLAINTS THAT MIRROR THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING. THIS IS BECOMING AN ENORMOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE HYUNDAI ON THIS ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203826September 18, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
2003 SANTA FE BRAKES NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER TELLS HIM THAT BRAKE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE BRAKE PADS SEPARATED ALONG THE BONDING BETWEEN THE BRAKE PAD SURFACE AND THE STEEL BACKING PLATE. OF THE 4 BRAKE PADS, 3 WERE SLIGHTLY WORN. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PADS HAD WORN OUT, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISPUTED THE CLAIM AND STATED IT WAS A FAILED COMPONENT NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199900August 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUR 2003 SANTE FE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. THE TACH DROPS TO ZERO THEN THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART AND CONTINUE GOING. THE VEHICLE ALSO BUCKS WHILE DRIVING AT TIMES AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT HARD WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE AT TIMES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SENT TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES WITH MULTIPLE ISSUES. DEALERSHIP THINKS ITS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BUT STATES VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A RENTAL CAR AND THE REPAIR BILL. WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2006 AND WITHIN 45 DAYS OF THE PURCHASE WE STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. SANTE FE HAD 54,000 MILES WHEN THE FIRST PROBLEM STARTED AND NOW HAS 64,000 WHICH THEY STATE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE WE ARE THE SECOND OWNERS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS BECAUSE OF THE SHUTTING OFF AND BUCKING INCIDENT'S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197662July 27, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT 65,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE HEARD A KNOCKING AND RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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