Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2003)

308 consumer complaints on file.

#10620833August 8, 2014
SUSPENSION
WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE DURING THE COLD MONTH OF DECEMBER I HEARD A LOUD BANG NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS MOVING THE NOISE CONTINUED AS I GOT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE SUV WAS LOWER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOUD NOISE THAT GOT WORSE IF I TURNED THE WHEEL. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND WAS EMBEDED INTO THE TIRE. I ENDED UP REPLACING THE COIL SPRING WITH A GOOD/USED ONE WHICH WAS STILL VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619574August 7, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615318July 22, 2014
STEERING, WHEELS
JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE DONE TO VEHICLE ON 7/15/2014 DURING THE WEEK DRIVING TO WORK FRIDAY 7/18/2014 I LOST SOME OF MY STEERING THE TIRES SQUEAK ON THE TURNS UNDERNEATH ON THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME ROTTED AT THE STABILIZER,BOLTS.PICTURES TAKEN . . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609001July 8, 2014
SUSPENSION, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I CALLED HYUNDAI AFTER HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY REAR TIRE AND JUST PURCHASING 4 BRAND NEW TIRES. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE LOOKED BENT AND AFTER NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY IT APPEARED THIS WAY I LOOKED UP RECALLS. I WAS GIVEN A RECALL CHAMPAGNE #090 BY HYUNDAI AND TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS COVED FOR REPAIR. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE (UNSAFELY) DROVE IT 10-15 MPH TO THE LOCATION TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH LATE THE DEALER CONTACTS ME AND SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE IS READY FOR PICK UP. I ASK MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT AND FIND OUT THAT THEY DID THE FRONT FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND NEVER EVEN LOOKED AT THE BACK! THE DEALER CLAIMS THE CHAMPAGNE # 090 IS FOR THE FRONT AND THE BACK FRAME IS NOT COVERED. I WENT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HYUNDAI AND THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD BY HYUNDAI IT WAS COVERED BUT THEY NEVER CALLED THE DEALER DIRECTLY. I WAS THEN TOLD BY HYUNDAI I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE REGIONAL OFFICE TO CONTACT ME. I LITERALLY WAITED TILL DECEMBER 16. 2013 AND STILL ENDED UP WITH NO HELP FROM HYUNDAI. I DID RESEARCH AND EVEN BEING TOLD AFTERWARDS THAT HYUNDAI GAVE ME A INCORRECT CHAMPAGNE # I STILL SHOULD OF HAD THE REAR SUB FRAME REPAIRED AND ANY PARTS WHICH IT CAUSED OTHER DAMAGES, FOR EXAMPLE; THE BUSHINGS AND A NEW REAR TIRE. I ALSO HAVE PROOF THAT ALL 2003 HYUNDAI SANTAFE VEHICLES MADE FROM JAN 2003 THROUGH JUNE 2003, WHICH COVERS MY VEHICLE. ANY HELP FROM YOUR COMPANY IS MUCH APPRECIATED SINCE MY TWIN BOYS WHO ARE IN COLLEGE WAS USING THIS VEHICLE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604669June 20, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
KEPT SMELLING GAS IN THE CAR, BROUGHT IT TO DEALER. THEY SAID GAS TANK RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, GAS STARTED LEAKING OUT. CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO, SORRY, ETC. WARRANTY IS UP. THIS IS THE SECOND RUST PROBLEM WITH CAR. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SUBFRAME RECALL, CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ALSO HAD FRONT END FIXED BECAUSE OF LEAKING STRUTS. I FEEL THAT A RUSTED GAS TANK IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND IS DUE TO A DEFECT. NOW THE CAR IS AGAIN UNSAFE TO DRIVE, SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY LEAKING GAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588968May 16, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. THREE BLOCKS FROM THE MECHANIC, WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED TO NO AVAIL. THE E-BRAKE WAS APPLIED. VEHICLE KEPT LURCHING FORWARD AGAINST THE RESTRAINT, THEN DIED. TEN MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE STARTED AND WAS RETURNED TO MECHANIC TO AVOID ACCIDENT OR INJURY. NO CAUSE HAS YET BEEN FOUND. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587075May 7, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE GEAR WAS IN PARK BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION PIN CONTROLLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000. UPDATED 7/7/14*CN UPDATED 07/14/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577097April 3, 2014
STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION
MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR RUST IN THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION. IT WAS APPARENTLY FIXED BY HYUNDAI JUST PUTTING A UNDERCOAT PAINTING TO THE SUSPENSION, MY PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR IS SHOWING RUST SPOTS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I THINK HYUNDAI SHOULD HAD REPLACE THE PARTS WITH NEW AND RUST PROOF PARTS INSTEAD OF JUST PUTTING UNDERCOAT PAINTING. I KNOW MY VEHICLE IS 11 YEARS OLD, BUT I HAVE KEPT IT IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH ALL SERVICE DONE AT THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568654March 11, 2014
POWER TRAIN
3 TIMES THIS HAPPENED ON SAID DAY. DRIVING ON FREEWAY. WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON CAR LURCHED FORWARD JERKING ALL THREE OF US. A COUPLE DAYS LATER SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE GREEN. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AGAIN. TOSSING ME BACK CAUSING MY FOOT TO COME OFF THE BRAKE! LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET MY FOOT BACK ON THE BRAKE BEFORE I MOVED TOO MANY FEET INTO THE CROSSWALK. I SPOKE TO BEAVERTON HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THIS... I MENTIONED IT WAS OUT ON THE INTERNET AND ON THE HYUNDAI FORUM. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THEIR FORUM THEREFORE THEY DON'T LOOK AT IT... I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 10 YEARS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH THE YEARS I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR BUT IT IS GETTING WORSE AND SCARIER!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565696February 24, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
HIT A NASTY POTHOLE AND KNOCKED THE ALIGNMENT OUT ON MY SANTE FE, OR SO I THOUGHT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE PUT IT ON THE LIFT TO CHECK THE FRONT END. HE FOUND THE RIGHT SIDE SUB FRAME WAS ROTTED AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM PULLING OUT OF THE FRAME. CALLED HYUNDAI 800 #. "SORRY YOUR CAR IS NOT COVERED". THIS IS NUTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559414January 10, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAS CORROSION DAMAGE SHOWING IN RUSTED BROKEN FRAME. DESCRIPTION IS SIMILAR TO HYUNDAI RECALL NO 091. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556815December 20, 2013
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
I OWN A 2003 SANTA FE AND JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE CARRIAGE CORROSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001-2003 HYUNDAI AND SUBSEQUENT RECALL IN THE "SNOW BELT" STATES. I LIVE IN KANSAS, WHERE THEY TREAT THE LOCAL HIGHWAYS IN THE WINTER WITH SALT AND OTHER CORROSIVES. WHY ISN'T KANSAS INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? HAS HYUNDAI INCLUDED VEHICLES IN THIS STATE FOR THE RECALL? THE LITTLE TRUCK HAS BEEN TERRIFIC, WITH NOTHING GOING WRONG UNTIL NOW. THE GARAGE I TAKE MY VEHICLES TO WOULD NOT ALLOW MY DAUGHTER TO GET BACK INTO THE SANTA FE, FEARING THAT SHE WOULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THANK GOODNESS FOR SMALL FAVORS! I WILL GIVE HIS CONTACT INFORMATION UPON RESPONSE FROM YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551630November 9, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 40 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR ON A BUSY ROAD. I HAD MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME. THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN SHUT OFF ON ME. THANK GOD I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO START SO I SAT THERE WITH THEM PRAYING I WOULDN'T GET HIT. AFTER A WHILE IT STARTED UP AGAIN AND I WENT MAYBE TWO FEET AND IT DIED AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO ROLL INTO AN EMPTY GARAGE AND I CALLED MY HUSBAND. THERE WAS AN AUTO ZONE NEAR BY SO HE GOT A MACHINE WHICH SAID WHAT WAS WRONG. IT SAID IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. MY CAR IS NOW BEING FIXED AT A HYUNDAI DEALER. I WENT ON LINE FOR RECALLS AND I FOUND ONE THAT SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THEM BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. IF IT WAS ON ONE VEHICLE YEAR WHY WOULDN'T MY YEAR BE COVERED. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLE STOPPING ALL OF A SUDDEN ON A MAIN RD. LIKE I WAS ON. WE HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL THE RECALLS THAT THEY SEND US. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545519September 26, 2013
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,760.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542019September 5, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VERY POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CAR DEALER ADJUSTED HEADLAMPS. THIS HAD NO EFFECT. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH THIS STYLE HEADLAMP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536399August 20, 2013
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN
THE PASSENGER FROM SUB FRAME BROKE DROPPING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BENDING THE WHEEL OUT. THIS WAS AT BIG O TIRES CHECKING ALIGNMENT. I SEE THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT ON THIS MATTER COVERING 2001-2003 SANTAFE'S. THE FRONT SUB FRAME MUST BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514502May 31, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUELING CAR TAKES AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME. IT IS AS IF THERE IS A BLOCKAGE IN THE TANK FILLER PIPE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS IS CAUSED BY AN AGING CHARCOAL FILTER WITHIN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NO EXPLANATION, NOR SUGGESTIONS FOR A FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513108May 22, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE GLS - DROVE THROUGH A 2 INCH DEEP PUDDLE. LOST POWER STEERING, BATTERY LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHED THEN A RUBBER BURNING SMELL STARTED. DROVE THE CAR FOR TWO ADDITIONAL DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR SHOP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEN DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON, BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON BATTERY LIGHT TURNED ON, ALL ANALOG INSTRUMENTS FAILED, TACH FAILED, BRAKING BECAME INCONSISTENT AND ENGINE STARTED MISSING. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO REPAIR SHOP, AS I MADE MY FINAL TURN INTO THE REPAIR SHOP THE POWER STEERING FAILED THEN THE CAR SHUTOFF. EARLY REPORT FROM MECHANIC IS A FAILED ALTERNATOR - MY THIRD ONE IN THE LAST YEAR. I THINK I HAVE A LARGER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, FANS FLUCTUATE IN SPEED FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS I GET FLASHING BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS. LOSING THE POWER STEERING TWICE IN THREE DAYS IS A LITTLE UNSETTLING... *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510157April 30, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
AT SLOW SPEEDS, WHILE LIGHTLY APPLYING BRAKES, ABS CAUSES CHATTER AND EXTENDS STOPPING DISTANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509478April 24, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING FUEL SMELL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL LINES WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,350.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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