Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2003)
308 consumer complaints on file.
- #10809179December 9, 2015SUSPENSION, WHEELS
WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT MY DAUGHTER'S, I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC. A LARGE BANG AND THE TIRE POPPED. WHEN I HAD A MECHANIC COME LOOK AT IT, HE SAID THE SPRING HAD BROKE AND WENT INTO THE TIRE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN HER DRIVEWAY. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. I WAS LOOKING UP COST AND FOUND THE RECALL. I AM SO GLAD THIS WAS NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING OR HAD MY GRANDKIDS IN THE CAR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10808737December 7, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY WIFES VEHICLE IS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH APPROX. 75,000 MILES ON IT. WE'VE PURCHASED IT NEW. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, SHE BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP AND IT SUDDENLY STARTED LURCHING FORWARD. SHE WAS ABLE TO ARREST IT IN 10-12 FEET. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THEN, SIX WEEKS AGO, AS SHE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, AND ROLLING A FEW MILES AN HOUR IN REVERSE, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME, AFTER DOING A UNCONTROLLED DONUT IN THE STREET SHE HIT A NEIGHBORS GARAGE AND A UTILITY POLE BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED, IN SPITE OF HER FRANTICALLY BRAKING. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE STREET AT THAT TIME. DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE WAS $2300.+ AND THE CAR WAS ANOTHER $1925.+. TWO WEEKS AGO, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER STOPPING IN TRAFFIC. THIS TIME SHE HIT THE BACK OF A PICK-UP TRUCK. NO DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, BUT $1710+ TO HER FRONT END. EACH ACCIDENT COST US $250 IN DEDUCTIBLE. THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED RIGHT NOW AND WE WILL TRADE IT IN AS SOON AS IT IS FIXED.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10785635October 23, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARE TIRE RACK LOCATED UNDER THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE RUSTING AND CORROSION AND COULD NO LONGER SECURE THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10759208August 25, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10749857August 19, 2015SUSPENSION
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10746558August 5, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10732373July 7, 2015SUSPENSION
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10730284June 25, 2015SUSPENSION
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10726001June 18, 2015SERVICE BRAKES
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10723790June 6, 2015SERVICE BRAKES
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10717369May 19, 2015AIR BAGS
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.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10702808March 31, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, VISIBILITY
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10695397March 19, 2015SERVICE BRAKES
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10694099March 13, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL WOULD INDEPENDENTLY STOP BEFORE THE TANK WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 4/20/15*CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10693662March 11, 2015SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). PER THE SERVICE REPORT, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COIL SPRINGS PROTECTOR AND NOT THE ACTUAL COIL SPRINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10690763February 26, 2015SUSPENSION
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000. THIS IS A RECALL I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT, ALTHOUGH I HAVE A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD, REGISTERED, AND DRIVEN IN ONE OF THE "SALT BELT" STATES. BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY HYUNDAI, I NEVER HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY A AUTHORIZED DEALER. AND TODAY, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING BROKE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED DEALER THAT CAN MAKE THIS REPAIR IS OVER 100 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME. I PLACED A CALL TO HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AT 1-855-671-3059 AND WAS TOLD I HAD TWO OPTIONS - (1), I COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR, OR (2), HAVE MY SANTA FE REPAIRED LOCALLY, THEN TAKE IT TO A AUTHORIZED DEALER TO ENSURE THE REPAIR MET THEIR STANDARDS, AND THEN HOPE TO GET REIMBURSED - WHICH COULD TAKE ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. I DO NOT BELIEVE HYUNDAI HAS DONE ALL THEY COULD DO TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. FIRST, THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME, EVEN THOUGH I MADE THE DEALERSHIP IN MICHIGAN AWARE OF OUR MOVE TO NEBRASKA. SO HYUNDAI HAD OUR NEW ADDRESS INFORMATION. IF I HAD BEEN CONTACTED, I COULD HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT IN CHEYENNE, WY WHERE I GO AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH TO MEET WITH A FEW CLIENTS. NOW MY VEHICLE IS DAMAGED AND I CANNOT DRIVE IT, WHICH TAKES AWAY FROM MY LIVELIHOOD. AND TO GET IT REPAIRED, I NEED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS LOCALLY AND HOPE HYUNDAI REIMBURSES ME, OR I HAVE TO RENT A TRAILER AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WAY. HYUNDAI DOES NOT SEEM TO VALUE THE TIME I'VE LOST FROM WORK, THE TIME I'VE LOST FROM MEETING WITH CLIENTS, AND THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE I WILL INCUR WITH MY TWO REPAIR OPTIONS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10683226February 13, 2015SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK WHILE TRYING TO ATTACH A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCHING MECHANISM WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10682956February 12, 2015SUSPENSION:REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO BE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION), THE FAILURE OCCURRED. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THERE WAS ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10682424February 10, 2015AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE
750.00 DOLLARS FOR PART 500.00 TO PUT IT IN PASSENGER SIDE DASH CANT HYUNDAI TAKE PRIDE AND EAT THIS BILL SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THIS BIG. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10678730January 24, 2015SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT COMES UNLATCHED WHEN HITTING CERTAIN BUMPS. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO DEALER WOULDN'T REPLACE IT AND HYUNDAI HAS NO RECALL. GUESS HYUNDAI IS WAITING FOR SUFFICIENT PEOPLE TO BE KILLED IN ACCIDENTS BEFORE ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. SOUNDS LIKE THE GM IGNITION SWITCH DEBACLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0