2003 Hyundai Santa Fe problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (39) · Vehicle Speed Control (20) · Air Bags (20)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Santa Fe model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
245 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs 2014-07-18 · campaign 14V435000 · 271,773 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model Year 2001-2006 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from March 31, 2000, through February 15, 2006, that are registered and operated, or which were originally sold and registered, in the following 20 salt belt" states and the District of Columbia: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Vi
Risk: If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the coil spring, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 124.
Service bulletins (90)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DCS · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn), that have been identified in u.s. vehicles following prior
Exterior Lighting 2025-11-06 · 25-BD-012H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (drl), or fog lamp. this tsb illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. lamp assembly replacement is not necessary
Visibility/Wiper 2024-02-14 · 24-BD-001H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. if the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, w
Showing the 6 most recent of 90 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-11-01 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2003 hyundai santa fe. the contact stated while driving 30 mph, the abs system activated, and there was an abnormal shuddering in the brake pedal. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the abs needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notifi…”
2024-05-17 · Suspension“the driver's side rear trailing arm lower broke again. was driving all of a sudden felt it start fishtailing and pulled over and thank god i didn't crash…”
2023-03-26 · Engine“bought a set of duralast gold wrists a801116 asks since the day i put them in i had to replace parts whole charging a problem that turned out to be from the wires. cause it was causing arcing in every one of the cylinders.…”
2021-07-26 · Wheels:hub · 190,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 hyundai santa fe. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side front wheel detached without warning. the wheel bearing and hub were replaced by the owner. the local dealer was not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted nor informed of t…”
2020-12-17 · Suspension · 147,263 mi“brought my vehicle in for a alignment and they discovered the rusted and corradiated rear left trailing control arm on my 2003 hyundai santa fe, i brought to dealership after that to get a recall and the told me that since the vehicle was bought in nd and that state is not included in the recall they will decline the work, even thou minn. is right …”
2020-10-19 · Structure:body · 142,000 mi“the subframe is rusted through. it was garage kept and doesn't even have 150,000 miles on it.…”
2020-06-12 · Wheels · 150,000 mi · 💥 crash“my vehicle calls for a sway bar n link it does not have one or a place to put one for the rear passenger side. when i go over a bump it makes a real loud noise. i replaced both shocks. noise is still there. there are 4 recalls on this car. recall #03v030000, #14v435000,#09v123000,03v520000. in motion *tr…”
2019-11-30 · Suspension · 211,312 mi“rear trailing arm corroded and busted while in motion. caused rear end to collapse and fishtail. passenger side snapped, drivers side is very corroded. just purchased this car a couple weeks ago, had no idea these parts were unstable.…”
2019-11-27 · Suspension · 100,000 mi“the rear end of my santa fe has rusted through and the back wheels will not track in a straight line. hyundai had a recall nr 09v123000 in 4/16/2009 to fix this exact problem but according to hyundai customer assistance, this recall does not apply to me because my santa fe wasn't purchased or registered in a specific state. my grandson was drivin…”
2019-09-05 · Tires“michelin x radial lt2 p225/70r16 101t tires with dot numbers ap4v 003x 2614, ap4v 003x 2714, ap4v 003x 2614,and ap4v 003x 2114. all 4 tires installed 09/04/2014 @ 80,421 miles. 08/31/2019 odometer at 97,528 miles. 17,107 miles on 75,000 mile warranty tires. tire dry rot and cracking first noticed in 2015 and has progressed to the point where a t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.