Model year record

2003 Hyundai Santa FE

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 390 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V435000

Suspension: front: springs: coil springs

Component: Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 271,773
Reported to NHTSA: 2014-07-18
Owners notified: 2014-10-24

Defect description

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 Virginia, and Wisconsin. The affected vehicles may experience front coil spring corrosion from road salt, causing the coil spring to fracture and make contact with the tire.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 09V123000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 83,355
Reported to NHTSA: 2009-04-16
Owners notified: 2009-07-17

Defect description

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 83,355 MY 2001-2003 SANTA FE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE JURISDICTIONS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE REAR TRAILING ARMS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO THINNING OR PERFORATION OF THE REAR TRAILING ARM STEEL. OWNERS MAY SEE OR FEEL SLIGHT TO MODERATE CHANGES IN VEHICLE OPERATION WHICH WILL INCREASE IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRED. THESE CHANGES INCLUDE A LOWERING OF VEHICLE HEIGHT THAT CAN LEAD TO TIRE MISALIGNMENT AND STEERING PULL. OWNERS MAY ALSO NOTICE A CREAKING SOUND.

Safety risk

IF THE CORROSION IS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS, THE REAR TRAILING ARM MAY FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR TRAILING ARMS FOR INTERNAL CORROSION DAMAGE. IF SPECIFIED LEVELS OF CORROSION DAMAGE ARE FOUND, THE REAR TRAILING ARMS WILL BE REPLACED. REAR TRAILING ARMS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT WILL HAVE DRAINAGE HOLES ADDED AND WILL BE TREATED WITH RUST-PROOFING MATERIAL TO ARREST THE CORROSION PROCESS. INSPECTION, TREATMENT AND REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES WILL BE CONDUCTED AT NO COST TO OWNERS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V131000

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

Component: Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Manufacturer: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 17,401
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-03-16
Owners notified: 2004-03-24

Defect description

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (ABS), IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 3 AND 12 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PAD FRICTION SURFACES ARE WET, A VIBRATION MAY OCCUR BETWEEN THE BRAKE DISCS AND PADS CAUSING ABS SENSOR ELECTRONIC SIGNAL NOISE TO DEVELOP. AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH, THE ABS SENSOR SIGNAL NOISE MAY CAUSE THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO ACTIVATE THE ABS, EXTENDING THE STOPPING DISTANCE.

Safety risk

IF AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V520000

Equipment: other: labels

Component: Equipment: other: labels
Manufacturer: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 249,309
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-12-18
Owners notified: 2003-10-29

Defect description

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Safety risk

THE TIRE PRESSURE LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECT LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Suspension	45	125,000 mi
Air bags	31	68,000 mi
Electrical system	25	83,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	20	46,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	20	70,000 mi
Structure: body	15	143,887 mi
Steering	14	112,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	13	59,920 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	11	13,000 mi
Service brakes	10	93,294 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	10	61,000 mi
Power train	9	100,000 mi
Unknown or other	9	110,094 mi
Wheels	9	150,000 mi
Engine	8	89,000 mi
Seat belts	7	99,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	6	17,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	6	99,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	6	130,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	5	52,781 mi
Structure	5	62,450 mi
Suspension: rear	5	105,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly	4	38,000 mi
Structure: frame and members	4	124,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	4	98,000 mi
Visibility	4	70,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	4	17,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	3	49,700 mi
Air bags: side/window	3	10,309 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly	3	90,060 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	3	65,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	3	60,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	3	15,760 mi
Suspension: front	3	133,943 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	3	—
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs	3	48,014 mi
Equipment	2	1,000 mi
Exterior lighting	2	1,821 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system	2	9 mi
Power train: manual transmission	2	40,789 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	2	100 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages	2	30,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	2	75,000 mi
Tires	2	5,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	2	21,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	2	—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	2	58,888 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator	1	—
Electrical system: ignition	1	—
Electrical system: wiring	1	23,641 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	150,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	60,300 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	1	300 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	32,000 mi
Fuel system, other	1	1,781 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	1	100,000 mi
Parking brake	1	72,400 mi
Power train: axle assembly	1	—
Seat belts: front	1	—
Seat belts: rear/other	1	80,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler	1	50,000 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock	1	19,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc	1	—
Steering: column	1	—
Steering: rack and pinion	1	16,448 mi
Structure: body: door	1	150,000 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate	1	—
Suspension: front: control arm	1	133,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm	1	133,943 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint	1	96,000 mi
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs	1	100,000 mi
Suspension: rear: springs: coil springs	1	100,000 mi
Traction control system	1	95,899 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core	1	—
Visibility: glass, side/rear	1	1,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	1	125,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices	1	—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages	1	10,000 mi
Wheels: hub	1	190,000 mi

The 2002 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 2004 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.