2003 Hyundai Santa FE complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED WHICH CAUSED THE RPMS TO INCREASE EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO A PARKING LOT, AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAITED FIFTEEN TO TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE RESUMING TO OPERATION WITH EXTREME CAUTION. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DIAGNOSED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CLOCK SPRING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

I'VE OWNED MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SINCE JULY 2003 AND I HAVE BEEN MOSTLY PLEASED WITH THE VEHICLE. ON 4/30/10, I LEFT HOME FOR A TRIP TO ANOTHER TOWN APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES FROM HOME. THE TRIP WAS MOSTLY ON AN EXPRESSWAY TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 60 - 70 MILES PER HOUR. AS I NEARED MY DESTINATION, I GOT OFF THE EXPRESSWAY, ONTO A SURFACE ROAD. WITHIN 1 MILE OF BEING ON THE ROAD, I WAS CHANGING LANES AND SENSED MY CAR "PULLING" ME, WHILE I WAS LIGHTLY BREAKING. I LOOKED DOWN TO ENSURE THAT NEITHER MY FOOT, FLOORMAT OR ANYTHING ELSE WAS TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WAS NO EXPLAINABLE REASON FOR THE ACCELERATION. HOWEVER, BY KEEPING MORE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR ENOUGH TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. I STOPPED THE CAR, AND PUT IN PARK. THE ENGINE WHINED LOUDLY. BUT I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT OFF. OVER THE NEXT 30 MINUTES I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE CAR AND SEE OF THE THROTTLE WOULD SOMEHOW RESET ITSELF. BUT EACH TIME, THE ENGINE RACED LOUDLY. I CHOSE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THAT A THROTTLE SENSOR HAD SHORTED OUT. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND I WAS GIVEN BACK THE VEHICLE ON 5/8/10. THE VEHICLE HA SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY SINCE THEN. *TR

WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AT ABOUT 30MPH, THE REAR LEFT SUSPENSION FAILED AND I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. THE WHEEL CONNECTING TO IT WAS OUT OF ITS POSITION BY ABOUT 10 DEGREES. THE SUSPENSION IS HEAVILY RUSTED AND I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND NO ONE GOT HURT. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOU. SO I THINK MY CASE WOULD BE ONE OF THEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE PASSENGERS AIR BAG YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER MADE A SECOND REPAIR TO THE PASSENGERS WIRING HARNESS AND WITHIN A YEAR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ANY FURTHER REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,781 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 110,000. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF UPDATED 10/07/10

OUR 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. THE TACHOMETER DROPS TO ZERO THEN THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART AND CONTINUE GOING. SOMETIMES IT WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING OR AT A STOPLIGHT AND HAS TO BE PUT AND PARK AND CRANKED. 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 AND SAYS THEY CANNOT FIX IT WITHOUT SEEING IT HAPPEN WITH THEIR COMPUTER CONNECTED TO IT. OF COURSE, IT NEVER OCCURS FOR THEM. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THIS HAPPENS NEARLY DAILY OVER THE LAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK , VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY , I STEPPED HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL I WAS GOING APPROX. 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED ( ABS ACTIVATING) FOR A SECOND OR 2 AND STOPPED ,AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY SANK TO THE FLOOR,THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING, I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO TRY TO STOP , BUT IT WAS TOO LATE I RAN INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT A DEFECT AND ALSO IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I FEEL A RECALL BY HYUNDAI SHOULD BE INITIATED SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE COMMON DEFECT, PLEASE HELP! *TR

2003 SANTA FE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT IMMEDIATELY STARTS AGAIN. STALLING HAS ALSO BEEN NOTICED AT LOWER SPEEDS AND WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS. THIS OCCURS SPORADICALLY AND WITH NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON SO A DIAGNOSTIC SCAN IS USELESS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION FROM HYUNDAI. ALSO RECALLS ON 2001 AND 2002 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

ON JANUARY 4, 2010 I HAD THE VEHICLE BATTERY REPLACED. AFTER BATTERY INSTALLATION THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. ON JAN. 11 I PAID $87 TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH INCORRECTLY INDICATED THAT ALL AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED PLUS A CRASH WAS RECORDED. MECHANIC'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE SRS CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF OVER $400.

BROUGHT MY 2003 SANTA FE IN FOR SERVICE WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT MY STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1300 OF COURSE THE WARRANTY IS UP AND HYUNDAI WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SENT A LETTER TO THE CEO WHO REALLY DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY PROBLEM MY WIFE IS GOING THROUGH CANCER AND WE RELY ON THE CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO TREATMENTS I HAVE OWNED 6 HYUNDAI'SIN THE PAST SO THIS WILL BE MY LAST ONE FOR THE BAD PART IS THE CAR WON'T PASS INSPECTION IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE CAR HAS 118.000 MILES ON IT AND ACCORDING TO THEM THAT IS A LOT OF MILES SO I GUESS THEY ARE SAYING THE THERE CARS DON'T LAST LONG.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD; THE DUPLICATE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN HE SHIFTS TO REVERSE GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THEN RESTARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT INDICATE ANY ERROR CODES. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER THREE TIMES AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IF THERE WERE NO CODES, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,100. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,546.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AND THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE OVER 5 DAYS TO PERFORM DUE TO THE INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE REAR TRAILING ARMS. THE CONTACT DID NOT FIND THAT INFORMATION LISTED IN THE RECALL NOTICE, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V123000; COMPONENT: SUSPENSION REAR OR THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD TAKE MORE THAN A FEW HOURS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE FRONT LEFT TRAILING ARM CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED THE BAR TO SEPARATE FROM THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. AFTER THE REPAIR SHE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 09V123000(SUSPENSION:REAR). SHE SENT RECEIPTS TO THE MANUFACTURES MAIN OFFICE IN REFERENCE TO REIMBURSEMENT. SHE RECEIVED A LETTER REJECTING HER CLAIM SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,299.

SINCE THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2003 HAD 1500 MILES ON IT WE WERE TOLD THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF RUST. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.TRANSMISSION LOST FLUID BECAUSE OF RUSTED COOLING LINE. JUST REPLACED POWER STEERING LINES BECAUSE LOST FLUID DUE TO RUSTED LINES. NOW WE ARE LOSING BRAKE FLUID DUE TO RUST. VEHICLE HAS 42500 MILES..CAR PURCHASED NEW IN AUG. 2003. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THIS HAPPENED 18 MONTHS AGO AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER WANTS $70 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM PLUS REPAIR COSTS SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. NO THANKS. *TR

I HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE STEERING OF MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR DURING A SNOW STORM I ACTUALLY RAN OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DOWN A SLIGHT SLOPE. I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO MY REPAIR SHOP WHERE A CORRODED AND BENT TRAINING ARM WAS DISCOVERED AND REPLACED. I AM NOW IN THE MIDST OF A REBATE FROM THE COMPANY AS THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR THAT PARTICULAR PART. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO HAVE IT CHECKED FOR THIS DEFECT I WAS TOLD THAT THE OTHER TRAILING ARM WAS NOT CORRODED ENOUGH TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WOULD BE SPRAYED TO PROTECT IT FROM FURTHER DAMAGE. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL WITH THIS REMEDY AS I AM NOW HEARING THE SAME NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE AS I HEARD FROM THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN. WHY CAN'T THE COMPANY DO THE RIGHT THING FIX THESE PROBLEMS SO THAT THOSE OF US WHO DRIVE HYUNDAI PRODUCTS CAN FEEL SAFE. YOURS TRULY, MARIE E. ENWRIGHT *TR

ONE DAY IN 2003 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, MY 2003 SANTA FE DIED AND THEN IMMEDIATELY STARTED AGAIN, ALL BY ITSELF. IT WOULD HAPPEN ABOUT ONCE A MONTH, SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. NOW IT OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT ALSO HAS OCCURRED AT SLOWER SPEEDS. ONCE AT A STOPLIGHT, IT DIED BUT DID NOT START AGAIN. EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN, EVEN STEERING. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN NOT FIX IT WITHOUT SEEING IT HAPPEN. OF COURSE, IT NEVER OCCURS FOR THEM. *TR

ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS NOT GONE OFF SINCE. I WONDERED IF THIS MEANT I HAD NO AIRBAG FUNCTION, BUT NOW AFTER READING THESE COMPLAINTS I KNOW IT IS NOT WORKING. THIS PROBLEM COMBINED WITH THE ENGINE THAT MYSTERIOUSLY AND SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IS NOT A GOOD COMBINATION. I SMELL TROUBLE. *TR

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS WOULD ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY. THEN, THE BACK WINDOWS FOLLOWED SUIT. THEN, THEY ALL STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL WOULD STILL WORK.. THEN IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. NOTHING WORKED AT ALL. MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE WHOLE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL PANEL AND THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. NOW, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS WORKING ONLY WHEN IT WANTS TO AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL WHEN THE SEAT WAS RECLINED. THE ERROR CODE HAS BEEN RESET OVER 15 TIMES. ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AND AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HORN. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

I PURCHASED A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 09/2007 WITH 78K MI. IN MAY 2009 I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE & ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT BEFORE I WENT ON A ROAD TRIP. I WASN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS, JUST WANTED TO BE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OK. SERVICE TECH RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH, REPLACEMENT OF TIMING BELT, & REPLACEMENT OF CRANK SENSOR. I AGREED TO RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE I WANT TO DRIVE A SAFE & RELIABLE VEHICLE. SINCE MAY I HAVE RETURNED TO SERVICE DEPT. AT LEAST 4 TIMES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE NOW STALLS WHILE I'M DRIVING, NO WARNING, JUST QUITS. IT STARTS BACK UP AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THESE EVENTS ARE INTERMITTENT. THE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 15 & 55 MPH, WHILE A/C ON, OUTDOOR TEMP 80+ & HUMID. SOMETIMES FAILURE OCCURS WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, OTHER TIMES AT HIGHER SPEED ON HWY. SERVICE TECH HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR GET A READ ON THE PROBLEM. HE HAS EVEN DRIVEN THE VEHICLE HOME & BACK (60 MI) AT LEAST TWICE, STATING HE HAD NO PROBLEMS. EACH VISIT I AM TOLD "NO PROBLEM FOUND" YET FAILURES PERSIST. HYUNDAI USA HAS ADVISED ME IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP SO THEY MAY DIAGNOSE/DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PERSON I SPOKE TO AT HYUNDAI USA SEEMED VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE. TO ME, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SO FAR I'VE BEEN LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. DO SANTA FE DRIVERS HAVE TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE HYUNDAI MAKES THIS ISSUE A PRIORITY? I HAVE READ MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE, SOME DATING BACK T

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,112 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,496. UPDATED 08/27/09 *BF UPDATED 08/31/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 4-5 TIMES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERAL BROKEN BONES AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERAL BRUISES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED PROPERLY AND THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,112 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,496.

SINCE BUYING MY CAR USED IN 2006, MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND VIOLENTLY JERKS. ON THE HIGHWAY IT SCARES ONE HALF TO DEATH. AND I SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPING ALTOGETHER. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS SO INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT AN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, THAT I KNEW A DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. NOW THE VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A NEW AIR BAG WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND SCAN TEST AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $900. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,098.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE OPENING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, THE CONTACT'S FINGER WAS GASHED BY THE HANDLE. HE FOUND A SPLIT IN THE CHROME PLATING OF THE DOOR HANDLE. THE DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF THIS DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A PACKET AND CHECK BACK WITHIN 4 - 6 WEEKS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS COVERING UP THE ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT INSPECTED SIMILAR MODELS WITH THE SAME CONSTRUCTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE FOUND RECALLS FOR THE 2002 AND 2004 MODELS, BUT NOT FOR THE 2003 MODEL, EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000.

THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE HAVE CHIPPING/PEELING PAINT. (THE CHROME PAINT) OPENING THE DOOR TO GET OUT THE CHROME PAINT IS SHARP LIKE A RAZOR AND CUTS MY FINGERS AND MY CHILD'S FINGERS AS IT IS HAPPENING ON ALL FOUR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. IT GETS EMBEDDED INTO YOUR FINGER SOMEWHAT LIKE A SPLINTER BUT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AND IS VERY PAINFUL. *TR

I OWN 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE ON JUNE 2008 IT STARTED STALLING,HESTITATING ON THE HIGHWAY IT STARTED JERKING AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON PULLED TO SIDE IT SHUT OFF WOULD NOT START UNTIL HOURS LATER, TOOK TO DEALER DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED CRANKSHAFT ,BELT TIMING PLUGS, TOTAL COST WAS $1219.84 STATED WAS NOT WARRANTY, I HAD THEM REPAIR , LAST COUPLE MONTHS ,SAME THING AGAIN, BUT I NOTICE THAT THE JERKING AND STALLING HAPPENS AFTER A RAINY/HUMID DAY THE JERKING AND STALLING HAPPEN MORE, WAS TOLD SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AGAIN,STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL CONTACT HYUNDAI AMERICA AND ALSO THE BBB ABOUT THIS, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND TAKEN CARE OF, THE STALLING WHILE DRIVING CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH 2 TIMES IT ALMOST HAPPEN WITH ME. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY THIS AGAIN. DOING RESEARCH THIS IS HAPPENING TO LOTS OF 2003 , BUT THIS HAS HAPPEN PRIOR TO 2001 & 2002. I HOPE TO GET SOMETHING RESOLVED. *TR

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

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

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,

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

LEAK IN THE TRANSFER CASE. *TR

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.