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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

The most common problem on the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe is suspension, typically around 120,000 miles. It has 1.3 times the complaints of a typical Santa Fe model year.

Typical year1.3x the typical complaints
Year score
62/100
Owner complaints
308
Recalls
4
Service bulletins
90
Worst area
Suspension
Fuel economy
17-20mpg

The worst 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe

Stalling 32Airbag light 23Jerking 21ABS 17Check engine light 14Ball joint 13No deployment 11Coil spring 11Grinding brakes 10Brake failure 9Adaptive cruise 8Loss of power 8Sudden acceleration 8Fuel leak 6Won't start 6Engine failure 5

Recalls 4

Suspension: front: springs: coil springsReported July 18, 2014 · 271,773 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
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.
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 number 14V435000 · Recall details

Suspension: rearReported April 16, 2009 · 83,355 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
If the corrosion is allowed to progress, the rear trailing arm may fracture while driving, thereby increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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 number 09V123000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/moduleReported March 16, 2004 · 17,401 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
If an extended stopping distance occurs, it could result in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the ABS ecu. Owner notification began on march 24, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai at 1‑800‑633‑5151.

Recall number 04V131000 · Recall details

Equipment: other: labelsReported December 18, 2003 · 249,309 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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."
Risk
The tire pressure labels do not contain the information required by the standard.
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.

Recall number 03V520000 · Recall details

See all 4 recalls for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe

Defect investigations

Rear trailing arm corrosion failureOpened October 28, 2008, closed April 17, 2009

In a letter dated april 14, 2009, hyundai-kia america technical center, inc (hyundai) notified the federal safety agency that it will conduct a safety recall of approximately 85,000 model year (my) 2001 through 2003 hyundai santa fe vehicles manufactured prior to january 27, 2003, that are registered and operated in the following 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.hyundai is recalling the vehicles to remedy a condition where internal corrosion of either the right or left rear trailing arms may result in fracture of the affected arm while driving, which could result in loss of vehicle control and a crash.the rear trailing arms will be inspected in the recalled vehicles using a procedure developed by hyundai to measure metal thickness.parts with perforations from corrosion or with metal below the specified thickness will be replaced with redesigned trailing arms.if the minimum metal thickness is met, drainage holes and and rust proofing material will be added to the existing rear trailing arms.although not subject components of this investigation, hyundai noted it would perform a similar procedure for the front subframes of the subject vehicles. Odi's analysis of complaint data revealed that 99% of all consumer complaints related to trailing arm corrosion were from vehicles either originally sold or operated in saltbelt states. Similarly 92% of the warranty claims were from vehicles originally sold or operated in saltbelt states.odi identified 30 rear trailing arm fracture incidents through analysis of complaint and warranty information and consumer interviews.twenty-nine (29) of the fracture incidents involved vehicles in states covered by the recall.based on hyundai's decision to conduct a safety recall this engineering analysis is closed.

EA08023

Technical service bulletins for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 90

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 90 bulletins for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.4L 4‑cylFWD182520
2.7L 6‑cylFWD182420
2.7L 6‑cyl4WD162218
3.5L 6‑cylFWD152017
3.5L 6‑cyl4WD151917

What 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 1, 2024 · Brakes · WA

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 notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed May 17, 2024 · Steering, Suspension · MN

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

Filed Mar 26, 2023 · Engine · FL

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.

Filed Jul 26, 2021 · Wheels · 190,000 miles · WA

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 the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.

Filed Dec 17, 2020 · Body, Suspension · 147,263 miles · ND

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 next door like I live about 1 mile to mn they still wouldn't except the recall, it is obvious the part that is on recall fits my car, when looking on the right side arm there is no rust or corrosion. The dealer states it is not safe to drive vehicle, because the arm is starting to bend also. So what do I do now, it will be very costly to fix,

Filed Oct 19, 2020 · Body · 142,000 miles · IN

The subframe is rusted through. It was garage kept and doesn't even have 150,000 miles on it.

Filed Jun 12, 2020 · Wheels · 150,000 miles · NH · 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

Filed Nov 30, 2019 · Suspension · 211,312 miles · 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.

Filed Nov 27, 2019 · Suspension · 100,000 miles · FL

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 driving the car and nearly wrecked. Hyundai wouldn't even offer a tow into a dealership to inspect the problem.

Filed Sep 5, 2019 · Tires · HI

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 tire professional has stated that the tires are no longer safe to drive with on 08/31/2019. There is a need for a determination on what size of sidewall and tread cracking that will cause a safety risk and when a manufacturer should recall and replace for these defects. I have tires from the same manufacturer that are years older that have been exposed to the sun a lot more that do not have dry rot cracking on the sidewall or in the tread.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe before you buy

Compare the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe

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Other model years

20012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026

Questions about the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe

Is the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?

Owners have filed 308 complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe, 1.3 times a typical Santa Fe model year.

What is the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe year score?

The 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe scores 62 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Suspension, with 56 complaints, typically around 120,000 miles. Next is brakes (43).

How many recalls does the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe have?

4 recalls, covering suspension, service brakes, hydraulic and equipment.

Was there a recall on the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe suspension?

Yes, 2 recalls: 14V435000, 09V123000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Hyundai Santa Fe have bad suspension?

The Hyundai Santa Fe model years with the most suspension complaints are 2001 (76 complaints), 2004 (69 complaints) and 2002 (59 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe get?

Official estimates for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe range from 17 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 18 city and 25 highway.

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