2003 Hyundai Santa Fe: won't start

Filed Dec 31, 2016 · Body, Driver assistance · 150,000 miles · CA

The paint is deteriorating, my fuel pump had to be replaced and my car won't start. I replaced the alternator, battery, crankshaft sensor and still won't start. I also have a break leak that I've tried to fix a few times

Filed Nov 10, 2009 · Electrical · 55,000 miles · TX

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.

Filed Mar 21, 2009 · Electrical · 28,995 miles · IL

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.

Filed Jan 5, 2009 · Engine · 95,800 miles · IL

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 (the federal safety agency campaign id# 03v520000) and that numerous complaints were made to the federal safety agency for the same problem with 2003 crankshaft position sensors. Current the federal safety agency odi complaint #'s that are near exact matches for the 2003 model are odi id# 10238818, 10176719, 10133625, and 10115680. Similar are #10203556, 10199900, 10195530, 10183323, 10128836, and 10050501. Also see the federal safety agency campaign id 03v520000 and the epa recall #1791 - mfr# 49. A similar recall was done in canada, see transportation canada recall #2002008, campaign code r33. Apparently the part continued to defective at the point of manufacturer in the 2003 models as well. High speed stalls and violent jerking posing risk of injury and death.

Filed Aug 20, 2005 · 1,000 miles · IN

I have a 2003 santa fe (march 2003 purchased). Shortly after purchase I reported to dealer that it jerks violently (stalls) and restarts at highway speeds and would sometimes just die at a idle stop light for no apparent reason (always started back up). The dealer inspected and could not find or replicate any issues. I called back again as this would continue to happen intermittently and is quite alarming. I travel as a healthcare consultant so I need a dependable car. Just this week the car would not start at all and the check engine light came on. I finally got it started and it ran quite bad I drove to the dealer where they diagnosed a bad crank and temp sensor. They replaced the crank sensor and I was completely surprised at the cars performance on the highway. It accelerated smoothly and no more jerky violent stalls. The dealer said the sensor may have been bad all along and finally gave out. I was charged 440 dollars as they said it was not covered under the 100,000 mile warranty. I think this needs investigated further after reading all the similar reports I do truly believe there is a manufacturing problem with the emissions assembly at the very least the sensors being used in the vehicles. I am requesting a refund from hyundai in this matter.

Filed Nov 6, 2004 · Electrical, Engine · 14,000 miles · VA

On november 5, 2004 at approx 7:30 pm our 2003 santa fe with only approx 14,000 miles suddenly "died" in the middle of the road. All of the vehicle warning lights came on, the heater and radio began making strange noises, the headlamps failed, and the vehicle engine stopped running and would not start, leaving the vehicle in the middle of the road, stranding me and my pregnant wife, with no lights or flashers in the middle of the road on a cold night. Hyunadai roadside service contractor cross country motorclub claimed that it would take over 3 hours to get the vehicle towed, so finally 9 after nearly 2 hours) county police towed the vehicle as a traffic hazard to fairfax hyundai.