Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

Owners filed 308 complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe with NHTSA between Jan 2003 and Nov 2024. The most-cited component is suspension (56).

Complaints
308
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
26
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
20
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension56
  2. Air bags42
  3. Power train35
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic31
  5. Structure30
  6. Electrical system28
  7. Vehicle speed control24
  8. Engine and engine cooling21
  9. Steering17
  10. Visibility17
  11. Wheels13
  12. Service brakes10
  13. Seat belts9
  14. Engine8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200326
200430
200525
200619
200714
200811
200921
201022
201122
201214
201313
201426
201525
201610
20177
201810
20196
20203
20211
20220
20231
20242

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

56 reports2 related recalls
“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,”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 17, 2020Suspension, StructureODI 11383941

Air bags

42 reports14 crashes1 fire
“THE AIRBAG LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON - I AM NOW ON MY THIRD REPAIR TO FIX THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. I LIKELY NEED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS! SO COSTLY BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SO HOW CAN I NOT? THIS IS A KNOWN AND ONGOING ISSUE AND HYUNDAI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND COVER THIS DEFECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 4, 2018Air bagsODI 11109520

Power train

35 reports
“WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN JUNE OF 2014 WITH 62,450 MILES ON IT. THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR WERE IN GREAT SHAPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A HYUNDAI DEALER IN JULY FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE REAR SUSPENSION PER A RECALL. AT THAT TIME A COMPLETE INSPECTION WAS DONE, WITH ONLY A SMALL OIL LEAK FOUND ON ONE AXLE SHAFT. TWO MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL FOR A BROKEN SPRING. AT THIS TIME A SECOND INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED. THIS TIME SEVERAL ISSUES WERE FOUND FROM CORROSION INCLUDING LEAKING TRANSMISSION LINES, LEAKING ENGINE OIL PAN, LEAKING BOOTS AT THE FRONT DRIVE AXLES REQUIRING THEM BOTH NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE HYUNDAI DEALER STATED HE HAD NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE WITH THIS LEVEL OF CORROSION. ALL COMPONENTS UNDER THE VEHICLE HAVE EXTENSIVE CORROSION WITH APPARENTLY A RAPID RATE OF DETERIORATION. THE VEHICLE IS USED ONLY ON-ROAD BEING DRIVEN BY OUR SON TO AND FROM COLLEGE. THE DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE RAPID DETERIORATION. ALL UNDER BODY COMPONENTS APPEAR TO BE VULNERABLE TO THIS HIGH LEVEL OF DETERIORATION. THE DEALER IS WILLING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2014Suspension, Power train, Structure, EngineODI 10638669

Service brakes, hydraulic

31 reports6 crashes1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2024Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11623194

Structure

30 reports2 crashes
“SUB FRAME WAS REPLACED DUE TO HIDDEN ROTTING OF INTERNAL MOUNTING STRUCTURE SEPARATION OF SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, CAUSING POOR CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND TIRE WEAR IN AUG. 2013. UNDER BODY WAS EXPOSED TO CORROSIVE WATER IN JULY, 2017 ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND HAS TURNED THE STEEL TO " CRACKERS " RUST CONDITION AND MADE IT UNSAFE TO BE ROAD WORTHY DUE TO POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF SUB FRAME AT BODY MOUNTS.. ALL REPAIRS WHERE AT MY EXPENSE. I FOUND SOME RECALLS TO LATE ON THE COMPUTER. I`M IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE UNIT. I KEPT ALL RECORDS OF REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED. THE POWER TRAIN IS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER. I`M NOT TO COMPUTER SAVEY ! I HAVE A FAX MECHINE. THANK YOU.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2019Structure, Unknown or otherODI 11228814

Electrical system

28 reports1 crash4 fires
“AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON SO THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WILL I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS? I REALLY DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE I NEVER RECEIVED A CAR FAX ON IT. THAT IS WHY I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THE AIRBAG WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. I KNOW THIS MIGHT BE BECAUSE OF THE MODULE HAVING TO BE REPLACED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2018Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11092100
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.