38 complaints reported

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Suspension

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
38
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V123000 (SUSPENSION: REAR) PERFORMED FOR RUST ON THE TRAILING ARMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WORKED FOR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BUT WAS INFORMED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE THE REAR WHEEL AND FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2013
Dec 2012

I PURCHASED A USED 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE FOR MY SON WHICH HE TOOK TO COLLEGE. DURING WINTER BREAK, I TOOL IT TO A LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER TO HAVE A COMPLETE TUNE-UP, AS WELL AS CHECK A CREAKING SOUND IN THE LOWER LEFT REAR AND A "POP" SOUND WHEN DECELERATING. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE LOWER REAR LEFT TRAILING ARM IS BAD AND NEEDS TO REPLACED ASAP FOR SAFETY REASONS AT AROUND $500. I CHECKED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL ON TRAILING ARMS FOR THIS YEAR, CONTACTED HYUNDAI - WHO PROMPTLY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED AS I AM NOT IN A "ROAD SALT" STATE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH HYUNDAI ADMITS, AND I FEEL ALL OF THE TRAILING ARMS HAVE FATIGUE ISSUES FROM THESE YEARS DUE TO INFERIOR MATERIALS. I FEEL HYUNDAI SHOULD STEP UP AND COVER THE COST, NO MATTER WHAT STATE WE LIVE IN, AS IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF. WE HAVE PLENTY OF RAIN, FLOODED STREETS AND "SALT AIR" HERE IN FLORIDA! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2012
Jul 2012

DRIVING DOWN THE ROADWAY AT 45 MPH AND VEHICLE THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND MAKING THUMPING SOUNDS. THE STEERING WAS PULLING THE VEHICLE ALL OVER THE ROADWAY. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CAR CAN NOT BE FIXED DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM RUSTING AWAY FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2012
Nov 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN THE STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE HYUNDAI CORROSION CLASS ACTION AT A COST OF $ 2100. UPDATED 08/04/11

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2011
Mar 2011

2003 - HYUNDAI SANTA FE - MARCH 29, 2011. THE FRONT RIGHT SPRING BROKE ON MY SANTA FE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. LUCKLY I WAS JUST PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE ROAD. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I MAY NOT BE HERE TODAY. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS, STRUTS, AND FOUR NEW TIRES FOR THE ENTIRE COST OF $1300. I WOULD LIKE HYUNDAI TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR COST SINCE IT WAS THERE DEFECTED SPRING THAT BROKE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2011
Jan 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEING REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WAS ASSISTING THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 153,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2011
Jan 2011

I DRIVE A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, DRIVEN IN MD, 136K MILES. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT HANDLING RIGHT IN THE CAR, IT WOULD PULL BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS, IT WAS WORSE IN WET CONDITIONS. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE HYUNDAI DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND ASKED FOR THEM TO LOOK INTO THE STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM. THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT MY FRONT CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED INTO THE SUB-FRAME OF MY CAR. WHAT OCCURRED IS WHAT THE NHTSA ID # 09V123000 RECALL WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX. I HAD THE RECALL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY FIVE MONTHS AGO. I THINK HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS PART BASED ON THE TIME THAT ELAPSED BETWEEN INITIALLY ADDRESSING THE RECALL AND TODAY. FAILURE TO FIX THIS MALFUNCTION WOULD MOST LIKELY RESULT IN A CRASH OR OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2011
May 2010

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2010
Jan 2010

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2010
Dec 2009

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2009
Jul 2007

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2007
May 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND ROTATED THE TIRES, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VIBRATION AND FLUTTER OCCURRED AT 40 MPH TO 60 MPH AND WAS MOST NOTICEABLE AT 50 MPH DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION (60 TO 40 MPH). THE FLUTTER/VIBRATION WAS FELT IN THE CONSUMERS HANDS ON THE WHEEL, FEET, AND FEET. THIS WAS AN INTERNAL VIBRATION/FLUTTER AND NOT JUST A ROAD VIBRATION. *SC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2004
Dec 2003

WHEN AT A STOP VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY JERK FORWARD. DEALERSHIPS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2003

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe has 38 Suspension complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.