Worst 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Suspension Failures
Airbags
Electrical Faults
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension Failures | 45 | — | — | 131,101 mi | |
| Airbags | 31 | 8 | — | 77,397 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 25 | 1 | 3 | 85,353 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 20 | — | — | 47,878 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 20 | 5 | — | 67,834 mi | |
| Body Structure | 15 | 2 | — | 137,375 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 14 | 1 | — | 111,569 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 13 | — | 1 | 60,741 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 11 | 3 | — | 21,561 mi | |
| Brakes | 10 | 1 | — | 94,516 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 10 | 1 | — | 65,444 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 9 | — | — | 104,469 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 9 | 3 | — | 124,772 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 8 | — | — | 111,921 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 7 | 1 | — | 102,052 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 | — | — | 47,655 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 6 | — | — | 113,383 mi | |
| Fuel System | 6 | 1 | — | 136,208 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 | 3 | — | 68,570 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 5 | — | — | 81,225 mi | |
| Suspension:Rear | 5 | — | — | 92,760 mi | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~271,773 vehicles.
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 Âsalt 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.
Other Hyundai Santa Fe Years
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
What are common problems with the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe?
How safe is the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Does the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Santa Fe reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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