2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
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Decode a VIN4 recalls and 308 owner complaints on record for this model year.
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 4-5 TIMES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERAL BROKEN BONES AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERAL BRUISES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. ON AUGUST 16, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD AT A RED LIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND THE FRONT BUMPER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE STRUCK A TRAVEL TRAILER. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, BUT FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT RECEIVED INJURES TO THE NECK, BACK, AND HEAD. THE REAR PASSENGER WAS TRAUMATIZED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DUE TO FAULTY WIRES. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL ONLY DEPLOY UNDER EXTREME EXPERIENCES. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER CRASHING INTO THE TRAILER WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY AT ANY SPEED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. NEVADA POLICE REPORT NUMBER 0808160558 WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE HAVE CHIPPING/PEELING PAINT. (THE CHROME PAINT) OPENING THE DOOR TO GET OUT THE CHROME PAINT IS SHARP LIKE A RAZOR AND CUTS MY FINGERS AND MY CHILD'S FINGERS AS IT IS HAPPENING ON ALL FOUR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. IT GETS EMBEDDED INTO YOUR FINGER SOMEWHAT LIKE A SPLINTER BUT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AND IS VERY PAINFUL. *TR
ON FEBRUARY 3, 2004, THOMAS ASHFIELD, MY HUSBAND, WAS DRIVING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL TO PICK UP OUR DAUGHTER. WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND TOWARD THE HIGH SCHOOL TWO VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING NORTH. THE FIRST CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THAN WHAT THE ELEMENTS CALLED FOR, HITTING THE SECOND CAR AND SHOOTING THE CAR INTO OURS, BROADSIDING TOM ON HIS DRIVER'S SIDE. TOM IMMEDIATELY HEARD A SNAP. HE SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS, A TORN MENISCUS , AND A HERNIATED DISC IN HIS C5/C6. (HIS FIRST SURGERY IS COMPLETE, WE ARE AWAITING THE SECOND.) THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS ENOUGH TO REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY $8,400.00. DURING THE ACCIDENT, THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WANTED A RAPID REPAIR. WE NEVER THOUGHT TO GET ENGINEERS OUT TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE OR TO TAKE PICTURES. WE DID LEARN THAT THERE HAD BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG AND SENSOR FROM THE BODY SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD RETAIN THE COMPONENTS SO THAT HYUNDAI COULD VIEW THEM. I WROTE TO HYUNDAI ON APRIL 14, 2004. A REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED US THE FIRST TIME IN JUNE AND THEN ON JUNE 22, 2004, HE CALLED AGAIN ASKING FOR THE NAME OF THE REPAIR SHOP. TOM GAVE HIM THE INFORMATION. THE REPRESENTATIVE CALLED US BACK AND TOLD TOM THAT THE REPAIR SHOP HAD GOTTEN RID OF THE PARTS. THAT WAS A SHOCK TO US BECAUSE UP UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO, THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD RETAIN IT. (WE CONFIRMED THIS WITH THEM WHEN THE REPRESENTATIVE FIRST MADE CONTACT WITH US.) IN ADDITION, FROM WHAT THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD TOM, THE STORY CHANGED ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I DO NOT HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA OF WHAT OCCURRED. SOMETHING IS HAPPENING. I WANT ANSWERS. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THE MALFUNCTION HAPPENED. WAS THIS THE FIRST TIME OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT IS ONGOING AND NOBODY IS PAYING ATTENTION TO. MY HUSBAND SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. WE PAID FOR SAFETY FEATURES ON A NEW VEHICLE AND THEY DID NOT WORK. WHAT WILL IT REQUIRE FOR US TO RECEIVE ANSWERS...A DEATH? *AK
MY AIRBAGS WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL TO TREAT MULTIPLE BODILY INJURING, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I OVERSHOT A TURN AND HIT A POLL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR FLIPPED AND WAS TOTALED. AGAIN, NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES OF THE CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS. I FEEL AS THOUGH THESE SHOULD HAVE WORKED PROPERLY AND THAT I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT ANY WORSE, AS MORE SERIOUS INJURIES COULD HAVE THEN OCCURRED.
MY AIRBAGS WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL TO TREAT MULTIPLE BODILY INJURING, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I OVERSHOT A TURN AND HIT A POLL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR FLIPPED AND WAS TOTALED. AGAIN, NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES OF THE CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS. I FEEL AS THOUGH THESE SHOULD HAVE WORKED PROPERLY AND THAT I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT ANY WORSE, AS MORE SERIOUS INJURIES COULD HAVE THEN OCCURRED. IF NEEDED, I HAVE MORE PICTURES; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FILE SIZE ALLOWED, I HAVE LIMITED IT TO KEY PICTURE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, A TRACTOR TRAILER COLLIDED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAINT THE CONTACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO HIS CHEST AND BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND SEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ UPDATED 03/22/16.*JB
I RAN INTO A VAN TRAVELING 30 MPH. I TOTALED THE FRONT OF MY HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE VAN IN FRONT OF ME WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. HIS VAN HIT WAS PUSHED INTO A TRUCK THAT WAS STOPPED IN FRONT OF HIM. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAGS GO OFF? THE FIREMAN AT THE SCENE EVEN SAID THEY SHOULD HAVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS NEEDED TO BE CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST, THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. A THIRD TIME RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENED A THIRD TIME WHICH LED TO ANOTHER ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
ON MARCH 30, 2004 AT 5:52 AM WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK, MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BY A MAN WHO RAN A RED LIGHT. AS HIS VEHICLE MADE IMPACT, MY SANTA FE WAS SENT INTO A ROLL-OVER, WITH APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR FLIPS. MY SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND AS A RESULT, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. I SUFFERED FROM A CONCUSSION AND DAILY HEADACHES, THAT AT TIMES WERE DEBILITATING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR, FROM FRONT TO BACK, WAS DESTROYED. I WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THIS WAY, AND HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR THROUGH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WITH THE HELP OF A PASSER-BY. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND SENT THEM ALL OF THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK. I RECEIVED A REPLY THAT STATED THEY FELT THE AIRBAGS HAD FUNCTIONED IN THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY WERE DESIGNED, AND THIS WAS THEIR FINAL DECISION ON THE MATTER. I FAIL TO SEE HOW SIDE-AIR BAGS, NOT DEPLOYING IN A ROLL-OVER COLLISION, ARE FUNCTIONING AT ALL. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE DUAL SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS WERE ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS THAT THE DEALER USED. INCLUDED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL WAS A PAMPHLET THAT ALSO DESCRIBED THE AIRBAGS, ALONG WITH PICTURES OF A CAR BEING HIT IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND ROLL-OVER ACCIDENTS. ACCORDING TO THIS PAMPHLET, THE SIDE AIRBAGS WOULD PROTECT YOU IN CRASHES SUCH AS THESE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE POLICE STATED THE AIR BAGS SHOULD'VE DEPLOYED. VEHICLE SUSTAINED $5000. DOLLARS IN DAMAGES. THE PERSON WHO VEHICLE SHE HIT, LEFT THE SCENE BEFORE THE POLICE ARRIVED. *PH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY TO HER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE INDICATED THAT IT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THEY ALSO ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY BE DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE OPENING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, THE CONTACT'S FINGER WAS GASHED BY THE HANDLE. HE FOUND A SPLIT IN THE CHROME PLATING OF THE DOOR HANDLE. THE DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF THIS DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A PACKET AND CHECK BACK WITHIN 4 - 6 WEEKS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS COVERING UP THE ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT INSPECTED SIMILAR MODELS WITH THE SAME CONSTRUCTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
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."
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.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
A short circuit can occur in the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) unit. This increase the risk of the vehicle catching fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Vehicles may develop an electrical short in the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
The wiring harness mounted under the bench seat can be damaged by being pinched by the seat hinge when it is folded down. This can lead the curtain airbag not to work, increasing the risk of injuries in the event of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Matched on brand and model name — Safety Gate publishes no VIN. Check the production dates, and quote the recall code to a dealer.