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

Nov 2019

REAR TRAILING ARM CORRODED AND BUSTED WHILE IN MOTION. CAUSED REAR END TO COLLAPSE AND FISHTAIL. PASSENGER SIDE SNAPPED, DRIVERS SIDE IS VERY CORRODED. JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, HAD NO IDEA THESE PARTS WERE UNSTABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2019
Nov 2019

THE REAR END OF MY SANTA FE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE BACK WHEELS WILL NOT TRACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE. HYUNDAI HAD A RECALL NR 09V123000 IN 4/16/2009 TO FIX THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, THIS RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO ME BECAUSE MY SANTA FE WASN'T PURCHASED OR REGISTERED IN A SPECIFIC STATE. MY GRANDSON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND NEARLY WRECKED. HYUNDAI WOULDN'T EVEN OFFER A TOW INTO A DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2019
Jul 2018

CURRENTLY THERE IS A NOISE UP FRONT OF THE CAR AND IN THE REAR A FRIEND THAT WAS RIDING IN MY CAR INDICATED THAT IT MAY BE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. HE ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT WITH HYUNDAI ABOUT A SUBFRAME RUST CORROSION ISSUE. THE NOISE HAS BECOME QUITE NOTICEABLE HE BELIEVES MIGHT CERTAINLY BE RELATED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2018
Apr 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). WITHOUT WARNING, THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS THE RECALL REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2016
Apr 2016

FRONT SUSPENSION RUSTING THROUGH - DISCOVERED BY MECHANIC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2016
Dec 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO BE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION), THE FAILURE OCCURRED. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THERE WAS ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2015
Nov 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). PER THE SERVICE REPORT, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COIL SPRINGS PROTECTOR AND NOT THE ACTUAL COIL SPRINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2014
Aug 2015

LEFT FRONT TRAILER ARM CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING, TIRE CAME OFF VEHICLE. SUB FRAME RUSTED THROUGH. CAR USED TO BE KEPT IN ONE OF THE SALT BELT STATES. NO RECALL TO THIS PART ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI, ONLY RECALL FOR COIL SPRING AND REAR TRAILER ARM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2015
Jul 2015

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDENT IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE SO I PULLED OVER AND TH3N I FOUND OUT THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2015
Jul 2015

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V123000 (SUSPENSION) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY FEBRUARY OF 2015. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. DJR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2014
Jun 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V123000 (SUSPENSION) IN OCTOBER OF 2009. THE SUSPENSION WAS TREATED WITH A RUST PROOFING MATERIAL TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. IN JUNE OF 2015, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE PULLING TO THE LEFT AND A CRUNCHING NOISE WAS PRESENT FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS TILTED OUTWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARM FRACTURED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2015
Feb 2015

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000. THIS IS A RECALL I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT, ALTHOUGH I HAVE A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD, REGISTERED, AND DRIVEN IN ONE OF THE "SALT BELT" STATES. BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY HYUNDAI, I NEVER HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY A AUTHORIZED DEALER. AND TODAY, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING BROKE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED DEALER THAT CAN MAKE THIS REPAIR IS OVER 100 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME. I PLACED A CALL TO HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AT 1-855-671-3059 AND WAS TOLD I HAD TWO OPTIONS - (1), I COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR, OR (2), HAVE MY SANTA FE REPAIRED LOCALLY, THEN TAKE IT TO A AUTHORIZED DEALER TO ENSURE THE REPAIR MET THEIR STANDARDS, AND THEN HOPE TO GET REIMBURSED - WHICH COULD TAKE ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. I DO NOT BELIEVE HYUNDAI HAS DONE ALL THEY COULD DO TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. FIRST, THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME, EVEN THOUGH I MADE THE DEALERSHIP IN MICHIGAN AWARE OF OUR MOVE TO NEBRASKA. SO HYUNDAI HAD OUR NEW ADDRESS INFORMATION. IF I HAD BEEN CONTACTED, I COULD HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT IN CHEYENNE, WY WHERE I GO AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH TO MEET WITH A FEW CLIENTS. NOW MY VEHICLE IS DAMAGED AND I CANNOT DRIVE IT, WHICH TAKES AWAY FROM MY LIVELIHOOD. AND TO GET IT REPAIRED, I NEED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS LOCALLY AND HOPE HYUNDAI REIMBURSES ME, OR I HAVE TO RENT A TRAILER AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WAY. HYUNDAI DOES NOT SEEM TO VALUE THE TIME I'VE LOST FROM WORK, THE TIME I'VE LOST FROM MEETING WITH CLIENTS, AND THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE I WILL INCUR WITH MY TWO REPAIR OPTIONS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2015
Jan 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LEAK OIL AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2014
Jan 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DURING ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2015
Oct 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE SPRINGS IN THE REAR CONTROL ARMS BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARMS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT LEFT DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER DUE TO CORROSION. IN ADDITION, THE SUB-FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2013
Oct 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED THAT A REMEDY FOR THE RECALL HAD NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SIMILAR REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2009. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME WAS 62,635.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2014
Oct 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT SPRING FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE SPRING TO CUT INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION), HOWEVER THE REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2014
Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CONCERN. THE CONTACT HAD NO EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2014
Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE SWAYED TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED AND EXPOSED, CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE LOUD NOISE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION), BUT THE REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2014
Aug 2014

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE DURING THE COLD MONTH OF DECEMBER I HEARD A LOUD BANG NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS MOVING THE NOISE CONTINUED AS I GOT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE SUV WAS LOWER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOUD NOISE THAT GOT WORSE IF I TURNED THE WHEEL. I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND WAS EMBEDED INTO THE TIRE. I ENDED UP REPLACING THE COIL SPRING WITH A GOOD/USED ONE WHICH WAS STILL VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2013
Jul 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2014
May 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2014
Jan 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND FELT THE VEHICLE LEANING TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2014
Sep 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,760.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2013
Apr 2013

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I SAW THE RECALL ON THE REAR SUSPENSION ON 03 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. SO I WENT TO TWO DEALERS AROUND MY AREA AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE CONDITION. ONE OF THEM DID NOT EVEN RESPONDED TO MY QUESTION AND RETURNED THE CAR, AND ANOTHER ONE SAID THEY ARE FINE AND NOT NEED TO BE EITHER TREATED OR REPLACED. THEN A FEW DAYS AGO, JUST WEB SURFING THE WEB AND FOUND THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM OF THE REAR TAILING ARMS RECALL. MY CAR HAS ALL THAT SYMPTOMS RIGHT NOW, BUT HYUNDAI IS TELLING ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE FAULTY TRAILING ARMS, AND MY VEHICLE IS NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. MY CAR SWING WHEN I MAKE TURNS WEIRDLY. IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOOSE TRAILER IN THE BACK. ALSO THE HEIGHT OF THE CAR HAD BEEN LOWERED, AND ALSO WHEN I GO OVER A SPEED BUMP, I HEAR CREAKING SOUND. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT STRUTS, STRUT MOUNTS, AND REAR SHOCKS SO THEY ARE NOT COMING FROM THOSE. *TR

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

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.