RoadVitals

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
56
Latest May 17, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 308 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 56 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

The 25 most recent of 56, in the owner's own words

SteeringSuspension
Filed May 17, 2024

The driver's side rear trailing arm lower broke again. Was driving all of a sudden felt it start fishtailing and pulled over and thank God I didn't crash

NHTSA ID
11589298
Incident
Apr 1, 2024
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Dec 17, 2020

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,

NHTSA ID
11383941
Incident
Dec 16, 2020
Mileage
147,263 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 30, 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.

NHTSA ID
11283039
Incident
Nov 26, 2019
Mileage
211,312 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 27, 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.

NHTSA ID
11282729
Incident
Nov 27, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Dec 18, 2018

I CAN HEAR A STRONG RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE WHEN I COME TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP

NHTSA ID
11162157
Incident
Dec 18, 2018
Mileage
173,079 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 19, 2018

"TAKATA RECALL" MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT'S GONNA FALL OFF ALL THE LUG NUTS ARE TIGHT

NHTSA ID
11152419
Incident
Nov 1, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 29, 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

NHTSA ID
11114351
Incident
Apr 12, 2018
Mileage
108,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Feb 6, 2018

CAR HAS CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT END. MECHANIC SAID IT'S THE SUBFRAME BUSHINGS GOING IN AND OUT OF THE SUBFRAME AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING SUBFRAME. SAID CAR IS "UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION." THERE IS A RECALL IN "SALT-BELT" STATES. NOT SURE IT THEY CONSIDER UTAH A SALT-BELT STATE, BUT SALT IS USED HERE EXTENSIVELY IN THE WINTER.

NHTSA ID
11067165
Incident
Jan 2, 2018
Suspension
Filed Jan 4, 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.

NHTSA ID
10939621
Incident
Jan 22, 2016
Mileage
220,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 26, 2016

FRONT SUSPENSION RUSTING THROUGH - DISCOVERED BY MECHANIC

NHTSA ID
10861552
Incident
Apr 26, 2016
Mileage
134,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Dec 9, 2015

WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT MY DAUGHTER'S, I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC. A LARGE BANG AND THE TIRE POPPED. WHEN I HAD A MECHANIC COME LOOK AT IT, HE SAID THE SPRING HAD BROKE AND WENT INTO THE TIRE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN HER DRIVEWAY. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. I WAS LOOKING UP COST AND FOUND THE RECALL. I AM SO GLAD THIS WAS NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING OR HAD MY GRANDKIDS IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10809179
Incident
Dec 8, 2015
Mileage
193,574 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 19, 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.

NHTSA ID
10749857
Incident
Aug 10, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 7, 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

NHTSA ID
10732373
Incident
Jul 6, 2015
Mileage
151,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 25, 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.

NHTSA ID
10730284
Incident
Jun 24, 2015
Mileage
180,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 11, 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.

NHTSA ID
10693662
Incident
Nov 15, 2014
Suspension
Filed Feb 26, 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.

NHTSA ID
10690763
Incident
Feb 24, 2015
Mileage
216,358 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 12, 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.

NHTSA ID
10682956
Incident
Feb 11, 2015
Mileage
105,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 21, 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.

NHTSA ID
10676995
Incident
Dec 8, 2014
Mileage
114,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 14, 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.

NHTSA ID
10672410
Incident
Jan 3, 2015
Suspension
Filed Jan 7, 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

NHTSA ID
10670649
Incident
Dec 9, 2014
Suspension
Filed Nov 10, 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.

NHTSA ID
10653805
Incident
Sep 19, 2014
Mileage
62,635 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 5, 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.

NHTSA ID
10652690
Incident
Nov 5, 2014
Suspension
Filed Oct 31, 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.

NHTSA ID
10651600
Incident
Dec 31, 2013
Mileage
133,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 10, 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.

NHTSA ID
10643896
Incident
Jun 3, 2014
Mileage
106,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 7, 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.

NHTSA ID
10641964
Incident
Oct 7, 2014

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .