NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
42 reportsClear category filter52,781 miles · May 12, 2010
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE PASSENGERS AIR BAG YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER MADE A SECOND REPAIR TO THE PASSENGERS WIRING HARNESS AND WITHIN A YEAR, THE FAILURE RECURRED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE PASSENGERS AIR BAG YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER MADE A SECOND REPAIR TO THE PASSENGERS WIRING HARNESS AND WITHIN A YEAR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ANY FURTHER REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,781 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 110,000. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF UPDATED 10/07/10
NHTSA ODI #10330119
32,263 miles · Apr 1, 2010
Air Bags
ON JANUARY 4, 2010 I HAD THE VEHICLE BATTERY REPLACED. AFTER BATTERY INSTALLATION THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. ON JAN. 11 I PAID $87 TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH INCORRECTLY INDICATED THAT ALL AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED PLUS A CRASH WAS RECORDED. MECHANIC'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE SRS CONTROL MODULE REP…
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ON JANUARY 4, 2010 I HAD THE VEHICLE BATTERY REPLACED. AFTER BATTERY INSTALLATION THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. ON JAN. 11 I PAID $87 TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH INCORRECTLY INDICATED THAT ALL AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED PLUS A CRASH WAS RECORDED. MECHANIC'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE SRS CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF OVER $400.
NHTSA ODI #10323379
68,000 miles · Nov 18, 2009
Air Bags
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THIS HAPPENED 18 MONTHS AGO AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER WANTS $70 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM PLUS REPAIR COSTS SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. NO THANKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10292655
140,000 miles · Nov 10, 2009
Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling
ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS NOT GONE OFF SINCE. I WONDERED IF THIS MEANT I HAD NO AIRBAG FUNCTION, BUT NOW AFTER READING THESE COMPLAINTS I KNOW IT IS NOT WORKING. THIS PROBLEM COMBINED WITH THE ENGINE THAT MYSTERIOUSLY AND SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IS NOT A GOOD COMBINATION. …
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ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS NOT GONE OFF SINCE. I WONDERED IF THIS MEANT I HAD NO AIRBAG FUNCTION, BUT NOW AFTER READING THESE COMPLAINTS I KNOW IT IS NOT WORKING. THIS PROBLEM COMBINED WITH THE ENGINE THAT MYSTERIOUSLY AND SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IS NOT A GOOD COMBINATION. I SMELL TROUBLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10291679
10,000 miles · Oct 5, 2009
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL WHEN THE SEAT WAS RECLINED. THE ERROR CODE HAS BEEN RESET OVER 15 TIMES. ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AND AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HORN. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL WHEN THE SEAT WAS RECLINED. THE ERROR CODE HAS BEEN RESET OVER 15 TIMES. ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AND AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HORN. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
NHTSA ODI #10286335
150,000 miles · Aug 4, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury
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 …
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10279324
43,098 miles · Jun 22, 2009
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A NEW AIR BAG WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND SCAN TEST AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $900. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,098.
NHTSA ODI #10274659
100,000 miles · Jun 2, 2009
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE FOUND RECALLS FOR THE 2002 AND 2004 MODELS, BUT NOT FOR THE 2003 MODEL, EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE FOUND RECALLS FOR THE 2002 AND 2004 MODELS, BUT NOT FOR THE 2003 MODEL, EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10272699
44,546 miles · Jan 16, 2009
Air Bags
THE AIR BAG RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN 9/08. THE DEALER SCANNED THE SYSTEM, CLEARED HISTORIC CODES, CYCLED THROUGH SELF TEST SEVERAL TIMES. CODES DID NOT RESET. LIGHT CAME BACK ON IN 1/09. I WILL TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. MY OPINION IS THAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE MORE RELIABLE . WHEN THE RED LIGHT INITIALLY CAME ON T…
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THE AIR BAG RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN 9/08. THE DEALER SCANNED THE SYSTEM, CLEARED HISTORIC CODES, CYCLED THROUGH SELF TEST SEVERAL TIMES. CODES DID NOT RESET. LIGHT CAME BACK ON IN 1/09. I WILL TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. MY OPINION IS THAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE MORE RELIABLE . WHEN THE RED LIGHT INITIALLY CAME ON THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM BUT I WILL BE CHARGED APPX. $600 WHEN THEY FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10255360
115,000 miles · Nov 6, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury
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 DEPLO…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10247865
Official recalls
4Jul 18, 2014
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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.
Apr 16, 2009
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CORROSION IS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS, THE REAR TRAILING ARM MAY FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Mar 16, 2004
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Dec 18, 2003
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE TIRE PRESSURE LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA08023 · Rear Trailing Arm Corrosion Failure
Opened Oct 28, 2008 · Closed Apr 17, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:rear
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 14, 2009, HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER, INC (HYUNDAI) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO JANUARY 27, 2003, THAT ARE REGISTERED AND OPERATED IN THE FOLLOWING 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.HYUNDAI IS RECALLING THE VEHICLES TO REMEDY A CONDITION WHERE INTERNAL CORROSION OF EITHER THE RIGHT OR LEFT REAR TRAILING ARMS MAY RESULT IN FRACTURE OF THE AFFECTED ARM WHILE DRIVING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH.THE REAR TRAILING ARMS WILL BE INSPECTED IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES USING A PROCEDURE DEVELOPED BY HYUNDAI TO MEASURE METAL THICKNESS.PARTS WITH PERFORATIONS FROM CORROSION OR WITH METAL BELOW THE SPECIFIED THICKNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH REDESIGNED TRAILING ARMS.IF THE MINIMUM METAL THICKNESS IS MET, DRAINAGE HOLES AND AND RUST PROOFING MATERIAL WILL BE ADDED TO THE EXISTING REAR TRAILING ARMS.ALTHOUGH NOT SUBJECT COMPONENTS OF THIS INVESTIGATION, HYUNDAI NOTED IT WOULD PERFORM A SIMILAR PROCEDURE FOR THE FRONT SUBFRAMES OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT DATA REVEALED THAT 99% OF ALL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS RELATED TO TRAILING ARM CORROSION WERE FROM VEHICLES EITHER ORIGINALLY SOLD OR OPERATED IN SALTBELT STATES. SIMILARLY 92% OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE FROM VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR OPERATED IN SALTBELT STATES.ODI IDENTIFIED 30 REAR TRAILING ARM FRACTURE INCIDENTS THROUGH ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY INFORMATION AND CONSUMER INTERVIEWS.TWENTY-NINE (29) OF THE FRACTURE INCIDENTS INVOLVED VEHICLES IN STATES COVERED BY THE RECALL.BASED ON HYUNDAI'S DECISION TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 14, 2009, HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER, INC (HYUNDAI) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO JANUARY 27, 2003, THAT ARE REGISTERED AND OPERATED IN THE FOLLOWING 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.HYUNDAI IS RECALLING THE VEHICLES TO REMEDY A CONDITION WHERE INTERNAL CORROSION OF EITHER THE RIGHT OR LEFT REAR TRAILING ARMS MAY RESULT IN FRACTURE OF THE AFFECTED ARM WHILE DRIVING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH.THE REAR TRAILING ARMS WILL BE INSPECTED IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES USING A PROCEDURE DEVELOPED BY HYUNDAI TO MEASURE METAL THICKNESS.PARTS WITH PERFORATIONS FROM CORROSION OR WITH METAL BELOW THE SPECIFIED THICKNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH REDESIGNED TRAILING ARMS.IF THE MINIMUM METAL THICKNESS IS MET, DRAINAGE HOLES AND AND RUST PROOFING MATERIAL WILL BE ADDED TO THE EXISTING REAR TRAILING ARMS.ALTHOUGH NOT SUBJECT COMPONENTS OF THIS INVESTIGATION, HYUNDAI NOTED IT WOULD PERFORM A SIMILAR PROCEDURE FOR THE FRONT SUBFRAMES OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT DATA REVEALED THAT 99% OF ALL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS RELATED TO TRAILING ARM CORROSION WERE FROM VEHICLES EITHER ORIGINALLY SOLD OR OPERATED IN SALTBELT STATES. SIMILARLY 92% OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE FROM VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR OPERATED IN SALTBELT STATES.ODI IDENTIFIED 30 REAR TRAILING ARM FRACTURE INCIDENTS THROUGH ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY INFORMATION AND CONSUMER INTERVIEWS.TWENTY-NINE (29) OF THE FRACTURE INCIDENTS INVOLVED VEHICLES IN STATES COVERED BY THE RECALL.BASED ON HYUNDAI'S DECISION TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
Suspension:rear
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 14, 2009, HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER, INC (HYUNDAI) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO JANUARY 27, 2003, THAT ARE REGISTERED AND OPERATED IN THE FOLLOWING 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.HYUNDAI IS RECALLING THE VEHICLES TO REMEDY A CONDITION WHERE INTERNAL CORROSION OF EITHER THE RIGHT OR LEFT REAR TRAILING ARMS MAY RESULT IN FRACTURE OF THE AFFECTED ARM WHILE DRIVING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH.THE REAR TRAILING ARMS WILL BE INSPECTED IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES USING A PROCEDURE DEVELOPED BY HYUNDAI TO MEASURE METAL THICKNESS.PARTS WITH PERFORATIONS FROM CORROSION OR WITH METAL BELOW THE SPECIFIED THICKNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH REDESIGNED TRAILING ARMS.IF THE MINIMUM METAL THICKNESS IS MET, DRAINAGE HOLES AND AND RUST PROOFING MATERIAL WILL BE ADDED TO THE EXISTING REAR TRAILING ARMS.ALTHOUGH NOT SUBJECT COMPONENTS OF THIS INVESTIGATION, HYUNDAI NOTED IT WOULD PERFORM A SIMILAR PROCEDURE FOR THE FRONT SUBFRAMES OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT DATA REVEALED THAT 99% OF ALL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS RELATED TO TRAILING ARM CORROSION WERE FROM VEHICLES EITHER ORIGINALLY SOLD OR OPERATED IN SALTBELT STATES. SIMILARLY 92% OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE FROM VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR OPERATED IN SALTBELT STATES.ODI IDENTIFIED 30 REAR TRAILING ARM FRACTURE INCIDENTS THROUGH ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY INFORMATION AND CONSUMER INTERVIEWS.TWENTY-NINE (29) OF THE FRACTURE INCIDENTS INVOLVED VEHICLES IN STATES COVERED BY THE RECALL.BASED ON HYUNDAI'S DECISION TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.