IllustrationWHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 212.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Santa Fe years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
500–25K
3025–50K
3950–75K
3375–100K
65100–150K
28150K+
245 reports with mileage · 63 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Suspension. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports5 fire reports17 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
31 reportsAT APPROX 13,000 MILES I NOTICED A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT HWY SPEEDS. AT FIRST THE NOISE WAS ONLY PRESENT AT HWY SPEEDS BUT THEN AFTER A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES BEGAN TO APPEAR AT ALL SPEEDS. DEALER STATED THAT A PIN FELL OUT CAUSING A CALIPER TO FREEZE THUS CAUSING MY BRAKE PADS TO COMPLETELY WEAR OUT! …
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AT APPROX 13,000 MILES I NOTICED A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT HWY SPEEDS. AT FIRST THE NOISE WAS ONLY PRESENT AT HWY SPEEDS BUT THEN AFTER A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES BEGAN TO APPEAR AT ALL SPEEDS. DEALER STATED THAT A PIN FELL OUT CAUSING A CALIPER TO FREEZE THUS CAUSING MY BRAKE PADS TO COMPLETELY WEAR OUT! METAL ON METAL...NO BRAKES AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE ME A LOANER! JUST ONE OF MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY SANTA FE! I'VE COMPLAINED IN THE PAST ABOUT THE ABS KICKING IN WHEN NOT NEEDED AND THE NOISES AND VIBRATION THAT IT MAKES AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL. NOW I'M NOT SURE.*AK
SANTA FE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCATION OF THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE SONATA HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE OPERATION. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE SANTA FE (SUV) VIN#[XXX] AND A SONATA GLS VIN#[XXX]. THESE WERE BOTH NEW VEHICLES. THE SANTE FE DISPLAYED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE VEHI…
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SANTA FE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCATION OF THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE SONATA HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE OPERATION. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE SANTA FE (SUV) VIN#[XXX] AND A SONATA GLS VIN#[XXX]. THESE WERE BOTH NEW VEHICLES. THE SANTE FE DISPLAYED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE SIMILAR IN HEIGHT. THE SONATA GLS DISPLAYED PROBLEMS, THE FIRST TO SECOND MONTH WITH A BACKFIRE AND OR EXPLOSIVE NOISE UPON THE STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD STUMBLE WHEN SPEEDING, AND FELT AS IF THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS TURNED ON. *SC *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
RUSTING BRAKE ROTORS ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE CAUSING EXCESSIVE NOISE AND UNSAFE BRAKE FUNCTION. HYUNDAI WANTS TO REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU, RECALL 04V131000, INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE BRAKE COMPONENTS WITH PARTS THAT WILL NOT RUST. THE REPROGRAMING WILL PREVENT THE ABS SYSTEM FROM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT LOW SPEED AND IN MY OPINI…
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RUSTING BRAKE ROTORS ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE CAUSING EXCESSIVE NOISE AND UNSAFE BRAKE FUNCTION. HYUNDAI WANTS TO REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU, RECALL 04V131000, INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE BRAKE COMPONENTS WITH PARTS THAT WILL NOT RUST. THE REPROGRAMING WILL PREVENT THE ABS SYSTEM FROM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT LOW SPEED AND IN MY OPINION COMPROMISES THE FUNCTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V131000 CONCERNING ABS BRAKE FAILURE. 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 BETW…
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CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V131000 CONCERNING ABS BRAKE FAILURE. 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. THIS RECALL FAILED, DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
SLOWING DOWN ON A DECLINE THE CAR RAN OVER A ROUGH POPRTION OF ROAD, THE ABS ENGAGED (CLICKING SOUND) AND THE BAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR - CAR DID NOT STOP. DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN ON THIS BUT NO FIX AS OF YET. *JB
WHILE SITTING AT A STOP ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH BRAKE ENGAGED VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. DRIVER ENGAGED THE BRAKES FURTHER, AND FELT VIBRATION IN BRAKE PEDAL. THEN, VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE HAS HAD A HIGH PITCHED WHINE AT 35 MPH, COASTING, ACCELERATING, OR BRAKING. NOTICEABLE TO ALL DRIVERS/PASSENGERS, BUT NOT TO DEALER TECHNICIAN/SERVICE MANAGER. HAVE HAD IT IN THREE TIMES WITH NO CONDITION FOUND. AS TIME GOES BY I AM NOTICING THAT ALONG WITH THE NOISE, THE BRAKES FEEL WEAK AND I NEED ONLY MOVE MY ANKLE WI…
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VEHICLE HAS HAD A HIGH PITCHED WHINE AT 35 MPH, COASTING, ACCELERATING, OR BRAKING. NOTICEABLE TO ALL DRIVERS/PASSENGERS, BUT NOT TO DEALER TECHNICIAN/SERVICE MANAGER. HAVE HAD IT IN THREE TIMES WITH NO CONDITION FOUND. AS TIME GOES BY I AM NOTICING THAT ALONG WITH THE NOISE, THE BRAKES FEEL WEAK AND I NEED ONLY MOVE MY ANKLE WITHOUT TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCAISIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD IN THE RAIN, IT WOULD NOT STOP AS I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I REPRORTED IT TO HYUNDAI, AND WENT BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD (WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE CAR) BY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND I AM WASTING THEIR TIME AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT EXAMINED. FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS NEVER EVEN SEEN THE VEHICLE CALLED TO SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO USE ANTILOCK BRAKES CORRECTLY ( I DO KNOW HOW TO USE THEM, I'VE ALWAYS STOPPED WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SO I HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT). HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA 800 633 5151 X45017 FILE#785260 NEVER GOT ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED ON MY BEHALF AND NEVER CALLED BACK, NEVER DID ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. I AM CONCERNED THE CAR WILL NOT STOP WHEN I WANT IT TO SO I ONLY USE IT WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, NOT EXACTLY WHAT A NEW CAR IS MEANT FOR. ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT I CANNOT GO TO THE NEAREST DEALER AS THEY WILL NOT LOOK AT IT UNDER HYUNDAI'S OFTEN MENTIONED 5 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY.*AK
ABS PUMP INITIATED UNNECESSARILY. WHILE PUMP WAS RUNNING, BRAKING POWER WAS LOST AND VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, COASTING THROUGH INTERSECTION. VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY STOPPED BY SHIFTING TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND USING HAND BRAKE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THEN THE BRAKE RELEASED AFTER STOPPING AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB *NM
Official recalls
414V435000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
Jul 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.
09V123000 · Suspension:rear
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.
04V131000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
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.
03V520000 · Equipment:other:labels
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.