IllustrationI 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.
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
What owners actually said
308 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ROLL UP THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, THE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL UP AND CURVED. THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE WINDOW. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE CONTACT HAD TO HOL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ROLL UP THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, THE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL UP AND CURVED. THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE WINDOW. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD ONTO THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR IN THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM ALL OF THE TIRES AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SLIDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM ALL OF THE TIRES AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SLIDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL WOULD INDEPENDENTLY STOP BEFORE THE TANK WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL WOULD INDEPENDENTLY STOP BEFORE THE TANK WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 4/20/15*CN
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.
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…
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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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK WHILE TRYING TO ATTACH A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCHING MECHANISM WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK WHILE TRYING TO ATTACH A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCHING MECHANISM WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
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 REP…
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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.
750.00 DOLLARS FOR PART 500.00 TO PUT IT IN PASSENGER SIDE DASH CANT HYUNDAI TAKE PRIDE AND EAT THIS BILL SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THIS BIG. *TR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT COMES UNLATCHED WHEN HITTING CERTAIN BUMPS. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO DEALER WOULDN'T REPLACE IT AND HYUNDAI HAS NO RECALL. GUESS HYUNDAI IS WAITING FOR SUFFICIENT PEOPLE TO BE KILLED IN ACCIDENTS BEFORE ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. SOUNDS LIKE THE GM IGNITION SWITCH DEBACLE. *TR
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.