Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Hyundai Santa FE
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Hyundai Santa FE has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 308 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14V435000 Front Coil Spring Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V123000 REAR TRAILING ARM CORROSION FAILURE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V131000 HYUNDAI/ABS ECU NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V520000 HYUNDAI/FMVSS 120/TIRE PRESSURE LABEL NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 56 complaints
- Air Bags 42 complaints
- Power Train 35 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 31 complaints
- Structure 30 complaints
- Electrical System 28 complaints
Of the 308 complaints on file, 26 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 308 complaints, owners report 20 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe shows below-average reliability due to numerous complaints and several recalls, especially related to the suspension and brakes. While there's some clear evidence from recall data and complaints, especially in salt-prone areas, the data is not exhaustive and provides only a limited understanding of potential issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 90,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| Airbags | Unknown | $300–$800 | common |
| Powertrain | 100,000–130,000 miles | $1,000–$3,000 | occasional |
| Brakes | 80,000–110,000 miles | $200–$600 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Replace spark plugs every 30,000 miles
- Inspect brakes annually
- Inspect suspension annually
- Coolant replacement every 60,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Noises from suspension
- ABS light on dashboard
- Airbag warning light
- Vibration during braking
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Hyundai Santa FE at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.