Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
0101190108/01/200510018184Automatic transaxle diagnostic trouble codes list. *nm12/16/2005
043602212/01/200410011790Diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p1178 -electronic throttle system (ets) motor power-open and p1118 (ets) motor. *nm01/31/2005
039001505/01/200310002340Seat warmer circuit electrical troubleshooting manual (etm) correction. *tt08/22/2003
039001205/01/200310002337Homelink and electrochromic (ec) mirror circuit diagram electrical troubleshooting manual (etm) correction. *tt08/22/2003
039000803/01/200310002264Power door lock actuator circuit etm/shop manual correction. *tt08/18/2003
025001305/01/20040450002633755G sensor diagnostic trouble code inspection and repair procedure. *jg this bulletin replaces 02-50-013 and 01-50-005 dated aug. 2002. *tt09/24/2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
043601409/01/200410009750Change of alternator (generator) assembly. *tt10/20/2004

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
08/27/2010121577
 2003 hyundai santa fe gs, fwd, 2.7l automatic - battery light intermittently comes on in wet weather and power steering is lost. online research shows other owners of the same vehicle have taken their vehicles to the dealer with the same problem and have received no fixes. losing power steering while driving is a severe safety hazard.
09/01/2010118000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 hyundai santa fe. while leaving a stop sign driving 5 mph the vehicle stalled. he stated the vehicle lost all electrical power. the contact coasted to the side of the road and call a tow company. the contact then decide to restart the vehicle and the vehicle start as normal. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. he called the dealer and they were not familiar with the failure. the failure has only occurred once. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 118,000 and the current mileage was 118,002. vwb
08/27/2010121577
 2003 hyundai santa fe gs, fwd, 2.7l automatic - battery light intermittently comes on in wet weather and power steering is lost. online research shows other owners of the same vehicle have taken their vehicles to the dealer with the same problem and have received no fixes. losing power steering while driving is a severe safety hazard.
09/01/2010118000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 hyundai santa fe. while leaving a stop sign driving 5 mph the vehicle stalled. he stated the vehicle lost all electrical power. the contact coasted to the side of the road and call a tow company. the contact then decide to restart the vehicle and the vehicle start as normal. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. he called the dealer and they were not familiar with the failure. the failure has only occurred once. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 118,000 and the current mileage was 118,002. vwb
08/27/2010121577
 2003 hyundai santa fe gs, fwd, 2.7l automatic - battery light intermittently comes on in wet weather and power steering is lost. online research shows other owners of the same vehicle have taken their vehicles to the dealer with the same problem and have received no fixes. losing power steering while driving is a severe safety hazard.
09/01/2010118000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 hyundai santa fe. while leaving a stop sign driving 5 mph the vehicle stalled. he stated the vehicle lost all electrical power. the contact coasted to the side of the road and call a tow company. the contact then decide to restart the vehicle and the vehicle start as normal. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. he called the dealer and they were not familiar with the failure. the failure has only occurred once. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 118,000 and the current mileage was 118,002. vwb
05/04/2010143772
 Our 2003 hyundai sante fe will shut off while driving with no warning at all. the tachometer drops to zero then the vehicle will restart and continue going. sometimes it will completely shut off while driving or at a stoplight and has to be put and park and cranked. the vehicle also bucks while driving at times and the transmission shift hard when putting in reverse at times. vehicle has been sent to dealership several times and says they cannot fix it without seeing it happen with their computer connected to it. of course, it never occurs for them. nothing has been done to resolve this issue. this happens nearly daily over the last year. the vehicle is not safe to be driven.
04/28/2003550001
 One day in 2003 while driving down the interstate, my 2003 santa fe died and then immediately started again, all by itself. it would happen about once a month, suddenly with no warning. now it occurs almost every time i drive on the highway. it also has occurred at slower speeds. once at a stoplight, it died but did not start again. everything shuts down, even steering. dealer says they can not fix it without seeing it happen. of course, it never occurs for them. *tr
06/18/2008289951
 I own 2003 hyundai sante fe on june 2008 it started stalling,hestitating on the highway it started jerking and engine light came on pulled to side it shut off would not start until hours later, took to dealer diagnostic showed crankshaft ,belt timing plugs, total cost was $1219.84 stated was not warranty, i had them repair , last couple months ,same thing again, but i notice that the jerking and stalling happens after a rainy/humid day the jerking and stalling happen more, was told spark plugs needed to be replace again,still the same problem. i will contact hyundai america and also the bbb about this, i think there should be a recall and taken care of, the stalling while driving can cause an accident which 2 times it almost happen with me. i can not afford to pay this again. doing research this is happening to lots of 2003 , but this has happen prior to 2001 & 2002. i hope to get something resolved. *tr
11/28/2007500001
 I owned a 2003 hyundai santa fe and the heated seat electrical unit failed to shut off and the interior of the car caught on fire (leather seats, dashboard, roof of the car, etc). the car had to be totaled with only 50,000 miles on it and hyundai said there was nothing that they could do about it. i went through my insurance company and filed a total loss and my $25,000 car was settled for $11,000. *tr
09/14/2007830002501/01/2003
 Our 2003 hyundai santa fe has had over 25 instances of engine stalling and power loss. we have the documentation that it was brought it to the attention of a hyundai dealership 4 times and over a 50,000 miles and a 2-1/2 year span. each time it is taken in, the dealer cannot resolve it as they state they require an error code or first hand experience to begin to troubleshoot. i have contacted hundai america and am in the process of faxing over all documentation and nhtsa complaints that mirror the problem we are having. this is becoming an enormous safety hazard and i would like to have nhtsa to investigate hyundai on this issue. *jb
07/21/2007540001511/28/2006
 Our 2003 sante fe will shut off while driving down interstate with no warning at all. the tach drops to zero then the vehicle will restart and continue going. the vehicle also bucks while driving at times and the transmission shift hard when putting in reverse at times. vehicle has been sent to dealership several times with multiple issues. dealership thinks its a electrical problem but states vehicle will have to be taken to different dealership and we would be responsible for a rental car and the repair bill. we purchased the car in november of 2006 and within 45 days of the purchase we started to have problems with the vehicle. sante fe had 54,000 miles when the first problem started and now has 64,000 which they state the vehicle is out of warranty because we are the second owners. nothing has been done to resolve this issue. the vehicle is not safe to be driven on highways because of the shutting off and bucking incident's. *tr
07/02/2007303/18/2003
 I own a 2003 hyundai santa fe and have experienced multiple instances where the engine stalls while i am driving, but will come back on after a short period of time. we have returned the car to the dealer three times and they said they could not find nothing wrong, and would have to see the incident in the process of happening before they could make a definite diagnosis. today while driving to work my husband heard on the radio that chrysler and jeep vehicles were just recalled for this same problem! i really would appreciate any help in getting my hyundai dealer to see that this same problem is happening to my vehicle. *ak
06/01/20051999910103/11/2003
 Tl*- the contact stated that 2 years ago he started having stalling problems with the 2003 hyundai santa fe .s while driving at 55 mph or about 15-25 mph the vehicle will stall. he stated that the dealership had the vehicle on numerous occasions, and they could not find anything wrong with the vehicle. the dealership informed him that unless the check engine light turned onthey would not be able to do diagnostic testing to see what could be wrong with the vehicle. the dealership informed him that he may have to take the vehicle back to the dealership where he purchased it. the contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer and was given a case#, will submit with the hard copy. also, he has contacted the bbb and filed a complaint. the usual driver was too afraid to drive the vehicle now because of the stalling problems. he stated that when the vehicle lost power everything in the vehicle shut down and the steering locked. the failure mileage was 19999, and the current was 61480. the vehicle stalled 101 times azs of 02/23/2007. *ak
07/18/200525000205/01/2004
 Dt: contact states vehicle quit while driving down the highway at 70 mph. it restarted. . in 6-05-05 the dealer changed the computer assembly , and added scan tool operation and changed the relay assembly. the problem recurred. he noticed this happening at approximately. 25,000 miles. at one time the check engine light came on, but it went out the next day. the dealer talked to the manufacturer. *ak
12/10/20038019612/26/2002
 While driving at any speed vehicle stalled. driver was not able to restart vehicle, and had it towed to the dealer for inspection. mechanic determined that the crankshaft position sensor needed to be replaced, and replace it. however, the problem recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer for inspection. then, mechanic replaced the engine compartment relay, fuel sensor assembly, and the computer module. *ak consumer stated there has been 6 incidents/failures that are causing serious concerns with starting and stalling. it became more frequent and started happening while driving santa fe on roads and highway. consumer have confidence in the vehicle and fear of it stalling in the center lane where there is little options except getting hit and possible getting seriously injured. *bf
11/05/200414000106/09/2003
 On november 5, 2004 at approx 7:30 pm our 2003 santa fe with only approx 14,000 miles suddenly died in the middle of the road. all of the vehicle warning lights came on, the heater and radio began making strange noises, the headlamps failed, and the vehicle engine stopped running and would not start, leaving the vehicle in the middle of the road, stranding me and my pregnant wife, with no lights or flashers in the middle of the road on a cold night. hyunadai roadside service contractor cross country motorclub claimed that it would take over 3 hours to get the vehicle towed, so finally 9 after nearly 2 hours) county police towed the vehicle as a traffic hazard to fairfax hyundai. *jb
09/06/20041004/28/2003
 The rear driver side door does not always unlock with the remote. the dealer and hyundai refuse to give me a loaner so i can bring the vehicle back a ninth (9th) time to have it inspected for this and many other concerns so i am unable to have the concern addressed.*ak
07/09/2004103/16/2003
 Right after i purchased my santa fe in march of 2003, at random times my car bucked when the car went over 40 and then when it went over 60. the jerk is strong enough to throw the driver and passengers forward and backward. when i informed the dealer, they said the computer system just needed to get use to the way i drive. as the problem became more frequent and i became more worried, i continued to inform the dealer. i was told that hyundai was aware of the problem;however, the techs had not been authorized to fix the problem. in early june of 2004, i finally was listened to by the manager of the dealership and korean techs had just been in reflashing computers on other sante fe vehicles, trying to fix the problem. i was told that this was the answer. the computer system in my car was replaced with a reflashed computer, and i didn't have any problems for two weeks. on july 9th, the problem began again. *la
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
09/19/20081
 I took my 2003 hyundai santa fe in to the dealer to replace the alternator. i was told that their is a rust hole a little larger than a golf ball in the cradle where the right front control arm bolts into the cradle. they told me it could be a safety hazard! and i should seriously consider replacing the cradle to the tune of 1700 dollars! *tr
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
203/16/2002
 Vehicle reads different mileage than what its suppose to be. *ph the vehicle locks itself. (keys on peg in the house and it locks. per consumer) *sc
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
03/01/2004236411
 While driving at 65 mph vehicle caught on fire. *ak