2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Santa Fe 2003

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe repairs by problem area

Engine (27%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (15%)

Brakes and Traction Control (8%)

Suspension and Steering (14%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (31%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (3%)

Other (2%)

Chart based on 93 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe.

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe repair cost distribution

$2500+ (2%)

$1000 - $2499 (10%)

$500 - $999 (15%)

$100 - $499 (34%)

< $100 (39%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 82 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe

Engine not specified

Hyundai Santa Fe in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2008 - Mar 2010
Aug 2008

57040 mi

C $262
Rad pipe was leaking. Pipe was replaced. 

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

turbocharged 111hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 5-speed manual AWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in Poland
Dec 2008 - Mar 2010
Jan 2009

75020 mi

$100
Diesel injector repair 
Hyundai Santa Fe in New Jersey, United States
Jan 2017 - Feb 2018
Jan 2017

135000 mi

US $300
Standard brake and rotor replacement 
Feb 2018

135000 mi
Fuel tank leaking. Covered under warranty 

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

200-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in Virginia, United States
Apr 2012 - Sep 2012
Aug 2012

67900 mi

US $3500
Engine was replaced due to failure. Metal found in oil. Possibly "threw a rod"? 

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

200-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in Manitoba, Canada
Jun 2012 - Jan 2014
Jun 2013

148800 mi

C $2200
Replace Air Conditioner compressor Alternator Replaced replaced rear shocks and front ball joints Harmonic Balancer Replaced 
Oct 2013

150140 mi

C $1000
Replaced Rack & Pinion 
Jan 2014

150660 mi

C $500
Replaced front shocks 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Illinois, United States
Apr 2012 - Apr 2016
Apr 2016

145000 mi

US $900
Bad A/C hoses causing leaks, need to be replaced and recharge 
Hyundai Santa Fe in New York, United States
Oct 2012 - Nov 2012
Nov 2012

64000 mi

US $371
engine would not start, was a vacuum leak at the intake manifold. 

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

173-horsepower 2.7L V6 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in Pennsylvania, United States
Sep 2011 - Nov 2011
Nov 2011

108000 mi

US $1800
In the middle of traffic with 9 month baby and completely stopped. Almost caused accident. Had to be towed. Now sounding loud, squeaking and riding extremely rough. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Utah, United States
Mar 2013 - Jan 2017
Nov 2013

71900 mi

US $1190
Belt broke and caused damage to boot. Had to replace axle 
Feb 2014

78300 mi
Took it in for oil change and tire rotation. Dealer didn't tighten lug nuts. Had to replace wheel. 
Aug 2014

101700 mi

US $375
Leak in a/c. took shop 2 days to find and repair. 
Oct 2014

121000 mi

US $110
replaced battery 
Jun 2016

151000 mi

US $100
Transmission shifting hard between 3 and 4. Took it in to replace transmission fluid no change. Read online that could be computer issue reset computer and worked fine 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Texas, United States
Jan 2018 - Jul 2018
Feb 2018

197000 mi

US $50
AC switch needed replaced 
Jul 2018

204000 mi

US $15
Needed new ac clutch pigtail - loose and kept coming unplugged 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Maryland, United States
Oct 2008 - Aug 2020
Apr 2014

113500 mi
Noticed slack steering. Local shop found that steering shaft rusted away. Posed a danger. Discovered recall, Hyundai paid for the repair. 
Oct 2014

116700 mi

US $400
Replaced return power steering line Cracked pipe 
Dec 2016

131000 mi

US $250
Replaced pieces of the exhaust piping 
Apr 2018

138000 mi
During an oil change, the mechanic reported that oil was bleeding through the reservoir. Rust. Trying to find out whether there is a recall on this. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in North Carolina, United States
Nov 2012 - Mar 2015
Jul 2012

120000 mi

US $7
Noise from power steering pump caused by plugged filter screen in fluid reservoir. Removed reservoir, cleaand screen, replaced fluid. Problem solved. 
Feb 2015

170100 mi

US $350
bushings on sway bar worn...replaced 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Florida, United States
Nov 2010 - Nov 2013
May 2012

153000 mi

US $25
Continue to experience problems with driver side rear brake light failing. Changed bulb, same result. Changed wiring harness, worked for short time. Problem with drivers side rear brake light turned out to be a series of defective bulbs. Returned bulbs and new bulbs are working fine. 
Jul 2012

162000 mi

US $260
Replaced Starter One time per year, over the last 2 years, I have had to have the AC system recharged. Obviously the system is old and will eventually need replacement. 
Aug 2012

163300 mi

US $700
Compressor runs fine but has leak. Replaced compressor, dryer and hose 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Illinois, United States
May 2009 - Mar 2010
Jul 2009

81000 mi

US $185
a/c was not cold 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Nevada, United States
Jan 2010 - Aug 2010
May 2010

108000 mi

US $275
Right front axle, $275. 
Jul 2010

108000 mi

US $650
AC compressor, $650. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in North Carolina, United States
Jul 2008 - Jun 2011
Jun 2009

32000 mi
drive pulley on crankshaft seperated and fell off vehicle 

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

173-horsepower 2.7L V6 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in Pennsylvania, United States
Nov 2013 - Aug 2014
Mar 2014

185000 mi

US $630
Replace front struts 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Florida, United States
Jun 2013 - Jun 2022
Aug 2014

114000 mi

US $9
Replaced left front headlight bulb. 
Oct 2014

120000 mi

US $10
Replaced right front headlight bulb and right rear tail light bulb. 
Nov 2015

131000 mi
Replaced spark plug wires. Car was misfiring in wet weather. 
Dec 2015

135000 mi

US $1
Replace crank position sensor. Check engine lite code indicated sensor failed. Sensor wire insulation was damaged due to age and heat exposure. 
Jun 2016

143000 mi

US $377
Left front wheel bearing failed 
Nov 2016

148300 mi

US $361
Rear brake line rusted out. Lost hydraulic fluids. Replaced brakeline 
Dec 2016

151000 mi

US $390
Replaced rotors, pads, hardware and calipers on all 4 wheels. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Saskatchewan, Canada
Mar 2009 - Mar 2010
Apr 2009

78120 mi

C $700
BOTH FRONT C/V JOINTS CLICKING. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in California, United States
Oct 2014 - Mar 2015
Mar 2015

222000 mi
odometer and speedometer quit working at the same time. Cost to fix was prohibitive because of the location of he problem (wire bundle) 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Illinois, United States
Feb 2003 - Mar 2010
Sep 2003

7000 mi
Transfer case leaking 
Jun 2005

27000 mi
transfer case leaking 
Mar 2009

75000 mi

US $550
Diesel sound continued for from original post. Was fed up and brought back into shop. They replaced the cam chains AGAIN. This time it worked! 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Nevada, United States
Jul 2014 - Apr 2021
Sep 2014

65000 mi

US $900
AC poor performance and leaking. Replaced today AC system. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Wisconsin, United States
Jun 2009 - May 2011
Jan 2010

US $300
trans pan leak 
Mar 2011

121000 mi
noise in rear of vehicle, replaced sway bar with kit. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Pennsylvania, United States
May 2009 - Oct 2013
Jan 2012

78000 mi

US $200
Drive shaft support bearing was replaced 
Jul 2012

83000 mi

US $400
Alternator bearing seized 
May 2013

89000 mi

US $200
Hi pressure hose off the a/c compressor was replaced 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Oregon, United States
Dec 2012 - Jan 2014
Dec 2012

132000 mi

US $300
oil leak, gasket replaced 
Jan 2014 coolant leak. Strong smell of burning coolant 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Massachusetts, United States
Nov 2010 - Jun 2011
Jan 2011

US $330
Hoses that run transmission fluid through the radiator rusted & fluid leaked out. My mechanic called the dealer for parts, they sent the wrong parts, then they sent the right parts. My mechanic replaced them. Herb Chambers Hyundai stinks. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Colorado, United States
Aug 2011 - Jun 2018
Sep 2011

92000 mi

US $76
crankshaft position sensor had frayed wires that made intermittent contact with car jerk resulting. 
Aug 2012

108900 mi

US $5
the dash light "D" bulb went out. Took out dash and replaced bulb 
Jan 2014

102700 mi
My Fob has become almost unusable. It has never worked well(must be with in 2 feet of drivers door) but has deteriorated to almost not working at all. I've resorted to just using the key. 
Apr 2014

137000 mi

US $100
gasket in oil cap had dried up and no longer sealed. Replaced o-ring. Replaced old spark plugs and ignition wires. 
May 2015

157000 mi

US $29
Replaced leaky return line. Replaced two seals on rear of transfer case. Had a leaky oil pan. Replaced the seal with RTV. Replaced the compressor and then recharged system. 
Sep 2016

166000 mi

US $5
Replaced after market oil filter that was causing a knocking noise on start up after a few days of sitting. Never had this happen before, and will stay with OEM oil filters from now on. 
Apr 2017

171000 mi

US $24
passenger side cv joint/transfer case seal 
Jul 2017

176000 mi

US $12
had to replace the front passenger side ABS sensor. 
Apr 2018

179000 mi

US $5
broken cruise control button 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Alberta, Canada
Oct 2011 - Jun 2017
Feb 2012

76260 mi

C $810
Power Transfer Case oil Leak. Remove PTC put a new sealing. 
Jun 2013

90520 mi

C $480
A/C dasn't work. No pressure in A/C system. One hose was liking freon/ replaced, A/C recharged. OK. 
Sep 2014

99200 mi

C $107
Replaced TPS-sensor 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Illinois, United States
Jan 2010 - Jun 2015
Sep 2011

45000 mi
Traction sensor replaced 
Nov 2014

47200 mi

US $250
Engine light on. Reset system corrects problem 
Hyundai Santa Fe in New Jersey, United States
Jun 2009 - Jan 2013
Oct 2009

77000 mi

US $500
Driver side Brake caliper seized-replaced. Front Rotors, pads were also replaced. 
May 2010

82500 mi

US $925
The air conditioner stopped working. Replaced ac compressor, receiver and dryer. 
Jul 2011

99000 mi
Frame of car rusted out. Preventative recall repair done previously did not prevent the problem. Hyundai paid for an entire frame replacement. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Virginia, United States
Jul 2009 - Oct 2012
Oct 2010

88500 mi

US $400
drivers power window would not roll up. master switches replaced. 

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

138-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in Sri Lankia
Sep 2010 - Apr 2011
Oct 2010

43400 mi

$1000
After engine tuning, found air intake sensor was defective. 
Dec 2010

44020 mi

$500
Vehicle developed a strange noise at low speed. Later found out the front axle had a play. Later it was adjusted by the autoshop mechanics. 
Apr 2011

48360 mi

$1000
The vehicle's air conditioning system had to be serviced. The compressor was replaced.  Also, steering wheel rack mounting had to be replaced 

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

138-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in California, United States
May 2012 - Mar 2015
May 2012

98000 mi

US $1100
Needle bearings in transmission failed. Had to replace entire transmission with a good used one from a wrecking yard. Transmission was so jammed with metal fragments that SUV would not go forward or reverse! 
Jul 2012

100000 mi

US $70
The high pressure hose for the power steering pump started leaking fluid to the point that I was having to fill the power steering reservoir every two weeks. 
Mar 2014

118000 mi
Brake fluid leak from under brake fluid reservoir. One of the metal hoses was leaking. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Illinois, United States
May 2016 - Apr 2017
May 2016

158000 mi

US $45
EGR valve (cleaned), which it needed to be, but the biggest problem was the EGR vacuum solenoid, which needed to be replaced. 
Jul 2016

160000 mi

US $100
Frame on driver's side rusted through and cracked. Sway bar links replaced. 
Mar 2017

176000 mi

US $3200
Engine subframe rusted through due to faulty corrosion prevention on certain hyundai models with the 2.4L four-cylinder. Hyundai was sued in 2011 for this problem, it was a class-action lawsuit. Had I have known, I would have taken up to the dealership instead of attempting a frame repair. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Tennessee, United States
Mar 2016 - Apr 2016
Mar 2016

197000 mi

US $1200
Catalytic converter had to be replaced. 

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.