2003 Hyundai Santa FE Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 42about this part
- Share
- 14%of 308 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 66,299miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 42 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Hyundai Santa FE, 14% of the 308 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 66,299 miles. 14 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I 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.”
NHTSA complaint #10717369, filed 2015-05, 142,017 miles“The air bag illustration light came on about eight months ago, at first it goes on and off, but finally it stayed on a month after that. When I took it in for a mechanic to run a diagnosis test, he could not find any error code. I asked the dealer if there were any recalls on the airbag, they said no and want to charge me $99 for diagnosis.”
NHTSA complaint #10455475, filed 2012-04, 85,000 miles“On january 4, 2010 I had the vehicle battery replaced. After battery installation the airbag warning light came on and remained on. On jan. 11 I paid $87 to have a diagnostic test which incorrectly indicated that all airbags had been deployed plus a crash was recorded. Mechanic's recommendation was to have srs control module replaced at an estimated cost of over $400.”
NHTSA complaint #10323379, filed 2010-04, 32,263 miles“About 3 months ago, my airbag light came on and was not gone off since. I wondered if this meant I had no airbag function, but now after reading these complaints I know it is not working. This problem combined with the engine that mysteriously and suddenly shuts down while driving on the interstate is not a good combination. I smell trouble.”
NHTSA complaint #10291679, filed 2009-11, 140,000 miles“My Hyundai Santa Fe air bag light turned on. I googled this issue and it seems like a lot of Hyundai Santa Fe owners experienced the same thing a little after reaching 100k miles.”
NHTSA complaint #10876440, filed 2016-06, 102,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11032523Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province…
- 11032522Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 1% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 2 | 1% |
| 2022 | 5 | 2% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 7 | 3% |
| 2019 | 7 | 3% |
| 2018 | 6 | 5% |
| 2017 | 20 | 2% |
| 2016 | 9 | 4% |
| 2015 | 9 | 4% |
| 2014 | 13 | 3% |
| 2013 | 5 | 1% |
| 2012 | 6 | 2% |
| 2011 | 7 | 4% |
| 2010 | 9 | 3% |
| 2009 | 29 | 8% |
| 2008 | 70 | 13% |
| 2007 | 102 | 15% |
| 2006 | 28 | 26% |
| 2005 | 74 | 34% |
| 2004 | 43 | 14% |
| 2003 | 42 | 14% |
| 2002 | 5 | 3% |
| 2001 | 3 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2003 Hyundai Santa FE
56 complaintsBrakes
43 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
35 complaintsBody and structure
30 complaintsElectrical system
28 complaintsVehicle speed control
24 complaintsEngine cooling
21 complaintsFuel system
17 complaintsSteering
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsWheels
13 complaintsOther or unknown
10 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Hyundai Santa FE
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology