2003 Hyundai Santa FE Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 28about this part
- Share
- 9%of 308 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 83,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 28 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Hyundai Santa FE, 9% of the 308 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 83,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 4 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10231073, filed 2008-06, 50,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10291677, filed 2009-11, 55,000 miles“The car looses power but comes rite back ..sometimes stalls while in traffic but starts rite up..going on interstate lost power tact dropped to o all power lost came back on its own also cd player will come on by itself I think it may be something electrical I have read online many of the same problems with the sante fe of that year ..no fix what is the deal with that no fix something is up with that lots of complaints online that I have read to many of the same problem Hyundai must know what is wrong but don't want to fix it to costly for the company...to bad for the consumer!!!”
NHTSA complaint #10652876, filed 2014-11, 87,000 miles“2003 Hyundai sante fe gls - drove through a 2 inch deep puddle. Lost power steering, battery light and brake light flashed then a rubber burning smell started. Drove the car for two additional days after the repair shop couldn't find anything. Then driving home from work, airbag light turned on, brake light turned on battery light turned on, all analog instruments failed, tach failed, braking became inconsistent and engine started missing. I drove directly to repair shop, as I made my final turn into the repair shop the power steering failed then the car shutoff. …”
NHTSA complaint #10513108, filed 2013-05, 112,000 miles“I was driving down the road going about 40 to 45 miles an hour on a busy road. I had my grandchildren in the car with me. The car all of a sudden shut off on me. Thank god I had enough momentum to pull over on the side of the road. I couldn't get the car to start so I sat there with them praying I wouldn't get hit. After a while it started up again and I went maybe two feet and it died again. I was able to roll into an empty garage and I called my husband. There was an auto zone near by so he got a machine which said what was wrong. It said it was the crankshaft sensor. …”
NHTSA complaint #10551630, filed 2013-11, 139,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10174808Apr 23, 2020This bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: ⢠A Battery SOC alert - low Battery State of Charge (SOC) at or below 50%. ⢠A 30 Day…
- 10170883Jan 16, 2020This bulletin provides guidelines to inspect the USB, head unit, and multi-box for common connection conditions. 2. This bulletin presents guidelines to inspect for common…
- 10128154Dec 1, 2017This SKU is an Air Conditioning Bypass Pulley. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for potential bracket cracking. Bracket cracks may cause…
- 10128153Dec 1, 2017This SKU is an Air Conditioning Bypass Pulley. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for potential bracket cracking. Bracket cracks may cause…
- 10018184Aug 1, 2005Automatic transaxle diagnostic trouble codes list.
- 10011790Dec 1, 2004Diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p1178 -electronic throttle system (ets) motor power-open and p1118 (ets) motor.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 14% |
| 2025 | 29 | 21% |
| 2024 | 30 | 19% |
| 2023 | 36 | 17% |
| 2022 | 32 | 16% |
| 2021 | 29 | 17% |
| 2020 | 25 | 11% |
| 2019 | 27 | 13% |
| 2018 | 9 | 8% |
| 2017 | 70 | 7% |
| 2016 | 11 | 5% |
| 2015 | 20 | 8% |
| 2014 | 49 | 10% |
| 2013 | 53 | 9% |
| 2012 | 43 | 12% |
| 2011 | 25 | 14% |
| 2010 | 28 | 11% |
| 2009 | 50 | 14% |
| 2008 | 74 | 14% |
| 2007 | 97 | 14% |
| 2006 | 10 | 9% |
| 2005 | 10 | 5% |
| 2004 | 18 | 6% |
| 2003 | 28 | 9% |
| 2002 | 11 | 7% |
| 2001 | 35 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2003 Hyundai Santa FE
56 complaintsBrakes
43 complaintsAir bags
42 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
35 complaintsBody and structure
30 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 30, 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