There are 41 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE AIRBAG LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON - I AM NOW ON MY THIRD REPAIR TO FIX THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. I LIKELY NEED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS! SO COSTLY BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SO HOW CAN I NOT? THIS IS A KNOWN AND ONGOING ISSUE AND HYUNDAI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND COVER THIS DEFECT.
MY AIRBAGS WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL TO TREAT MULTIPLE BODILY INJURING, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I OVERSHOT A TURN AND HIT A POLL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR FLIPPED AND WAS TOTALED. AGAIN, NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES OF THE CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS. I FEEL AS THOUGH THESE SHOULD HAVE WORKED PROPERLY AND THAT I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT ANY WORSE, AS MORE SERIOUS INJURIES COULD HAVE THEN OCCURRED.
MY AIRBAGS WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL TO TREAT MULTIPLE BODILY INJURING, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I OVERSHOT A TURN AND HIT A POLL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR FLIPPED AND WAS TOTALED. AGAIN, NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES OF THE CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS. I FEEL AS THOUGH THESE SHOULD HAVE WORKED PROPERLY AND THAT I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT ANY WORSE, AS MORE SERIOUS INJURIES COULD HAVE THEN OCCURRED. IF NEEDED, I HAVE MORE PICTURES; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FILE SIZE ALLOWED, I HAVE LIMITED IT TO KEY PICTURE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
WAS DRIVING DOWN PENDLETON PIKE GOING SOUTH TURN ON 38TH STREET GOING WEST,THEIR WAS BIG LOUD POP I THOUGH I BLEW A TIRE OVER SEEN THE AIR BAG HAD EXPLODED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT THIS HAPPENED ON 2/13/2017 MY NAME IS [XXX] EMAIL [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ON 2/13 2017 MY AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED, WHICH ALL AIR NO GOOD. CALL HYN DEALER TOLD ME 2500 DOLLARS TO FIX NO ACCIDENT JUST DRIVING. I THOUGHT I BLUE A TIRE AND IT WAS MY PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG MY NAME IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NEVER HAD ACCIDENT AIR BAG LIGHT JUST CAME ON NO REASON JUST STARTED IT UP NOT MOVING.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, A TRACTOR TRAILER COLLIDED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAINT THE CONTACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO HIS CHEST AND BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND SEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ UPDATED 03/22/16.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK WHILE TRYING TO ATTACH A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCHING MECHANISM WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT COMES UNLATCHED WHEN HITTING CERTAIN BUMPS. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO DEALER WOULDN'T REPLACE IT AND HYUNDAI HAS NO RECALL. GUESS HYUNDAI IS WAITING FOR SUFFICIENT PEOPLE TO BE KILLED IN ACCIDENTS BEFORE ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. SOUNDS LIKE THE GM IGNITION SWITCH DEBACLE. *TR
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.
750.00 DOLLARS FOR PART 500.00 TO PUT IT IN PASSENGER SIDE DASH CANT HYUNDAI TAKE PRIDE AND EAT THIS BILL SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THIS BIG. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY TO HER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE INDICATED THAT IT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THEY ALSO ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY BE DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
MY SEAT BELT ALL-OF-A-SUDDEN STARTED POPPING OUT AFTER BEING SNAPPED IN PLACE. IT HAS DONE THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE LAST WEEK. YESTERDAY, IT MUST HAVE DONE IT ABOUT FIVE TIMES. I HAVE TO KEEP SNAPPING IT IN PLACE AND TUGGING ON IT TO MAKE SURE IT IS SECURE. IT IS ESPECIALLY UNNERVING WHEN IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. YOU MAY LEAN TO THE SIDE AND ALL-OF-A-SUDDEN IT POPS OUT. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN, BUT MY GREATEST CONCERN IT MAY FAIL WHEN I NEED IT MOST, LIKE IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS NEEDED TO BE CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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. *JS
IN MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RECEIVER, FEMALE PART, HAS WORN OUT TWICE IN 99,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE SECOND TIME I HAD TO PAY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A SEAT BELT RECEIVER WARE OUT BEFORE. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT NHTSA SHOULD ADDRESS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CLOCK SPRING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
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.
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THIS HAPPENED 18 MONTHS AGO AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER WANTS $70 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM PLUS REPAIR COSTS SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. NO THANKS. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 41 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026