There are 14 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VISOR ON THE VEHICLE BROKE FROM THE ARM AND FELL DOWN. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VISOR WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR IS DEFECTIVE. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE THE SUN VISOR WOULD NOT STAY UP IN THE UNUSED POSITION. FOR SEVERAL YEARS I HELD IT IN PLACE WITH VELCRO. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SWING IT OVER TO COVER THE SIDE WINDOW. RECENTLY THE ENTIRE PLASTIC CONNECTOR BROKE AND THE SUN VISOR DANGLED FROM THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER.THIS OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. WE USED VELCRO AND DUCT TAPE IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE SUN VISOR FROM DANGLING. IT WAS NOT USABLE. WE HAVE NOW DISCONNECTED THE SUN VISOR FROM THE ELECTRICAL SOURCE AND REMOVED IT COMPLETELY. IT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DANGLING IN FRONT OF THE DRIVE. IT IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DO NOT A MEANS TO BLOCK THE SUN FROM THE DRIVER. I NOTICED ON THE INTERNET THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME HYUNDAI DEFECT. *TR
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS WOULD ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY. THEN, THE BACK WINDOWS FOLLOWED SUIT. THEN, THEY ALL STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL WOULD STILL WORK.. THEN IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. NOTHING WORKED AT ALL. MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE WHOLE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL PANEL AND THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. NOW, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS WORKING ONLY WHEN IT WANTS TO AGAIN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR FIXED WINDOW ON THE LEFT QUARTER PANEL BLEW OUT. THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER BOTH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS BOLTS HAVE LOOSENED 5 TIMES SINCE 2003. THE LATEST WAS ON 4/12/07. THE TIME BEFORE WAS 0 ON 1/28/07. FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE EVENTS HAPPENED DURING RAIN AND SNOW EVENTS ON I- 95 DRIVING AT 65 MPH. ONE SECOND YOU CAN SEE, THE NEXT YOU CANNOT. I FOR ONE HAVE NEVER SEEN BOLTS HOLDING WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS ONTO THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. OBVIOUSLY FOR GOOD REASON. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD COME FOR AN INSPECTION. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE IS NO DAMAGE FROM A ROCK OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE CRACK STARTS APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES ABOVE THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD EDGE AND MAKES AN ARC TOWARD THE CENTER A FEW INCHES THEN UPWARDS ABOUT 12 INCHES. THE VIEW THROUGH ONE SIDE OF THE CRACK IS DISTORTED AS COMPARED TO THE VIEW ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CRACK.
WINDOE WIPER BOLT BECOMES LOOSE ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
CRACKED WINDSHIELD. *AK
THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2004 INSTALLED WITH A MOON ROOF WITHOUT THE WIND DEFLECTOR CAN GIVE A SEVERE HEADACHE IF KEPT OPEN WHEN ALL OTHER WINDOWS ARE CLOSED. WHEN THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED FOR A WIND DEFLECTOR, THEY SAID IT IS NOT AVAILABLE. *LA
DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AND DRIVER'S WINDOW BLEW IN.DEALER KNOWS OF NO SAFETY DEFECTS.*AK
MY 2003 SANTE FE'S SUNROOF LEAKS.NO MATTER IF I AM DRIVING OR THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.DEALERSHIP STATED WHEN I ASKED ABOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. THEY HAD TRIED ON OTHER OCCASIONS WITH OUT SUCCESS.I HAVE CALLED THE CORP.OFFICE ABOUT THIS SITUATION WITH NO LUCK!LOOK'S LIKE I AM STUCK!*AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES, AND HAS THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *LA THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE WIPER BLADES BUT BE LOOSENED FROM THE WINDSHIELD MANUALLY BEFORE THEY ARE TURNED ON OR THEY WILL NOT WORK. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD THE CONSUMER TO TRY AND FIND ANY LOOSE NUTS AND RE-TIGHTENED THEM, WHICH THE CONSUMER DID, WHICH DID NOT KEEP THE WIPERS FROM STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE RUNNING BOARDS AND HAD THEM REPLACED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE HEATER MADE A NOISE AS IF SOMETHING WAS CAUGHT IN THE FAN BOX. *JB
THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHICH CAUSES THE CONSUMER NOT TO SEE VEHICLES OR OBJECTS. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
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