Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I took possession of a brand-new Hyundai Santa Fe (2003 - 25 miles on odometer) on Friday, June 20, 2003. Saturday, June 21,2003 I took the car out for a drive. Driving at 35 miles MPH the transmission shifted (by it self) out of "drive (d") into ...? (neutral, I'm guessing by the revving of the engine). The car rolled slowly due to its own forward momentum, however, pressing on accelerator succeeding in only revving up the engine - "drive" refused to engage. Several attempts were futile. I shut the car down (after limping to the side of a 6-lane road in traffic!). Waited a few moments (perhaps a minute or two) and restarted the car. The transmission once more would not engage into drive. I shut the car down again and waited a little longer (perhaps two -three minutes) and started it again. This time the transmission engaged and I drove it home - very carefully! …
I own a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe. It broke down on April 29th, 2006. My car was brought to fucillo Hyundai in schenectady, new york. My car improperly diagnosed here as having a worn clutch. When I declined to have my car fixed at this location and took it to opitz transmission, it was discovered that the flywheel was broken as well. I contacted fuccillo, who declined to have the flywheel fixed under the warranty agreement that came with the purchase of the car. This warranty agreement does not state that the flywheel is not covered. I also contacted Hyundai motor America and spoke with two different people. One told me the part was covered under warranty and should be fixed, another told me the part would not be covered. The cost of the flywheel was $1276 plus tax and could only be ordered through a Hyundai dealership. I had my car fixed by opitz transmission in schenectady, ny. …
The clutch on my 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe (58,000 miles)went out on the nj turnpike at the start of a week long family vacation. Maxon Hyundai in union, nj claimed that my driving had burned the clutch out (I have been driving stick for 12 years and my previous car- a Saturn- had over 100,000 miles on it and the original clutch when I sold it) and when the clutch went it damaged the fly wheel. They claimed that the fly wheel, though part of the power train supposedly covered under their warranty, was not covered since it was my fault that it was damaged. They further indicated that replacing the clutch and putting the old fly wheel on would just cause me to burn out another clutch leading me to believe that the fly wheel is what caused the clutch to go in the first place. Anyway, I did pay for the clutch to be replaced but not the flywheel and then I traded it in on a new Saturn vue. …
I purchased a used 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe in December 2008. The vehicle operated well for six months. Suddenly, while driving on the freeway one day, the car began to jerk. The problem went away for two months, then returned more violently with the vehicle turning off while at stops and driving in traffic, even at 35 to 40 MPH. I noticed the RPM's drop suddenly when the car jerks. However, the check engine light doesn't come on, and neither do any other indicators that something is wrong with the vehicle. I have paid to get the crankshaft sensor and coils repaired on the car, but the problem still persists. After almost three years of having the vehicle, which I am still paying off to the finance company, the car still jerks while driving even at 30 MPH within in a 2 mile radius of my home. …
We purchased this vehicle used in June of 2014 with 62,450 miles on it. The exterior and interior were in great shape. The vehicle was taken to a Hyundai dealer in July for an inspection of the rear suspension per a recall. At that time a complete inspection was done, with only a small oil leak found on one axle shaft. Two months later the vehicle was take back to the dealer for a recall for a broken spring. At this time a second inspection was completed. This time several issues were found from corrosion including leaking transmission lines, leaking engine oil pan, leaking boots at the front drive axles requiring them both needing to be replaced. The service manager at the Hyundai dealer stated he had never seen a vehicle with this level of corrosion. All components under the vehicle have extensive corrosion with apparently a rapid rate of deterioration. …
This vehicle (2003 Hyundai Santa Fe) started having transmission problems just be for the warranty expired (100,000 miles), but we were told at the dealer that the warranty did not cover the power train system. So we paid to have some work done. But just today we woke up and went out to use the vehicle, and it will not go in gear, will not in neutral so we can move it or push it. It's just locked up, (fluid leaves are OK) if this were to happen to any one with this kind of vehicle in traffic it could be traffic problem. I do know others who own this kind of vehicle and do not have any problems, but I also know of one individual that has had transmission problems with theirs. So I'm just concerned on if I am the only person with this problem or if their are others, and why if they offer a 100,000 mi. Warranty dose it not cover the drive train? This dose not make sense to me. …
3 times this happened on said day. Driving on freeway. With cruise control on car lurched forward jerking all three of us. A couple days later sitting at an intersection waiting for the light to change green. The car lurched forward again. Tossing me back causing my foot to come off the brake! Luckily I was able to get my foot back on the brake before I moved too many feet into the crosswalk. I spoke to beaverton Hyundai and they said they were unaware of this... I mentioned it was out on the internet and on the Hyundai forum. I was told it was not their forum therefore they don't look at it... I have owned the car for 10 years. This has happened several times through the years I have driven this car but it is getting worse and scarier!!
Tl contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked and he attempted to accelerate, the transmission malfunctioned and the vehicle lunged forward; the duplicate failure occurred when he shifts to reverse gear. The failure occurred intermittently after the vehicle was parked and then restarted. The dealer stated that the diagnostic test did not indicate any error codes. He called the manufacturer three times and was instructed to take the vehicle to the dealer and if there were no codes, he would have to pay the repair expense. The current mileage was approximately 32,100. The failure mileage was 28,546.
A crack in the windshield appeared one day. Nothing had hit the windshield. It is a small ARC on the drivers side about 3" from the bottom of the windshield. When I brought it to the dealership they said that something hit it and the heat inside the car caused it to crack. The place where they said something hit the windshield only the point of a pin could fit in. I know nothing hit it. One a few occasions I have noticed a grinding sound coming from the transmission. I also have had the ABS engage when the breaks were not being applied and the road surface dry. There wasn't a reason for them to engage.
From time to time, my 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe with an automatic transmission jerks violently while under normal operating conditions. Sometimes this occurs while traveling at a steady speed (around 40 MPH) and sometimes it happens just after I resume acceleration after lifting off of the accelerator (coasting). I really have to 'baby' the accelerator all of the time or this would happen much more often. There is a definite problem here, which could potentially cause harm to myself and others on the road. Unfortunately, I know that nothing will ever be done to correct or address this problem.
Transmission complaints in other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe, 11% of the model year's 308 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.