VehicleVerdict

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe brakes problems

The 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe has 44 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

44

Brakes complaints

11%

Share of year

7

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Related recalls

04V131000BrakesMarch 16, 2004 · 17,401 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (ABS), IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 3 AND 12 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PAD FRICTION SURFACES ARE WET, A VIBRATION MAY OCCUR BETWEEN THE BRAKE DISCS AND PADS CAUSING ABS SENSOR ELECTRONIC SIGNAL NOISE TO DEVELOP. AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH, THE ABS SENSOR SIGNAL NOISE MAY CAUSE THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO ACTIVATE THE ABS, EXTENDING THE STOPPING DISTANCE.

Consequence

IF AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

What owners report

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENED A THIRD TIME WHICH LED TO ANOTHER ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · October 1, 2004 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe have?

NHTSA has 44 complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe brakes — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe brakes?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 04V131000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.