VehicleVerdict

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe electrical system problems

The 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe has 30 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 8% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

30

Electrical System complaints

8%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Santa Fe electrical system complaints by model year166 complaints2001: 45 complaints2002: 14 complaints2003: 30 complaints2004: 21 complaints2005: 15 complaints2006: 11 complaints2007: 166 complaints2008: 92 complaints2009: 58 complaints2010: 30 complaints2011: 33 complaints2012: 48 complaints2013: 64 complaints2014: 60 complaints2015: 20 complaints2016: 13 complaints2017: 74 complaints2018: 9 complaints2019: 29 complaints2020: 24 complaints2021: 29 complaints2022: 29 complaints2023: 34 complaints2024: 24 complaints2025: 25 complaints2026: 3 complaints
Santa Fe electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“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.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · November 28, 2007 · fire

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe have?

NHTSA has 30 complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe electrical system — 8% of all complaints filed for that model year.

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.