2002 Hyundai Santa Fe problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (33) · Vehicle Speed Control (15) · Suspension:rear (14)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Santa Fe model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
126 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs 2014-07-18 · campaign 14V435000 · 271,773 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model Year 2001-2006 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from March 31, 2000, through February 15, 2006, that are registered and operated, or which were originally sold and registered, in the following 20 salt belt" states and the District of Columbia: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Vi
Risk: If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the coil spring, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 124.
Service bulletins (52)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DCS · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn), that have been identified in u.s. vehicles following prior
Exterior Lighting 2025-11-06 · 25-BD-012H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (drl), or fog lamp. this tsb illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. lamp assembly replacement is not necessary
Visibility/Wiper 2024-02-14 · 24-BD-001H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. if the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, w
Showing the 6 most recent of 52 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-07-08 · Unknown Or Other“the starter motor housing bottom ear bracket that holds the bolt to the transmission has broken off on 3 different starters in the same exact spot on all 3.…”
2021-10-15 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“while dragging the trash can back to the house, i was approaching fence in front of the house, at a slow speed, as i applied the brakes the car started to accelerate. pressing down harder on the brakes ,it felt like stepping on a brick, with no braking taking place the car accelerated at a high rate. at this time the car crashed into the left si…”
2021-03-03 · Wheels · 190,000 mi“i was riding down the road and felt the car feel as if it was floating. the next thing i know the car feels like the tire came off and it had. rusted completely off. i had two children in the car and came very close to being hit in the rear because i lost control of the vehicle. it seems as if it is the control arm bar. this incident happened on…”
2021-02-05 · Suspension · 160,000 mi“tl* the contact called on behalf of a client who owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. the contact stated that while his client was driving at 55 mph, she experienced what she thought was a flat tire on the rear of the vehicle. as the client began to pull over, the entire passenger's side rear control arm collapsed without warning. due to the failure, the …”
2020-11-10 · Wheels · 1,900,000 mi“my 2002 hyundai santa fe is sharply jerking to the right its almost impossible to stop it sounds as if the car if going to fall into peices im a disabled mom with one one the way i can't drive for fear im going to lose the wheel and crash…”
2020-09-25 · Suspension · 150,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. the contact stated that upon inspection of his rear brakes, he noticed excessive corrosion on the rear trailing arms located by the coil springs. upon investigation, the contact discovered nhtsa campaign number: 09v123000 (suspension) which he linked to the failure. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer…”
2020-03-08 · Suspension“this santa fe has a rear right trailing arm that has completely rusted and has also disintegrated the wheel bearing assembly, wheel hub, emergency brake cable and spring. i checked the website for a recall on this vehicle, there is a recall for the rear trailing arms, but this vin number was not part of the recall. this vehicle has been registered …”
2019-07-23 · Suspension“frame rusted through on at least left side where the control arm is bolted.. previously rear trailing arm rusted through.…”
2019-05-23 · Wheels · 168,000 mi“when accelerating between 30-50 mph, the steering wheel pulls violently to the right. when the accelerator is released, the tension on the wheel goes away. the front tires wear faster then unseal.…”
2019-05-06 · Suspension · 200,000 mi“both lower control arms are rusting out due to salt roadways…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.