Worst 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Suspension Failures
Steering Defects
Suspension:Rear
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension Failures | 40 | 2 | — | 200,005 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 15 | — | — | 145,749 mi | |
| Suspension:Rear | 15 | 1 | — | 118,256 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 15 | 1 | — | 111,642 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 10 | — | 1 | 109,954 mi | |
| Brakes | 10 | 1 | — | 122,080 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 9 | — | — | 91,789 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 8 | — | — | 71,906 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 7 | — | — | 86,504 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 6 | — | — | 166,504 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 5 | — | — | 144,803 mi | |
| Fuel System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Rear/Other | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~271,773 vehicles.
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 Âsalt 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 Virginia, and Wisconsin. The affected vehicles may experience front coil spring corrosion from road salt, causing the coil spring to fracture and make contact with the tire.
Other Hyundai Santa Fe Years
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
What are common problems with the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe?
How safe is the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Does the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Santa Fe reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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