There are 7 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
RIGHT SIDE MAIN FRAME RUSTED THREW. CAN NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. CAR FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES THE CAR IS TOTALED AND NOT COVERED BY CAR INSURANCE !!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HAVE A FRONT END ALIGNMENT PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED THAT ONE OF THE BOLTS HAD FRACTURED INTO THE FRAME AND THE OTHER BOLT WOULD BRAKE SOON. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO PERFORMED THE ALIGNMENT AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 219,000.
HYUNDAI 2002 SANTA FE BEGAN DRIFTING DURING DRIVING AND DEVELOPED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. BROUGHT TO GARAGE - DURING INSPECTION FOR CAUSE, MECHANIC FOUND RUSTED FRAME WHERE FRONT BOLT OF CONTROL ARM IS BOLTED TO FRAME (FRAME COMPLETELY GONE, BOLT WAS NOT ATTACHED TO ANYTHING). FRAME AND TIRES REPLACED AND ALIGNMENT ACCOMPLISHED TO FIX PROBLEM - OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. CAR WAS PART OF INITIAL RUST RECALL AND INSPECTED BY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WITH ONLY ACTION BEING UNDERCOATING APPLIED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT REPAIRED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FRONT FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.
MY 2002 SANTE FE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR REAR TRAILING ARM REPAIR AND I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR A LOANER CAR. THE DEALER IS FAR FROM BOTH MY HOME AND WORK AND THIS WILL REQUIRE ME TO RENT A CAR AT MY EXPENSE. REPAIRING THE DEFECT IS THE VERY LEAST HYUNDAI SHOULD DO. TO TRULY BE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER, THE RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE A LOANER CAR, AS IT WOULD WITH ANY WARRANTY REPAIR. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTE FE IN SPRING 2007. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO I BEGAN TO FEEL THE CAR WHEEL JERK ON THE FREEWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR HOME AND ASKED MY BOYFRIEND TO DRIVE THE CAR AND SEE HOW HE FELT IN IT. THAT NIGHT ON HIS WAY TO WORK AS HE WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY THE TIRE POPPED OFF. WHEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CAR STORE THE MECHANIC SAID THE TIRE POPPED OFF DUE THE FRONT SUBFRAME BEING ROTTED AND RUSTED OUT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WILL BE $3400. NO ONE WAS INJURED. HOWEVER DURING THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES I CAN BARELY MAKE ENDS MEET. MY FAMILY HAS NO TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOL OR WORK. GRANTED THAT I RECEIVE THE JOB OFFER FROM A COMPANY I RECENTLY INTERVIEWED WITH I WILL BE UNABLE TO ACCEPT FOR I HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION TO GET THERE. I NOTICE THAT HYUNDAI HAS THIS PROBLEM WITH MANY OF ITS CARS WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THEIR QUALITY? *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026