2002 Hyundai SANTA FE: complaints, problems and recalls

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ALARMING GRINDING SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. GRINDING SOUND OF THE BRAKES OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ON SNOW-COVERED ROADS. (NAR) *LA ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 30 MINUTES THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059893 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT BRAKES REPAIRED, I WAS INFORMED THAT CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON RIGHT TIRE WERE BAD, PARTS WERE LOOSE AND NOT STATIONARY. *BF THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT TIRE WERE BALD ON THE INSIDE DUE TO THE WAY THE ALIGNMENT HAD CHANGED AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099938 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2002 V6 4WHEEL DR HYUNDAI SANTA FE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65- 70 MPH DROPPED A DRIVE LINE, IGNITING FLAMES TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. LITHIA OF FRESNO CLAIMS IT WAS DUE TO LOW FLUIDS IN THE TRANSFER CASE, THUS IT OVERHEATED AND THE LINE SNAPPED OFF. I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED 2 WEEKS PRIOR, THE FLUIDS WERE FINE, THE TRANSFER CASE WAS OKAY. THERE WAS A VAGUE HUM IN THE DRIVE OF THE CAR AFTER RETURNING FROM THE MOUNTAINS THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. OTHER 2ND OPINIONS BELIEVE THE AUTO SWITCH IN THE SMART SYSTEM FAILED AND LEFT IT …

Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112072 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE TRACK CONTROL ENGAGED . THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLETO THE DEALER, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113700 at NHTSA ↗

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH MY 2002 SANTA FE. THE FIRST BEING 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I HEARD A CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE SUSPSENION NOT RESPONDING SMOOTHLY. WHEN THE DEALER CHECKED THE PROBLEM, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. SINCE THIS TIME, I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED FREQUENTLY, (SINCE I PERCEIVE A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH GRINDING AND PROBLEMS STOPPING...THE CAR DOESN'T STOP WELL)...AND I'M OFTEN AFRAID IT WON'T STOP.…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114122 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER'S 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. *NM THE COMPANY HAS ANOTHER 2002 SANTA FE( VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER [VIN removed]) THAT HAS THE SAME UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER. NUMEROUS SERVICE HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115617 at NHTSA ↗

4/6/06 I HAD AN AUTO ACCIDENT GOING 75 MPH IN A 70 ZONE. FULL IMPACT OF MY FRONT END TO THE OPPOSING PARTIES VEHICLE (SUV). I DID A 360 AND FLIPPED AND LANDED ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. NEITHER DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE. I SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES - CURRENTLY IN TREATMENT. MY VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND IS NOW IN A SALVAGE YARD.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121875 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING CAR WITH AC ON THE BATTER DIES BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW NO ONE WILL ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR

Owner-reported narrative. 52,420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127658 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7 LITER V-6 ENGINES, IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS (CPS) WERE INSTALLED. THE CPS CASES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND DID NOT MEET DIMENSIONAL SPECIFICATIONS. INTERNAL GAPS WITHIN THE CASES ALLOWED EPOXY TO CONTACT THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD, WHICH RESULTED IN CRACKING OF THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD CAPACITOR.

Consequence: A DAMAGED CPS CAPACITOR COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALLING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CPS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-829-9956.

Reported: 2003-12-18 (December 18, 2003)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Consequence: THE TIRE PRESSURE LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECT LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Reported: 2009-04-16 (April 16, 2009)

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 83,355 MY 2001-2003 SANTA FE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE JURISDICTIONS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE REAR TRAILING ARMS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO THINNING OR PERFORATION OF THE REAR TRAILING ARM STEEL. OWNERS MAY SEE OR FEEL SLIGHT TO MODERATE CHANGES IN VEHICLE OPERATION WHICH WILL INCREASE IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRED. THESE CHANGES INCLUDE A LOWERING OF VEHICLE HEIGHT THAT CAN LEAD TO TIRE MISALIGNMENT AND STEERING PULL. OWNERS MAY ALSO NOTICE A CREAKING SOUND.

Consequence: IF THE CORROSION IS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS, THE REAR TRAILING ARM MAY FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR TRAILING ARMS FOR INTERNAL CORROSION DAMAGE. IF SPECIFIED LEVELS OF CORROSION DAMAGE ARE FOUND, THE REAR TRAILING ARMS WILL BE REPLACED. REAR TRAILING ARMS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT WILL HAVE DRAINAGE HOLES ADDED AND WILL BE TREATED WITH RUST-PROOFING MATERIAL TO ARREST THE CORROSION PROCESS. INSPECTION, TREATMENT AND REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES WILL BE CONDUCTED AT NO COST TO OWNERS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Reported: 2014-07-18 (July 18, 2014)

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 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.