2001 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Suspension is the leading concern among 209 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 4 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 2 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, front, springs, coil springsJul 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 14V435000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearApr 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.
IF THE CORROSION IS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS, THE REAR TRAILING ARM MAY FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Campaign 09V123000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsDec 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."
THE TIRE PRESSURE LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
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.
Campaign 03V520000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, starter assemblyJan 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.
A DAMAGED CPS CAPACITOR COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALLING.
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.
Campaign 03V030000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
35 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Aug 27, 2002
OCCASIONALY AS I DRIVE AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM, CLOCK WILL FLASH, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THE ALERNATOR WILL NOT CHARGE THE BATTERY. OCCASIONALY WHEN I STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF I WILL COME BACK OUT TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY BEING DEAD AND NOT BEING CHARGED BY THE ALTERNATOR. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED ONCE ON 7/26/02 AND IT IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. I AM IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS AT WWW.SANTAFEFORUM.NET AND ALOT OF THEM ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Aug 26, 2002
FROM THE FIRST DAY WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE (6-01-01) THE KEYS STUCK IN THE IGNITION & WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THEM OUT WITHOUT JIGGLING THE GEARSHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO PATTERSON'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 10-25-01, 3-1-02, 7-5-02, & 8-7-02, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER REPAIRED. ON THE LAST OCCASION THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAUSED AN EVEN GREATER PROBLEM TO OCCUR. EVIDENTLY THEY HAVE DISCONNECTED THE SAFETY MECHANISM WHICH KEEPS ONE FROM REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IN ALL GEARS EXCEPT PARK. NOW WE CAN TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION IN ANY GEAR. WHEN WE DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO OUR GARAGE THIS PAST FRIDAY, AUGUST 23RD, WE PUT THE GEARSHIFT INTO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS PARK (THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER), TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND STARTED GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT TURNED OUT THE GEARSHIFT WAS IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO PARK NOW ESPECIALLY IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT FULLY DEPRESSED PAST THE NORMAL STOPPING TENSION. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Electrical system, Jul 22, 2002
THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, WE WERE STOPPED AT LIGHT AND THE RADIO STARTED TO GO OUT AND THE CLOCK LIGHT DIMMED. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY (IT SAT ON THE SHIP TOO LONG AND DRAINED THE BATTERY). ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND THEY SAID THAT THE CONNECTIONS TO THE BATTERY WERE CORRODED AND THAT I MUST CLEAN THE CONNECTIONS EVERY 3K MILES...YEAH RIGHT! ANOTHER MONTH WENT BY AND THE DOME LIGHTS BEGAN FADING, THE CAR WAS VERY SLOW TO TURN OVER, AND THE A.C. WOULD BARELY WORK. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. FINALLY, THIS WEEKEND, THE STUPID THING WOULDN'T TURN OVER, LEAVING MY WIFE AND 4 MONTH OLD CHILD STRANDED IN 95+ DEGREE TEXAS HEAT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS LEFT ME A MESSAGE RIGHT AT BUSINESS END TODAY STATING THAT THE "NEW" ALTERNATOR IS EXPECTED IN ON WEDNESDAY BUT THAT THEY HAVE "INTERESTING" NEWS TO REPORT ON THIS PROBLEM. I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT TO SEE WHAT THIS MIGHT BE. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO HAVE OUR ENTIRE LIFE REARRANGED 4 TIMES, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. THE WORST PART IS THAT I LOVE THE WAY THE SANTA FE DRIVES, FEELS, LOOKS. JUST WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO USE THE STUPID WARRANTY THIS MUCH. JUST HOPE THIS IS NOT HAPPENING TO EVERY SANTA FE OWNER AS I KNOW THESE CARS ARE BIG SELLERS! THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VENT!*AK
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 28, 2002
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD.. VEHICLE STALLS OUT EVEN WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON. ALSO, LATELY THE VEHICLE IS USING ALOT OF GAS AND IS PULLING. VEHICLE HAS STARTED TO HESTITATE WHEN ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. DEALER WAS INFORMED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
Electrical system, Jun 7, 2002
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY NOTICE WILL LOSE POWER, AND CONSUMER CAN NO LONGE ACCELERATE VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Electrical system, Equipment, Apr 18, 2002
WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, THE RADIO STARTED TURNED OFF BY ITSELF. I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF A STORE. I WENT IN AND DID MY SHOPPING AND THEN WENT TO ANOTHER STORE. WHEN I GOT DONE AT THE 2ND STORE, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I HAD SOMEONE GIVE ME A JUMP START AS THE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE WAS GOING TO TAKE 3 HOURS. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DROPPED IT OFF. THAT WAS A SATURDAY AND THEY WERE ALREADY CLOSED. BY THE TIME THEY LOOKED AT IT ON MONDAY, THE CAR STARTED. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS ON MY LUNCH BREAK. THE RADIO STARTED TO GO OFF BY ITSELF AGAIN AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM OUT. I DROVE IT AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD SEE WHAT IT WAS DOING. THEY SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND 5 DAYS LATER IT BEGAN AGAIN. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN MY RADIO TURNED OFF AND THE LIGHTS DIMMED OUT AGAIN. THE CAR WAS WANTING TO STALL OUT AGAIN. WHEN I TURNED IT OFF, IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. ANOTHER 5 DAYS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEY REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY. IT WAS IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES. THEY SAID THE UPGRADED ALTERNATOR AND THE GEL BATTERY THEY INSTALLED WILL KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, BUT SAID THE TEXAS HEAT IN AUGUST HAD SOME EFFECT ON IT. WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AGAIN IN AUGUST. SO FAR SO GOOD. I JUST WANTED TO REPORT IT AND JUST FOUND OUT WHERE TO DO IT.*AK
Electrical system, Dec 18, 2001, fire
THE CAR WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK AND REVERSE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR THE DAY BEFORE AND WHILE IN PARK AT THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR'S STARTER CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS PUT OUT BY THE MECHANIC. NO INJURIES, THANK GOODNESS IT HAPPENED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND A FIRE EXTINQUISHER WAS AVAILABLE!!
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Dec 5, 2001
AT APPROXIMATLELY 50-60 MPH THE CAR HAS A ENGINE MISS. CAR LOSES POWER THAT CAN LAST FOR A SECOND OR MORE. PROBLEM IS A INTERMITTENT ONE. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE COMPUTER AND THE MASS AIR SENSOR BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN THE TRUCK IS UNDER LOAD IE: GOING UP A HILL, PASSING. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Oct 24, 2001
VEHICLE HESTITATES ON ACCELERATION,AND CUTS OFF. HARNESS, THROTTLE BODY, THROTTLE BODY SENSOR, COMPRESSOR, EGR GASKET, PLUGS, VALVES, ETC., ALL REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIX PROBLEM. THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM, PER STEVE HICKMAN (MAN. REP) AND DEALERSHIP. AFTER REPLACING HARNESS, STEVE HICKMAN ASSURED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FIXED, THE VEHICLE STILL CUTS OFF AND THE RPM BOUNCES UP AND DOWN WHILE THE TRUCK IS BUCKING AND THEN IT WILL CUT OFF!! SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD!! *AK (DOT NUMBER: HMA010900 TIRESIZE: P225/70-16)
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, May 11, 2001, fire
WHILE DRIVING WOULD NOTICE FUMES ENTERING VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC INDICATED THAT A SHORT IN IGNITION SYSTEM WAS CAUSING PROBLEM. ALSO, HAD ENTIRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM REPLACED.*AK