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: fuel/propulsion system
8 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 17, 2022
The suv stalls while driving. This has happened multiple time. While driving, driving slow, taking a u turn. The battery, alternator, starter, power steering pump, water pump, rack and pinion, timing belt, serpentine belt, idler pulley, harmonic balancer, front axles, shocks, struts, some sensors, spark plugs/wires, gaskets, and many other parts are replaced in the last year. Don't know what is wrong but it is scary when it stalls suddenly.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 25, 2020
GAS PUMP PROBLEM KEEPS CLICKING AND I'VE REPLACE MANY PARTY BUT STILL LIKE ITS FULL OF GAS BUT I BE ON EMPTY.CAR ALSO JERKS LIKE I'VE BEEN REAR ENDED WHILE DRIVING LIKE IT HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND I'VE REPLACE TRANSMISSION 2 TIMES. GEARS ONLY WORK MANUAL IT'S LIKE THE CAR HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN .ALSO MY TIRE FLEW OFF MY CAR ON THE BACK AND HAD TO TAKE TO DEALER SHIP AND THEY WAS SAYING IT'S SOME PROBLEM THEY CAN'T HELP .
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 21, 2019
WHEN GETTING GAS, THE PUMP ALWAYS 'CLICKS OFF' WHEN IM PUMPING GAS. DOES NOT MATTER HOW FULL. THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE A FULL TANK IS TO CONTINUE PUMPING UNTIL GAS COMES OUT THE TOP OF THE FILLER NECK. THIS USUALLY MEANS OVERRIDING AS MANY AS 50 PUMP 'CLICK OFFS'. I HAVE SEEN OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A MANUFACTURING FLAW & NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THIS METHOD OF GETTING A FULL TANK IS NOT DESIRABLE AND WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING A 17 GALLON GAS TANK IF IT TAKES 45MINUTES TO FILL UP. THANK YOU.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 7, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN RE-FUELING, THE FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 14, 2016, fire
V EHICLE CAUGH T ON FIRE IN MOTION CLAIM NUMBER 870190.
Suspension, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 8, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR END WAS LOWER THAN NORMAL. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR-TRAILING ARM AND STRUTS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIR WERE UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED DUE TO RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 24, 2012
WHEN APPROACHING A STOP (<5MPH) AND BRAKING, THE CAR ENGAGES IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE ENGINE WILL TACH TO OVER 3000 RPM AND IF YOU ARE NOT HARD ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE. AT LEAST ONE TIME THE CAR HAD TO BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, May 30, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL TANK TUBE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.