Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND MY 2.4L ENGINE JUST STOPPED AND IT WAS TOWED HOME THE TIMING BELT IS CHEWED UP. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF THESE ENGINES THE 2.4L
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD AIR TO THE FOUR TIRES AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION AND AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
THE BELT THAT RUNS THE ALTERNATER HAS BROKEN TWICE AND CONTINUOUSLY IS SQUEALING IT WONT KEEP SPEED WHEN GOING UP HILL AND WONT LET BATTERY CHARGE CORRECTLY TO KEEP RUNNING WILL STOP WHEN IT IS BEING RAN
ON 6/17/14 MY CARS FRONT RIGHT WHEEL FELL OFF. I FOUND TWO RECALLS ON THE INTERNET FOR THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS TOWED/REPAIRED FOR 782.00. IN JULY 2014, HYUNDAI MADE AN INSPECTION OF THE WORK. I ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALL BUT WAS DECLINED AS NOT BEING WITHIN A CAMPAIGN. RECENTLY, THE REAR BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPER WERE REPLACED (FOR THE SECOND TIME). .AFTERWARD, A NOISE I HEARD BECAME LOUDER. ON 8/11/16 THE NOISE WAS DIAGNOSED. IT WAS FOUND THAT NEW SHOCKS WERE NEEDED, AND "REAR PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARM IS STARTING TO ROT FROM RUST AND CAUSE NOISE." I WAS TOLD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BY HYUNDAI. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM NATIONAL AUTO SALES IN GLASSBORO, NJ. HYUNDAI APPARENTLY DID NOT KNOW I AM THE OWNER OF THE CAR, AND I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES FROM HYUNDAI. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ENGINE AND SENSOR PROBLEMS AND MANY OTHERS. I WANT TO AVOID ANOTHER ACCIDENT. HYUNDAI SHOULD REPAIR RECALL #NHTSA 09V123000 FREE OF CHARGE. THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS NOW CAMPAIGN 124 AS OF 10/16/14, FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF 782.00 TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AND REPAIRED. PLEASE URGE HYUNDAI TO RECOGNIZE A CAMPAIGN FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION FOR MY VEHICLE SO THAT I CAN HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL SITUATION RECTIFIED TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT FROM TAKING PLACE AGAIN.I BELIEVE THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE REPAIRS TO THE HYUNDAI I OWN HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS FOUND THAT CARS MANUFACTURED IN ALABAMA WERE ALL PART OF MANY RECALLS AND OBVIOUSLY OTHER PLANTS VEHICLES ARE TOO. THE EXPENSES SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MY RESPONSIBILITY. THE REPAIRS COST ROUGHLY 5600.00 SINCE NOVEMBER 2011 WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR.FOR 5000.00. THE AIR CONDITIONER AS WELL NEVER WORKED. THAT REPAIR WOULD COST ANOTHER 400.00.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A LOUD SPUTTERING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTO ACCELERATED WITHOUT ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT INTERMITTENTLY AS THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,807.
TIRE BLOW OUT SERVICE TECH FOUND ROTTED OUT ENGINE CRADLE. *TR
WHEN EVER THE UNDER ENGINE GETS WET THE CAR TURNS OFF AND THE BRAKE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHTS COME ON. WHEN IT STOPS I CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND IT LOCKS UP. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN THE RAIN AND THE CAR STARTED JOLTING THAT THE CAR WAS OFF THEN ON THEN OFF THEN ON AGAIN. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR IN THE TORRENTIAL RAIN GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR. WHENEVER IT RAINS OR IF I GO THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE AUTO DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM, I WAS TOLD THAT NORMALLY THERE IS AN ENGINE UNDERCOVER BUT THERE IS NOT ONE ON MY CAR NOR WAS THERE EVER ONE PUT ON BY THE MANUFACTURER. HAVING NO ENGINE UNDERCOVER CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL OUT WHENEVER WATER IS SPLASHED UP ONTO THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSES THE BELT TO AJAR AND THAT STOPS ELECTRICAL FROM FLOWING TO THE CAR AND THEREFORE IT STALLS OUT AT VERY DANGEROUS TIMES; LIKE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. NO ENGINE UNDERCOVER IS AVAILABLE AND THEREFORE THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE FIXED. WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR?? *TR
MY CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHTS STILL WORKED AS DID THE RADIO IT THEN RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES....I CHANGED THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND THAT SEEMED TO FIX IT FOR A TIME THEN IT STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN AFTER A HEAVY RAIN...I LOVE MY CAR THAT I JUST GOT USED BUT IF IT KEEPS DOING THIS IT IS NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE ON THE ROAD...PLEASE HELP *TR
OVER THE LAST 4-6 MONTHS NOTICED DRIVER AND PASSENGERS GETTING VERY TIRED AND DEVELOPING HEADACHES WHILE DRIVING OUR 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD DISCOVERED BY OWNER. *TR
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED HYUNDAI SANTE FE (2002). I'M STILL ON MY FIRST TANK OF GAS AND TWICE NOW I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. BOTH TIMES I WAS PULLING UP TO A STOPLIGHT AND GOING VERY SLOW WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BOTH TIMES BUT THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE AND THE PASSENGERS, INCLUDING A CHILD, WOULD DEVELOP HEADACHES AFTER DRIVING SHORT DISTANCES. THE VEHICLE TESTED POSITIVE FOR CARBON MONOXIDE; YET, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A LEAK OR DETERMINE WHERE THE GAS WAS EMITTING FROM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE TOXICITY OF THE GAS AND ITS AFFECTS ON HER AND THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
MY 2002 HYUNDAI 2002 SANTE FE HAS A 2-PART CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HYUNDAI HAS A WARRANTY--REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW, I UNDERSTAND--THAT COVERS THIS FOR 8 YEARS, 80,000 MILES. MY CAR IS WITHIN THAT CRITERIA. THE SECOND CONVERTER BROKE OFF, AND NEITHER NOW WORK. HYUNDAI AND ITS DEALER, MARHOFER HYUNDAI OF CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO, REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, BECAUSE THE MAIN CONVERTER WOULD WORK IF THE SECOND, AND AN ENTIRELY NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM, WERE INSTALLED. THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE, SOUNDING LIKE A TRUCK AND SPEWING EXHAUST. ANOTHER SHOP IS REPLACING THIS, AND THE OWNER TOLD ME HIS VENDOR HAS JUST SOLD FIVE OF THESE CONVERTERS/EXHAUST SYSTEMS. THE SHOP JUST PUT ONE IN ON A HYUNDAI SANTE FE, AND MINE WILL MAKE SEVEN IN A SMALL CITY (AKRON) IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. YET HYUNDAI WILL DO NOTHING, AND MARHOFER WANTS $2,000 FOR THE WORK. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE EXHAUST FROM THE BROKEN CONVERTER COULD ENTER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE TACHOMETER READ ZERO AND THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED AND THEN RESTARTED ITSELF. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND OFTEN TIMES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 132,000.
STARTED MY CAR, IT DIDNT FEEL RIGHT, PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND STARTED TO DRIVE WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO STALL BUT DIDNT AND BETWEEN 1 ST AND 2 ND GEAR THE CAR WAS JERKING. I PULLED OVER SHUT CAR OFF AND TRY IT AGAIN, SAME THING. I DROVE FOR A FEW BLOCKS SEEM TO DRIVE BETTER AFTER 2ND GEAR. SO I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2002 SANTA FE REGARDING THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH WOULD CAUSE A ENGINE STALL AND THE SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. BUT I WAS TOLD THAT MY 2002 SANTA FE DID NOT MAKE THE RECALL LIST. WHY WONT THEY FIX THE PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED ? BUT THEY WILL FIX IT IF I PAY FOR IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ABNORMALLY ROUGH AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON ONE OCCASION, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT REMEDY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. IT WAS SUDDEN, AND CAUSED COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF THE ENGINE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING A BUSY TIME OF DAY. WE WERE TOLD BY HYUNDAI THAT THE 6 CYLINDER HAS A RECALL AGAINST THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, BUT THE 4 CYLINDER WHICH WE OWN DON'T HAVE THE RECALL, YET THE SAME PART FAILED CAUSING THE SAME ENGINE SHUTDOWN. I SEE THE 6 CYLINDER RECALL ON YOU WEBSITE. SO FAR, AS OF THE TIME OF WRITING THIS EMAIL AND A WEEK OF THE CAR IN THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP, THERE HAS BEEN NO REPAIR, AND MY MOM IS STILL WITHOUT A CAR. THEY ARE MAKING HER PAY THE LABOR CHARGE FOR THE REPAIR, AND CONTINUE WITH EXCUSES AS TO WHY THE CAR HASN'T BEEN FIXED YET. *TR
MY 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID I HAVE A BAD CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2002 SANTA FE FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. BUT WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT , THEY RESPONDED WITH MY VIN # NOT BEING ATTACHED TO A RECALL. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS. I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, WHAT IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED DURING TRAFFIC WHEN MY CAR STALLED. THE COMPANY SHOULD WARRANTY THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY WON'T. *TR
PURCHASED A NEW 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 11/2001 WITH 11 MILES ON IT. IN 3/2007, THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN REPLACING IT, 2 MAJOR SAFETY DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED - NO SAFETY/PROTECTIVE FOAM IN THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE SAFETY/CRASH BAR WAS BENT - I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR MUST HAD BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND THEY ACCEPTED NO RESPONSIBILITY - THEY SAID I MUST HAVE DONE IT. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS OR TICKETS AND MY DRIVING RECORD PROVES THAT. I PURCHASED A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT, WHICH SHOWED NO ACCIDENT HISTORY. THE ONLY CONCLUSION IS THAT THE DEFECTS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF SALE. THE CAR SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE SAFETY INSPECTIONS. *JB
TL* - WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE ENGINE ON A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST THE POWER STEERING AN THE POWER BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS COLD AND THERE WAS LIGHT SNOW ON THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE ONCE THE REPAIRS ARE DONE ON HIS VEHICLE.
PURCHASED "NEW" IT TOOK OVER SIX HOURS TO DELIVER THE VEHICLE ON SITE. 1.)THE "SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED RETURNED TO JIM ELLIS; "NO CORRECTION" TO DATE. 2.)SEVERAL OTHER DEFECTS EXISTED: BATTERY FAILED LEAVING ME STRANDED AT LEAST TWICE, BRAKES WARE QUICKLY AND REPEATEDLY REQUIRE REPAIRS, HEATED SEATS ON AT "ALL" TIMES, THE TEMPERATURE REMAINS ON "CELSIUS" RATHER THAN ON THAN "FEREINHEIGHT" TEMPERATURES, CLOCK WON'T SET TO CURRENT MONTH,DATE, YEAR. 3.)THE 10 YEAR;100 MILE WARRANTY IS DISREGARDED/MINIMIZED; FROM 24,000 MILES. 4.) WHILE IN FOR DEFECT REVIEW; THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO ME FROM 2 DEALERSHIPS WITH "DINGS" UP AND DOWN THE SIDE; DENTS ON CORNERS(PHYSICAL DAMAGE). IN ADDITION REPAIRS WEREN'T MADE AND MANAGERS LOOKED THE "OTHER WAY" AND FAILED TO RETURN CALLS OR RESPOND TO LETTERS. ALSO THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT BECAME A NEW ISSUE AND DEFECT INITIATED THE EVENING THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED HOME. WAS TOLD TO ANTICIPATE ENGINE TROUBLE TO BE INITIATED IN THE NEAR FUTURE DESPITE THE OIL CHANGE DATE BEING WITHIN LIMITS. WAS TOLD THAT EXCESSIVE OIL EXISTED AND BLAMED ME. THEN DEMANDED I PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS "BEFORE" THEY'D RELEASE CAR TO ME.(NEEDED FOR WORK). MGRS WERE DEFENSIVE AND SHUT DOWN REGARDING INFORMATION. 5.)THE "RECALLS" AREN'T RECOGNIZED OR CORRECTED ON 1ST,2ND, OR 3RD REQUEST-I'M TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY DON'T HAVE THE COMPUTER TO DO IT. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE HARMONIC BALANCE FELL OFF. SHE HEARD A LOUD CLUNG, AND THEN LOOKED INTO REARVIEW MIRROR. AT THAT TIME SHE SAW IT ROLLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND HER DAUGHTER TRIED TO PICK IT UP. THE PART WAS HOT, AND SHE BURNED HER FINGERS. THE PART WAS PUT IN THE VEHICLE AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE PURCHASED IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED TO GET THE REPLACEMENT PART. THEY WERE UNAWARE OF WHY OR HOW THIS OCCURRED. *AK
DT: 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE - VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED AND UNDER ANY CONDITION. AS A RESULT VEHICLE LOST POWER. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART BACK UP, AND AT TIMES THE CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES TO RESTART VEHICLE. THE CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE SIX CYLINDER ENGINES OF THE HYUNDAI SANTA FEE. BUT THIS VEHICLE, NOT A FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ASKED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .