The 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 630,080 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 219 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION14V4350002014-07-18271,773 affected
Defect
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,…
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.
SUSPENSION09V1230002009-04-1683,355 affected
Defect
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…
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…
EQUIPMENT03V5200002003-12-18249,309 affected
Defect
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.
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,…
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.
Complaints by component
SUSPENSION
40
2crashes1injuries
STEERING
15
SUSPENSION:REAR
15
1crashes
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
15
1crashes
ENGINE
10
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
10
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
9
1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7
POWER TRAIN
6
1injuries
Total complaints219
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The starter motor housing bottom ear bracket that holds the bolt to the transmission has broken off on 3 different starters in the same exact spot on all 3.”
“While dragging the trash can back to the house, I was approaching fence in front of the house, at a slow speed, as I applied the brakes the car started to accelerate. Pressing down harder on the brakes ,it felt like stepping on a brick, with no braking taking place the car accelerated at a high…”
“I was riding down the road and felt the car feel as if it was floating. The next thing I know the car feels like the tire came off and it had. Rusted completely off. I had two children in the car and came very close to being hit in the rear because I lost control of the vehicle. It seems as if it…”
“I was riding down the road and felt the car feel as if it was floating. The next thing I know the car feels like the tire came off and it had. Rusted completely off. I had two children in the car and came very close to being hit in the rear because I lost control of the vehicle. It seems as if it…”
“Tl* the contact called on behalf of a client who owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that while his client was driving at 55 mph, she experienced what she thought was a flat tire on the rear of the vehicle. As the client began to pull over, the entire passenger's side rear control arm…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that upon inspection of his rear brakes, he noticed excessive corrosion on the rear trailing arms located by the coil springs. Upon investigation, the contact discovered nhtsa campaign number: 09v123000 (suspension) which he linked…”
“This santa fe has a rear right trailing arm that has completely rusted and has also disintegrated the wheel bearing assembly, wheel hub, emergency brake cable and spring. I checked the website for a recall on this vehicle, there is a recall for the rear trailing arms, but this vin number was not…”
“Frame rusted through on at least left side where the control arm is bolted.. Previously rear trailing arm rusted through.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA08023 Opened 2008-10-28 · closed 2009-04-17
REAR TRAILING ARM CORROSION FAILURE
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 14, 2009, HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER, INC (HYUNDAI) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO JANUARY 27, 2003, THAT ARE REGISTERED AND OPERATED IN THE FOLLOWING SALT…
InvestigationEA08023 Opened 2008-10-28 · closed 2009-04-17
REAR TRAILING ARM CORROSION FAILURE
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 14, 2009, HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER, INC (HYUNDAI) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO JANUARY 27, 2003, THAT ARE REGISTERED AND OPERATED IN THE FOLLOWING SALT…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.