NHTSA lists 209 complaints for the 2001 Hyundai Santa FE, 4 of them mention a crash and 4 mention a fire. 2 complaints mention an injury, with 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as HYUNDAI SANTA FE.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Recalls
See new recalls and investigations this week.
4 recalls.
Date: 2014-07-18. Systems: SUSPENSION.
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 A salt belt" states and the District of Columbia: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minneso (excerpt)
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. (excerpt)
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. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2009-04-16. Systems: SUSPENSION.
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 VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE JURISDI (excerpt)
Consequence: IF THE CORROSION IS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS, THE REAR TRAILING ARM MAY FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. (excerpt)
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 (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2003-12-18. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2003-01-02. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Defect: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
3 investigations; 0 open.
EA08023
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 BELT STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA,
Systems: SUSPENSION.
Linked campaign numbers: 09V123000.
PE08040
Opened: 2008-07-02. Closed: 2008-10-29.
REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM FAILURE
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) DURING THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION, HYUNDAI PROVIDED ODI WITH 15 ALLEGATIONS OF CORROSION FAILURE OF THE LEFT- AND/OR RIGHT-REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM.THREE OF THE 15 CONSUMERS ALLEGED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AS A RESULT OF A REAR TRAILING ARM CORROSION FAILURE.SIMILARLY, ODI HAS RECEIVED 12 COMPLAIN
Systems: SUSPENSION.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE02012
Opened: 2002-01-31. Closed: 2002-08-12.
ENGINE SEIZURE
There is no summary currently available
Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
135 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system| System | Count |
|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 49 |
|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 24 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT | 16 |
|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 13 |
|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 6 |
|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 6 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 5 |
|---|
| STRUCTURE | 5 |
|---|
11025476
Date: 2025-11-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary
10251285
Date: 2024-02-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY, VISIBILITY/WIPER.
This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, w
10247189
Date: 2023-10-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
10235566
Date: 2023-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.
Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moist
10230904
Date: 2023-01-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY.
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary
10217251
Date: 2022-07-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain components of the engine intake system accordingly during engine short block or sub-assembly replacement.
10217258
Date: 2022-07-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: TIRES.
Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for correcting load carrying capacity information indicated on tire placards when vehicle weight has been increased before retail sale. This limit is the lesser of 1.5% of GVWR or 100 pounds.
10196546
Date: 2021-05-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicleA A?A A A A s ownerA A?A A A A s manual. A A A A A A? Use of other ATF may result in improper shift quality or other drivability conditions. A A A A A A? Use of other DCT and IVT gear oil may result in reduced dur
10190044
Date: 2021-03-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT.
This bulletin provides the service procedure for engine connecting rod bearing clearance testing. Perform the procedure outlined in this bulletin to fulfill the Bearing Clearance Test inspection requirements to determine next required steps.
10190038
Date: 2021-03-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, SERVICE BRAKES.
This bulletin provides best practice recommendations when performing brake service procedures.