Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension76
- Electrical system35
- Engine and engine cooling33
- Power train23
- Structure19
- Vehicle speed control14
- Steering13
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Fuel/propulsion system8
- Engine7
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 6 2001 Santa Fe vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 5 people died inside them, and 3 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe failed the safety check 2.80% of the time — 40% more often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 127,217 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
29 first registered in 2001 are on Dutch roads; 14% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen18
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af8
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk7
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot5
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)4
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt4
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde3
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan3
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
18 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 139 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
42 2001 cars are on the New Zealand register; 26% arrived as used imports, 74% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 12.7 L/100 km (about 19 mpg US), CO₂ 292 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 11.0 | 12.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe.
| 2014322 1 Aug 2014 | Suspension On certain vehicles, the front suspension coil springs may be susceptible to corrosion. Over time, corrosion could cause the springs to fail, potentially damagi… |
| 2009122 23 Apr 2009 | Suspension On certain vehicles operated in areas of heavy road salt usage (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador),… |
| 2003326 10 Dec 2003 | Label On certain vehicles, the wheel rims and the tire pressure labels do not comply with CMVSS 120. The rims do not contain the required markings and the tire press… |
| 2002008 16 Jan 2002 | Engine Certain vehicles equipped with 2.7 liter V-6 engines. Improperly manufactured crankshaft position sensors (cps) were installed. The CPS cases were improperly ma… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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."
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Hyundai told its dealers about the 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637030 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING A ATF LEAK BETWEEN TRANSAXLE AND THE TRANSFER CASE. *TT |
| 636891 | INFORMATION REGARDING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH TRANSAXLE SHIFTING CONCERN. *TT |
| 635962 | THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES THE REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR A SHARP START-UP NOISE FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AFTER ENGINE STARTUP. *TT |
| 635960 | THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES THE REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR ENGINE STALLING AT IDLE FOLLOWED BY THE INABILITY TO RESTART THE ENGINE DUE TO REDUCED BATTERY POWER. *TT |
| 635827 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE PRESSURE INSIDE THE TRANSFER CASE MAY CAUSE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE AIR BREATHER VENT AND DROP ON THE GROUND ON 4WD MODELS. *TT |
| 633919 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHOP MANUAL CORRECTION - ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ELECTRICAL SCHEMATIC DIAGRAMS. *JG |
| 633910 | SUBJECT REGARDING BATTERY DRAIN AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR START UP NOISE. *JG |
| 633903 | SUBJECT REGARDING CLUTCH COVER ATTACHING BOLT PART NUMBER. *JG |
| 633855 | SUBJECT REGARDING VACUUM HOSE CHECK VALVE LOCATION. *JG |
| 633816 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SHIFTRONIC DIAGNOSIS. *JG |
| 633794 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT STABILIZER BAR BUSHING AND BRACKET REPLACEMENT NOISE REPAIR PROCEDURE. *JG |
| 633785 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE HARSH AND/OR DELAYED SHIFTS. *JG |
| 633770 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE RPM FLUCTUATION - CRUISE CONTROL CABLE ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. *JG |
| 633755 | G SENSOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE INSPECTION AND REPAIR PROCEDURE. *JG THIS BULLETIN REPLACES 02-50-013 AND 01-50-005 DATED AUG. 2002. *TT |
| 632175 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE ABS (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM) AIR BLEEDING PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 632166 | SUBJECT REGARDING TRANSFER CASE REMOVAL PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 632001 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT DOOR WIND NOISE. *SLC |
| 631997 | INFORMATION ON EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION. *SLC |
| 631719 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHIFTLOCK AND KEY LOCK CABLE ADJUSTMENT FOR VEHICLES WITH SPORT SHIFT. *SLC |
| 631486 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE HARSH OR DELAYED PARK-REVERSE OR PARK-DRIVE ENGAGEMENT. *SLC |
| 631418 | CONCERNS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SHIFTRONIC DIAGNOSIS. *YH |
| 631411 | INFORMATION REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES LIST. *YH |
| 630854 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0133, P0134, P1134, P0153, P0154, OR P1154. *SLC |
| 629503 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A HARSH OR DELAYED PARK-REVERSE OR PARK-DRIVE ENGAGEMENT IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. *SLC |
| 627050 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE RUNS ROUGH, IDLES ROUGH, DTC P0335. *YD |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
REAR TRAILING ARM CORROSION FAILURE
REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM FAILURE
ENGINE SEIZURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation