2002 Hyundai Santa Fe reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 219
- 4 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- SUSPENSION
- 40 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 10 reported crashes · 9 injuries · 3 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,382
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Hyundai median
-49
median 268 across 168 Hyundai records
Vs 2000-2004
-34
median 253 complaints in 771 records
Top component share
25%
Suspension: 55 complaints
What owners report fails — 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
- SUSPENSION 40
- SUSPENSION:REAR 15
- STEERING 15
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 15
- ENGINE 10
1 recall on record for the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
- NHTSA 14V435000 · 2014 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possib
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
NHTSA has 219 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is suspension (40 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Owners most often report problems with: suspension (40), suspension:rear (15), steering (15), vehicle speed control (15). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.