VehicleVerdict

2002 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems

The 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe has 24 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

24

Engine complaints

11%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Santa Fe engine complaints by model year648 complaints2001: 46 complaints2002: 24 complaints2003: 29 complaints2004: 38 complaints2005: 18 complaints2006: 8 complaints2007: 71 complaints2008: 70 complaints2009: 67 complaints2010: 45 complaints2011: 72 complaints2012: 234 complaints2013: 279 complaints2014: 277 complaints2015: 160 complaints2016: 154 complaints2017: 648 complaints2018: 56 complaints2019: 67 complaints2020: 74 complaints2021: 36 complaints2022: 52 complaints2023: 37 complaints2024: 10 complaints2025: 10 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Santa Fe engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 15, 2012 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe have?

NHTSA has 24 complaints about the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe engine — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.