Hyundai Santa Fe 2001–2006
1st generation (SM)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,731 complaints, 1,328 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 45,000 and 126,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 34 complaints (2.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 8,019
- 25%
- 45,000
- Median
- 86,000
- 75%
- 126,000
- 90%
- 161,516
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 105 | 7.9% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 39 | 2.9% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 37 | 2.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 30 | 2.3% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 28 | 2.1% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 21 | 1.6% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 21 | 1.6% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 22 | 1.7% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 29 | 2.2% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 24 | 1.8% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 34 | 2.6% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 35 | 2.6% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 51 | 3.8% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 38 | 2.9% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 58 | 4.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 34 | 2.6% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 39 | 2.9% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 46 | 3.5% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 45 | 3.4% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 51 | 3.8% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 56 | 4.2% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 35 | 2.6% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 30 | 2.3% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 32 | 2.4% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 34 | 2.6% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 34 | 2.6% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 27 | 2.0% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 27 | 2.0% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 34 | 2.6% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 21 | 1.6% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 40 | 3.0% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 20 | 1.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 30 | 2.3% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 12 | 0.9% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 21 | 1.6% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 8 | 0.6% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 14 | 1.1% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 9 | 0.7% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 12 | 0.9% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 11 | 0.8% |
| 200,000+ | 34 | 2.6% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 1,731 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001–2006 Hyundai Santa Fe, and 1,328 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 45,000 and 126,000 miles. The median is 86,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the suspension (17.6% of complaints, typically around 109,000 miles), the airbag system (11.4% of complaints, typically around 88,000 miles), throttle and speed control (9.0% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles).
1 recall campaign cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Suspension109,000median 108,750 miles, middle half 84,000 to 147,000
- Airbag system88,000median 87,500 miles, middle half 53,000 to 120,000
- Throttle and speed control60,000median 60,500 miles, middle half 10,000 to 107,000
- Electrical system60,000median 60,000 miles, middle half 24,000 to 110,000
- Transmission and driveline58,000median 58,000 miles, middle half 23,000 to 97,000
- Engine and its cooling system60,000median 60,372 miles, middle half 22,000 to 83,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit35,000median 34,759 miles, middle half 7,500 to 61,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 305 | 17.6% | 109,000 | 84,000–147,000 |
| Airbag system | 197 | 11.4% | 88,000 | 53,000–120,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 156 | 9.0% | 60,000 | 10,000–107,000 |
| Electrical system | 118 | 6.8% | 60,000 | 24,000–110,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 111 | 6.4% | 58,000 | 23,000–97,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 108 | 6.2% | 60,000 | 22,000–83,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 96 | 5.5% | 35,000 | 7,500–61,000 |
| Body structure | 89 | 5.1% | 106,000 | 74,000–150,000 |
| Steering | 69 | 4.0% | 90,000 | 60,000–148,000 |
| Brakes | 66 | 3.8% | 100,000 | 70,000–148,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 86,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The suspension accounts for 17.6% of complaints (305 reports, 245 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 108,750 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 83,801 and 147,263 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 11.4% of complaints (197 reports, 156 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 87,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,781 and 120,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 9.0% of complaints (156 reports, 128 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 10,000 and 106,797 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.8% of complaints (118 reports, 75 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,641 and 110,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 6.4% of complaints (111 reports, 83 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 58,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,000 and 97,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 6.2% of complaints (108 reports, 73 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,372 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 21,900 and 82,580 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2003 model year drew the most — 390 complaints — while 2006 drew the fewest at 143. The median year sits at 296.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 1 recall campaign covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 1,731 complaints filed against this generation, 136 reported a crash; 30 reported a fire; 139 reported an injury; 3 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.9% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 45,000 and 126,000 miles, with a median of 86,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the suspension and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 87,500, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Automatic Transmission 2001–2006
Automatic transmission failure is the dominant durability complaint for this generation; no manufacturer recall campaign, so it appears in complaint data rather than recall data.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 293 | 175 |
| 2002 | 219 | 173 |
| 2003 | 390 | 308 |
| 2004 | 386 | 316 |
| 2005 | 300 | 242 |
| 2006 | 143 | 114 |
Recalls (1)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 14V435000 | 2014-10-24 | Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs |
What owners reported
Tl* the contact owns 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the front passenger side air bag sensor would not detect a passenger in the seat and activate the air bag. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent and would activate only when certain persons were seated in the passenger seat. The…
2001 · 10,000 miles · Airbag system
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving 65 MPH, the contact heard a loud cracking sound coming from the passenger side rear wheel. The contact lost control of the vehicle and became worse when he depressed the brake pedal. The vehicle began to fishtail, but gradually decelerated to a complete…
2001 · 13,000 miles · Suspension
There's a reall on this vehicle that i just purchased the description says: front coil spring protector installation how can this issue be resolved? This issue should been taking care of and reported to you guys but obviously it hasn't. So i need to know is it still available to be free of charge or do i have to…
2001 · 15,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the driver's side rear wheel tilted leaving the vehicle impaired. The vehicle was towed to a near by firestone where the failure was assessed by the technician. The failure was diagnosed as a fractured rear axel. The contact…
2001 · 17,000 miles · Suspension
Built from 1,328 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page