Hyundai Santa Fe 2001–2006 problems by year and mileage
1st generation (SM)
NHTSA data through 18 October 20261,307 complaints, 1,007 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
Close- Median failure report
- 103,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 209
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2001
- Suspension76 reports · median 120,000 mi
- Electrical system35 reports
- Engine and its cooling system33 reports
Recall areas Suspension — front · Suspension — rear · Equipment — other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
Close- Median failure report
- 104,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 165
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2002
- Suspension59 reports · median 134,000 mi
- Body structure17 reports
- Steering16 reports
Recall areas Suspension — front · Suspension — rear · Equipment — other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
Close- Median failure report
- 80,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 308
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2003
- Suspension56 reports · median 120,000 mi
- Airbag system42 reports · median 66,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline35 reports
Recall areas Suspension — front · Suspension — rear · Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
Close- Median failure report
- 72,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 303
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2004
- Suspension69 reports · median 91,000 mi
- Airbag system43 reports · median 90,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control39 reports · median 70,000 mi
Recall areas Suspension — front · Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Equipment — other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
Close- Median failure report
- 80,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 216
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2005
- Airbag system74 reports · median 94,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control44 reports · median 22,000 mi
- Suspension21 reports
Recall areas Suspension — front · Air bags — frontal · Air bags
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe
Close- Median failure report
- 62,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 106
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2006
- Airbag system28 reports
- Throttle and speed control20 reports
- Suspension13 reports
Recall areas Suspension — front
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 2002; earliest: the 2006, and the 2002 is 4 years older (part of the gap is age).
The short answer
“Is the 2001–2006 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 84,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 155,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,007
- Recalls
- 7
Most reported
- Suspension22.5% of complaints · median 108,000 mi
- Airbag system14.9% of complaints · median 88,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control11.9% of complaints · median 60,000 mi
Owners filed 1,307 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001–2006 Hyundai Santa Fe; the suspension leads with 22.5% of them, and half of the 1,007 that record an odometer reading came by 84,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 41,000 to 121,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2001–2006 Hyundai Santa Fe last?
On the 2001–2006 Hyundai Santa Fe, half of the 1,007 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 84,000 miles and 90% by 155,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
136 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 22 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Santa Fe reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Hyundai Santa Fe 2001–2006 · 1,007 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
10,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 111 complaints
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 22 complaints (2.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 7,000
- 25%
- 41,000
- Median
- 84,000
- 75%
- 121,000
- 90%
- 155,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 111 | 11.0% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 47 | 4.7% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 43 | 4.3% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 39 | 3.9% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 43 | 4.3% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 57 | 5.7% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 63 | 6.3% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 72 | 7.1% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 67 | 6.7% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 76 | 7.5% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 72 | 7.1% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 48 | 4.8% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 50 | 5.0% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 40 | 4.0% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 43 | 4.3% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 41 | 4.1% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 22 | 2.2% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 20 | 2.0% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 17 | 1.7% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 14 | 1.4% |
| 200,000+ | 22 | 2.2% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Santa Fe problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Hyundai Santa Fe 2001–2006
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Hydraulic brake circuit92 reportsmedian 35,000middle half 7,500–65,000
- Transmission and driveline108 reportsmedian 58,000middle half 23,000–97,000
- Electrical system112 reportsmedian 60,000middle half 25,000–110,000
- Engine and its cooling system102 reportsmedian 60,000middle half 22,000–83,000
- Throttle and speed control156 reportsmedian 60,000middle half 10,000–107,000
- Airbag system195 reportsmedian 88,000middle half 53,000–120,000
- Suspension294 reportsmedian 108,000middle half 85,000–149,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 294 | 22.5% | 108,000 | 85,000–149,000 |
| Airbag system | 195 | 14.9% | 88,000 | 53,000–120,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 156 | 11.9% | 60,000 | 10,000–107,000 |
| Electrical system | 112 | 8.6% | 60,000 | 25,000–110,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 108 | 8.3% | 58,000 | 23,000–97,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 102 | 7.8% | 60,000 | 22,000–83,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 92 | 7.0% | 35,000 | 7,500–65,000 |
| Body structure | 87 | 6.7% | 113,000 | 74,000–150,000 |
| Steering | 68 | 5.2% | 90,000 | 58,000–148,000 |
| Brakes | 66 | 5.0% | 100,000 | 70,000–148,000 |
Known problems with the 2001–2006 Santa Fe
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.
Before you buy a 2001–2006 Santa Fe: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,007 mileage-tagged complaints, 7 recall campaigns, 1 documented problem area.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 7 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check automatic transmission on 2001–2006 cars. What it looks like: Known problems.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Santa Fe problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi34% below | At 90k mi54% below | At 120k mi73% below | At 150k mi86% below | At 200k mi98% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 85,000–149,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 53,000–120,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 10,000–107,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 25,000–110,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 23,000–97,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 22,000–83,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 7,500–65,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Hyundai Santa Fe 2001–2006 · 1,007 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 34% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 54% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 73% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 86% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2001–2006 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls (7)
NHTSA records 7 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around the suspension (2), the airbag system (2), the hydraulic brake circuit (1) (why one area can repeat).
Jul 2014 · 2001–2006 · SuspensionIf the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the…
The 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 “salt…
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. 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…
Apr 2009 · 2001–2003 · SuspensionIf the corrosion is allowed to progress, the rear trailing arm may fracture while driving, thereby increasing…
The 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…
What can happen. If the corrosion is allowed to progress, the rear trailing arm may fracture while driving, thereby increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The free fix. 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…
Nov 2005 · 2005 · Air BagsThe possibility of misclassification of certain small children as an adult may allow the right front airbag…
The defect. On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an occupant classification system (ocs) the right front seat of the vehicle may misclassify certain small children seated on the front edge of the seat as an adult.
What can happen. The possibility of misclassification of certain small children as an adult may allow the right front airbag to deploy in a frontal collision crash or the side impact airbag to deploy in a side…
The free fix. Dealers will ensure that the vehicle's ocs will properly classify certain small children when seated on the front edge of the seat and will disable the right front airbags. Dealers will reprogram the…
Oct 2005 · 2005 · Air BagsThe possibility of misclassification of certain small children as an adult may allow the right front airbag…
The defect. On certain vehicles equipped with an occupant classification system (ocs) the right front seat of the vehicle may misclassify certain small children seated on the front edge of the seat as an adult.
What can happen. The possibility of misclassification of certain small children as an adult may allow the right front airbag to deploy in a frontal collision crash or the side impact airbag to deploy in a side…
The free fix. Dealers will ensure that the vehicle's ocs will properly classify certain small children when seated on the front edge of the seat and will disable the right front airbags. Dealers will reprogram the…
Mar 2004 · 2003–2004 · Service Brakes, HydraulicIf an extended stopping distance occurs, it could result in a crash.
The defect. On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.5 Liter v-6 engines, 4-wheel drive and antilock braking systems (ABS), if the brake pedal is depressed at speeds between 3 and 12 MPH when the brake pad friction surfaces are wet, a vibration may occur between…
What can happen. If an extended stopping distance occurs, it could result in a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the ABS ECU. Owner notification began on march 24, 2004. Owners should contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Dec 2003 · 2001–2004 · EquipmentThe tire pressure labels do not contain the information required by the standard.
The 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."
What can happen. The tire pressure labels do not contain the information required by the standard.
The free fix. 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.
Jan 2003 · 2001–2002 · Electrical SystemA damaged cps capacitor could result in engine stalling.
The 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…
What can happen. A damaged cps capacitor could result in engine stalling.
The free fix. 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…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 1,307 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 100 (7.7%)
- Fires
- 21
- Injury reports
- 68
- Fatality reports
- 2
Santa Fe problems by model year
The 2003 drew the most complaints of this generation, 308, most of them about the suspension, and the 2006 the fewest, 106. A typical year drew about 212.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 209 | 130 | 103,000 | Suspension (76) | 4 |
| 2002 | 165 | 126 | 104,000 | Suspension (59) | 4 |
| 2003 | 308 | 245 | 80,000 | Suspension (56) | 4 |
| 2004 | 303 | 248 | 72,000 | Suspension (69) | 3 |
| 2005 | 216 | 175 | 80,000 | Airbag system (74) | 3 |
| 2006 | 106 | 83 | 62,000 | Airbag system (28) | 1 |
What Santa Fe owners reported
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that on six separate occasions, the vehicle had independently accelerated without warning. On one occasion, the vehicle had accelerated through a red light with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard. On a separate occasion, the vehicle accelerated…
2004 · 37,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
The contact owned a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the son was driving approximately 25 MPH the braking system malfunctioned and when depressing the brake pedal the vehicle did not reduce speed or stop causing the vehicle to crash into the rear of a second vehicle. During the crash, the rear…
2004 · 150,000 miles · Brakes
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that on separate occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was towed to Marco’s body shop where it was diagnosed that both struts, new tires, front passenger side wheel cylinder, wheel mount…
2001 · 140,000 miles · Steering
The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH when the vehicle began to accelerate without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The contact was able to pull over and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated no warning lights were…
2006 · 143,000 miles · Throttle and speed control
Built from 1,007 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Santa Fe generations
- Santa Fe 2007–2012 1,939 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- Santa Fe 2013–2018 1,610 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- Santa Fe 2019–2023 197 reports with mileage, most about the engine