IllustrationWHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THE DRIVER HAD TO MANUALLY ACCELERATE TO GET THE VEHICLE UP TO SPEED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB *PH *NLM
2002 Santa Fe Santa Fe Trailer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 13 of 44 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
6 reportsAFTER RELEASE FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR TEN DAYS, AND TECHNICIAN CAN DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE DRIVER REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. *NLM ON A SECOND OCCASION WHILE PARKING IN A GARAGE THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT A TREMENDOUS SPEED, ON THE THIRD OCCASION WHEN STARTING THE PARKED VEHIC…
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WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE DRIVER REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. *NLM ON A SECOND OCCASION WHILE PARKING IN A GARAGE THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT A TREMENDOUS SPEED, ON THE THIRD OCCASION WHEN STARTING THE PARKED VEHICLE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A TREMENDOUS SPEED. *SCC
VEHICLE HAD 1,300 MILES WHEN OWNER BEGAN TO MOVE VEHICLE. OWNER PUSHED BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL IN REVERSE. IT SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO REAR AND PROPERTY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, VEHICLE WAS STOLEN OFF DEALERS LOT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS TOTALED.…
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VEHICLE HAD 1,300 MILES WHEN OWNER BEGAN TO MOVE VEHICLE. OWNER PUSHED BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL IN REVERSE. IT SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO REAR AND PROPERTY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, VEHICLE WAS STOLEN OFF DEALERS LOT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS TOTALED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
MY SON WAS DRIVING AT 25MPH, THE CAR ACCELARATED ON IT'S OWN. HE ALMOST HIT A TREE. HE BRAKED, BUT IT WOULD STOP ACCELERATING. HE PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HE PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED. WHEN HE OUT IT IN PARK, HE STARTED IT AGAIN AND THE ENGINE RACED ABOVE 7WITH OUT TOUCHING ACCELARAT…
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MY SON WAS DRIVING AT 25MPH, THE CAR ACCELARATED ON IT'S OWN. HE ALMOST HIT A TREE. HE BRAKED, BUT IT WOULD STOP ACCELERATING. HE PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HE PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED. WHEN HE OUT IT IN PARK, HE STARTED IT AGAIN AND THE ENGINE RACED ABOVE 7WITH OUT TOUCHING ACCELARATOR. HE COULD HAVE GOT KILLED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED.*AKI
I HAVE DETAILED INFORMATION ON WHAT I BELIEVE IS A COVER-UP BY THE HYUNDAI CORPORATION REGARDING THE 2002 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED THE DAY AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I'VE HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AT LEAST 4 TIMESFOR THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM: WHEN I START THE VEHICLE UP EVERY MORNING, THE RPM'S RACE TO OVER…
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I HAVE DETAILED INFORMATION ON WHAT I BELIEVE IS A COVER-UP BY THE HYUNDAI CORPORATION REGARDING THE 2002 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED THE DAY AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I'VE HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AT LEAST 4 TIMESFOR THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM: WHEN I START THE VEHICLE UP EVERY MORNING, THE RPM'S RACE TO OVER 2000 AND DECLINES SLIGHTLY TO ABOUT 1500 AND STAYS AT THIS SPEED FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES. WHEN I PULL FROM A PARKING SPACE (WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL), THE SPEEDOMETER HOVER BETWEEN 10 AND 15 MILES AN HOUR, AGAIN, WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. AS A RESULT OF THIS VERY HIGH "IDLING" PROBLEM, I BELIEVE IT IS A VERY REAL DANGER TO NOT ONLY THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES BUT ANY POSSIBLE PEDESTRIANS OR PROPERTY THAT MAY BE STRUCK. THE HYUNDAI CORPORATION DENIES THIS IS A PROBLEM AND SAY IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I ASK FOR DETAILS REGARDING THEIR TESTING THEY REFUSE TO SEND IT TO ME. I HAVE DETAILED INFORMATION (NAMES, DATES TIMES AND PLACES) CONCERNING WHAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE A "RECALL" BUT IS BEING COVERED UP BY HYUNDAI. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. THANKS. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.