2002 Hyundai Santa FE Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 3%of 165 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Hyundai Santa FE, 3% of the 165 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,500 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My husband was in a frontal crash with the side of a school bus and the air bags never deployed on our 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe. We reported this incident to Hyundai and they sent an independent company out to investigate. A few weeks later we received a letter from Hyundai telling us the airbags were operational and my husband needed to use his breaks in order for the air bags to deploy. This is ridiculous what are air bags good for when you get into an accident where you don't have any time to react. This isn't the first time our Hyundai vehicle's airbags did not deploy. …”
NHTSA complaint #10268500, filed 2009-05, 124,127 miles“4/6/06 I had an auto accident going 75 MPH in a 70 zone. Full impact of my front end to the opposing parties vehicle (SUV). I did a 360 and flipped and landed on my driver's side. My airbags did not deploy at all. Neither driver side or passenger side. I sustained back and neck injuries - currently in treatment. My vehicle was a total loss and is now in a salvage yard.”
NHTSA complaint #10121875, filed 2005-05“The contact owns a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while coming off an exit, the front driver side coil spring fractured causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a metal guardrail and the vehicle drove over to the passenger side and crashed into a median. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the right arm and the right rotator cuff which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact was later notified of NHTSA campaign number: 14v435000 (suspension). …”
NHTSA complaint #10694847, filed 2015-03, 85,000 miles“The contact owns a 2002 Hyundai (model unknown). The contact was involved in a crash while driving 35 MPH. The driver side front air bag failed to deploy. Although she was wearing her seat belt, the contact struck the left side of her forehead on the steering wheel and was transported to the urgent care center for examination. The vehicle was destroyed. The road was slightly damp at the time of the crash. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 84,000. Updated 01/02/08. *4200 updated 12/12/07”
NHTSA complaint #10206699, filed 2007-10, 84,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11032523Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province…
- 11032522Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 1% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 2 | 1% |
| 2022 | 5 | 2% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 7 | 3% |
| 2019 | 7 | 3% |
| 2018 | 6 | 5% |
| 2017 | 20 | 2% |
| 2016 | 9 | 4% |
| 2015 | 9 | 4% |
| 2014 | 13 | 3% |
| 2013 | 5 | 1% |
| 2012 | 6 | 2% |
| 2011 | 7 | 4% |
| 2010 | 9 | 3% |
| 2009 | 29 | 8% |
| 2008 | 70 | 13% |
| 2007 | 102 | 15% |
| 2006 | 28 | 26% |
| 2005 | 74 | 34% |
| 2004 | 43 | 14% |
| 2003 | 42 | 14% |
| 2002 | 5 | 3% |
| 2001 | 3 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2002 Hyundai Santa FE
59 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsBody and structure
17 complaintsSteering
16 complaintsVehicle speed control
15 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
13 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaintsEngine
10 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsWheels
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Hyundai Santa FE
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology