2002 Hyundai Santa FE Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 4%of 165 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 127,189miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the fuel system of the 2002 Hyundai Santa FE, 4% of the 165 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 127,189 miles.
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.
“Every time I fill the gas tank it takes 15 mins to fill it keeps coming out the filler tube all over the car I have seen other people complaining about the same problem on the internet there should have been a recall on this.”
NHTSA complaint #10638313, filed 2014-09, 30,000 miles“I am the original owner of a 2002 Santa Fe. Fred zink we have 149,000 miles on the vehicle I just discovered a perforation on the metal fuel fill spout just below where you insert the fuel spout this caused fuel to spill all over the bottom of the car and on to the ground this is a very serious safety issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10293387, filed 2009-11, 149,000 miles“This happened when my dealer tried to fill up the gas tank before handing me the keys and thought the vehicle was full of gas and the gas gauge was broken. I ran out of gas the same night and found out that the gas was indeed empty and the gauge worked fine after putting gas in from a gas container. When trying to fill up with gas from that point on, even when the gas tank is empty, the gas gets ejected backed out after only a few seconds of filling and I get gas on myself due to a failure somewhere in the on-board refueling vapor recovery system. …”
NHTSA complaint #10680472, filed 2015-02, 127,189 miles“The ABS system light has turned on. It happened before the above date, stopped coming on, and now has returned. I put brake fluid in the little compartment under the hood. The light goes out temporarily. Pep boys told me the problem is ABS related. Also, a very costly job. The car also has a problem accepting gas. I have been told that the gas may be pouring into the tank too fast at the station and splashing on the side of the tank making the pump think it is full. Pep boys told me that it is a problem with evaporation and that it is a very costly job of roughly 1000.00. …”
NHTSA complaint #10760903, filed 2015-09, 172,000 miles“My 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe lx went full throttle today and stayed there. I was driving along at 30 MPH with the gas pedal normally pressed and the car felt like cruise control was turned on. I applied the brakes and the throttle kept climbing, so I pulled over and put it in neutral. The throttle was now fully open at this point so I turned the engine off. With repeated starts, the engine immediately went into full throttle while in neutral. The gas pedal wasn't pressed down or stuck. I've had it towed to an independent shop so they can identify the problem. Tomorrow I should have answers. …”
NHTSA complaint #10520056, filed 2013-06, 87,000 milesFuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2025 | 5 | 4% |
| 2024 | 3 | 2% |
| 2023 | 12 | 6% |
| 2022 | 33 | 16% |
| 2021 | 10 | 6% |
| 2020 | 17 | 8% |
| 2019 | 12 | 6% |
| 2018 | 5 | 5% |
| 2017 | 62 | 6% |
| 2016 | 9 | 4% |
| 2015 | 13 | 5% |
| 2014 | 32 | 6% |
| 2013 | 42 | 7% |
| 2012 | 12 | 3% |
| 2011 | 8 | 4% |
| 2010 | 19 | 7% |
| 2009 | 127 | 35% |
| 2008 | 273 | 50% |
| 2007 | 157 | 23% |
| 2006 | 9 | 8% |
| 2005 | 22 | 10% |
| 2004 | 40 | 13% |
| 2003 | 17 | 6% |
| 2002 | 7 | 4% |
| 2001 | 13 | 6% |
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 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsWheels
6 complaintsAir bags
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Hyundai Santa FE
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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