2002 Hyundai Santa FE Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 10%of 165 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 157,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the body and structure of the 2002 Hyundai Santa FE, 10% of the 165 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 157,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was going to have the oil changed & alignment on a 2002 sante fe. I was told that there was rust/rotted out frame was where the lower control arm mounts up to the right tire area. I am very upset with this since I had a pre-inspection done & all came back ok. It is in an area where if the tires are not off of it, it is very hard to see. I suspect it is rusted due to the salty location of illinois.”
NHTSA complaint #10467125, filed 2012-07, 183,000 miles“Took my car for an alignment and tires. Frame where the lower control arms bolt up has serious rust issues. I see in some notes that the rust and corrosion has been an issue for the Hyundai's. Is there any way I am eligible to get this repaired by Hyundai or at least at some discounted rate?”
NHTSA complaint #10475887, filed 2012-09, 160,022 miles“While driving at 25 MPH, my wife had to hold the steering wheel at 10 o'clock in order to keep the vehicle going straight. The dealer told us that the subframe and controller arm had broke - a recall campaign which was repaired in 2010 (or so we thought). Due to this the car is not drivable and we are told by the dealership that, although the subframe and controller arm will be covered, the damage to the struts and tires are our responsibility to the sum $973.31. …”
NHTSA complaint #10701219, filed 2015-03, 91,000 miles“While driving to work, all of a sudden it felt like the body of the car was swaying away from the frame; there was complete loss of control so I pulled over to the side of the road; this scared the daylights out of me. A few minutes later, I drove the car to my mechanic and he told me later after he'd examined the vehicle that there was so much corrosion in the rear trailing arm that there was no place to weld anything on to. Complete corrosion of the rear trailing arms. I couldn't drive the vehicle any further. I was told it was a total loss. …”
NHTSA complaint #10606982, filed 2014-06, 100,002 miles“Took vehicle in for a normal oil change, and when technician was under the car, he took some pictures of the frame in the front right corner by the front right tire. He was showing me the frame was rusting very, very badly. He warned us that if we hit a small pot hole/bump or the curb at even 5 MPH the frame could bust and we could crash. The steering would shake and made chugging feeling when trying to turn, was looked at and power steering looked to be fine and fluid was full. After july 7th it made it very hard to drive and not safe for our family.”
NHTSA complaint #10664149, filed 2014-12, 184,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10235566Apr 24, 2023Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid…
- 10022202Jun 1, 2007Tailgate garnish contacts the tailgate. Procedures to repair if contact has occured.
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 2% |
| 2024 | 5 | 3% |
| 2023 | 6 | 3% |
| 2022 | 6 | 3% |
| 2021 | 3 | 2% |
| 2020 | 9 | 4% |
| 2019 | 14 | 7% |
| 2018 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 7 | 1% |
| 2016 | 6 | 3% |
| 2015 | 9 | 4% |
| 2014 | 20 | 4% |
| 2013 | 23 | 4% |
| 2012 | 8 | 2% |
| 2011 | 10 | 6% |
| 2010 | 12 | 5% |
| 2009 | 14 | 4% |
| 2008 | 20 | 4% |
| 2007 | 18 | 3% |
| 2006 | 3 | 3% |
| 2005 | 6 | 3% |
| 2004 | 12 | 4% |
| 2003 | 30 | 10% |
| 2002 | 17 | 10% |
| 2001 | 19 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2002 Hyundai Santa FE
59 complaintsBrakes
21 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 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 29, 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