2002 Hyundai Santa FE Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 9%of 165 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 101,085miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2002 Hyundai Santa FE, 9% of the 165 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 101,085 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 2002 2.7 Santa Fe reved way up spontaneously tonight. I banged gas pedal repeatedly with foot but did nothing. As I approached stoplight brakes would hardly stop the car; shifted to neutral, rpms went way up and I turned off car. Continued my 1 mile trip home and engine would by itself rev down only to immediately rev way back up. Could smell my brakes burning by the time I got home. What ever is going on here is very dangerous.”
NHTSA complaint #10789038, filed 2015-11, 190,000 miles“My 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe has experienced two throttle position sensor failures within the last 4 months. This causes sudden acceleration and transmission downshifts and up shifts. Fortunately both times occurred on in town streets and I was able to keep control of the vehicle. Could be serious if it occurred while trying to merge into highway traffic.”
NHTSA complaint #10348416, filed 2010-08, 79,500 miles“On august 25, 2010 I was driving my Hyundai 2002 sante fe when without warning it accelerated to full throttle. I was able to stop it using the brake and emergency brake and turning it off. My mechanic found the cruise control cable had broken and held the throttle wide open. The cable was stretched too tight. I had it removed.”
NHTSA complaint #10352015, filed 2010-08, 93,000 miles“I had just dropped off my son to school when the accelerator started to rev up and after dropping him off it continued to do so until I got close to my place of employment when the car started to accelerate more and I had a hard time stopping it I had both feet on the brakes and was pulling the emergency brake at the same time, as I pulled into a parking spot the car would not stop and I went over a parking bumper and turned the car off! …”
NHTSA complaint #10439058, filed 2011-12, 40 miles“While I stopped at a red light my vehicle stalled which this has occurred several times previously. I turned the car odd and on again and proceeded to turn at the light and the car stalled again in the middle of this busy intersection, I turned it off again and back and began to drive up a small incline. I pressed on the gas pedal and it did not feel as if were speeding up, all of a sudden I began to accelerate and I pressed the brake and it continued to go faster. My destination was coming up, and there was a lot of traffic ahead of me. …”
NHTSA complaint #10378575, filed 2011-01, 101,085 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10016301Jun 1, 2005Electronic throttle system (ets) diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) update.
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 8% |
| 2025 | 8 | 6% |
| 2024 | 8 | 5% |
| 2023 | 15 | 7% |
| 2022 | 16 | 8% |
| 2021 | 7 | 4% |
| 2020 | 5 | 2% |
| 2019 | 5 | 2% |
| 2018 | 5 | 5% |
| 2017 | 54 | 6% |
| 2016 | 5 | 2% |
| 2015 | 7 | 3% |
| 2014 | 27 | 5% |
| 2013 | 21 | 3% |
| 2012 | 40 | 11% |
| 2011 | 24 | 13% |
| 2010 | 21 | 8% |
| 2009 | 51 | 14% |
| 2008 | 52 | 10% |
| 2007 | 58 | 8% |
| 2006 | 20 | 19% |
| 2005 | 44 | 20% |
| 2004 | 39 | 13% |
| 2003 | 24 | 8% |
| 2002 | 15 | 9% |
| 2001 | 14 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2002 Hyundai Santa FE
59 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsBody and structure
17 complaintsSteering
16 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 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