Hyundai

Santa Fe (SM)

2001-2006 · Midsize SUV · 2 engines
Best Engine ⚠️ Caution (2.1)
1,303 NHTSA Complaints
7 Recalls
21 Fire Reports
99 Crash Reports
View all 5 generations of the Hyundai Santa Fe → 📋 Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
3/5 (20.3% risk)
ESC: No FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
3/5 (20.3% risk)
ESC: No FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
3/5
ESC: No FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
3/5
ESC: No FCW: No LDW: No

Engine Reliability Ratings

3.5-V6-Gas

3.5L 6-cyl
⚠️ Caution (2.1)
141 complaints 35.2 per year Gasoline
3 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

brakes
36
safety systems
27
other
24
suspension
18
engine
15

Known Issues

Brakes Issues (36 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (27 complaints)
Suspension Issues (18 complaints)

Same engine used in

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Hyundai Santa Fe Unidentified Engine

Avoid (1.1)
1,158 complaints 193.0 per year
18 fire reports 2 fatalities
View details

Complaint Breakdown

suspension
277
safety systems
167
engine
141
other
139
brakes
129

Known Issues

Suspension Issues (277 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (167 complaints)
Engine Issues (141 complaints)
Show 3 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints and aren't included in the main ratings above. Low counts can mean a genuinely clean record, but they can also reflect VIN-decode anomalies in NHTSA data. Treat as informational, not as a confident rating.

DOHC GDI Theta

2.4L
Recommended (5.0)
2 complaints 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

exterior
1
transmission
1

Known Issues

Exterior Issues (1 complaints)
Transmission Issues (1 complaints)

2.4-I4-Gas

2.4L 4-cyl
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

T-GDI THETA

2.0L Turbo
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
1

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Hyundai Santa Fe regardless of engine variant.

Suspension Issues (295 complaints)
suspension critical
Safety Systems Issues (194 complaints)
safety_systems critical
Brakes Issues (165 complaints)
brakes critical
Engine Issues (156 complaints)
engine critical
Electrical System Issues (115 complaints)
electrical critical

Recalls (7)

14V435000Jul 17, 2014serious
Suspension

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model Year 2001-2006 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from March 31, 2000, through February 15, 2006, that are registered and operated, or which were originally sold and registered, in the following 20 “salt belt" states and the District of Columbia: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The affected vehicles may experience front coil spring corrosion from road salt, causing the coil spring to fracture and make contact with the tire.

09V123000Apr 15, 2009serious
Suspension

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 83,355 MY 2001-2003 SANTA FE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE JURISDICTIONS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE REAR TRAILING ARMS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO THINNING OR PERFORATION OF THE REAR TRAILING ARM STEEL. OWNERS MAY SEE OR FEEL SLIGHT TO MODERATE CHANGES IN VEHICLE OPERATION WHICH WILL INCREASE IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRED. THESE CHANGES INCLUDE A LOWERING OF VEHICLE HEIGHT THAT CAN LEAD TO TIRE MISALIGNMENT AND STEERING PULL. OWNERS MAY ALSO NOTICE A CREAKING SOUND.

05V527000Nov 16, 2005critical
Air Bags

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AS AN ADULT.

05V450000Apr 9, 2005critical
Air Bags

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AS AN ADULT.

04V131000Mar 15, 2004serious
Service Brakes

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (ABS), IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 3 AND 12 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PAD FRICTION SURFACES ARE WET, A VIBRATION MAY OCCUR BETWEEN THE BRAKE DISCS AND PADS CAUSING ABS SENSOR ELECTRONIC SIGNAL NOISE TO DEVELOP. AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH, THE ABS SENSOR SIGNAL NOISE MAY CAUSE THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO ACTIVATE THE ABS, EXTENDING THE STOPPING DISTANCE.

03V520000Dec 17, 2003cosmetic
Equipment

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

03V030000Jan 31, 2003cosmetic
Electrical System

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7 LITER V-6 ENGINES, IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS (CPS) WERE INSTALLED. THE CPS CASES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND DID NOT MEET DIMENSIONAL SPECIFICATIONS. INTERNAL GAPS WITHIN THE CASES ALLOWED EPOXY TO CONTACT THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD, WHICH RESULTED IN CRACKING OF THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD CAPACITOR.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2001-2006 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?

The 2001-2006 Hyundai Santa Fe has accumulated 1,303 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Suspension, Safety Systems, Brakes. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Hyundai Santa Fe engine is most reliable?

The 2001-2006 Hyundai Santa Fe was offered with 5 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 3.5L 6-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2001-2006 Hyundai Santa Fe a good used car?

The 2001-2006 Hyundai Santa Fe can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 1,303 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001-2006 Hyundai Santa Fe have?

The 2001-2006 Hyundai Santa Fe has 1,303 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2001-2006 Hyundai Santa Fe?

There are 7 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2001-2006 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Hyundai Santa Fe?

Before buying a used Hyundai Santa Fe, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Suspension, Safety Systems, Brakes, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Santa Fe?

The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe received an overall N/A-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: N/A stars. Side crash: N/A stars. Rollover: 3 stars (20.3% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: No. Forward Collision Warning: No. Lane Departure Warning: No. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 1,303 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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