1st generation (SM) · SM · 1,731 complaints, 1,328 with mileage
Owners filed 1,731 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001–2006 Hyundai Santa Fe, and 1,328 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
41% of failures occur beyond 100,000 miles — a wear pattern. The car generally reaches substantial mileage before trouble starts.
The most-reported areas are the suspension (17.6% of complaints, typically around 108,750 miles), the airbag system (11.4% of complaints, typically around 87,500 miles), throttle and speed control (9.0% of complaints, typically around 60,500 miles).
1 recall campaign cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 305 | 17.6% | 108,750 | 83,801–147,263 |
| Air Bags | 197 | 11.4% | 87,500 | 52,781–120,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 156 | 9.0% | 60,500 | 10,000–106,797 |
| Electrical System | 118 | 6.8% | 60,000 | 23,641–110,000 |
| Power Train | 111 | 6.4% | 58,000 | 23,000–97,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 108 | 6.2% | 60,372 | 21,900–82,580 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 96 | 5.5% | 34,759 | 7,400–61,000 |
| Structure | 89 | 5.1% | 106,000 | 74,000–150,000 |
| Steering | 69 | 4.0% | 89,500 | 60,000–148,200 |
| Service Brakes | 66 | 3.8% | 100,000 | 70,000–148,200 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 293 | 175 |
| 2002 | 219 | 173 |
| 2003 | 390 | 308 |
| 2004 | 386 | 316 |
| 2005 | 300 | 242 |
| 2006 | 143 | 114 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 86,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The suspension accounts for 17.6% of complaints (305 reports, 245 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 108,750 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 83,801 and 147,263 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 11.4% of complaints (197 reports, 156 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 87,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,781 and 120,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 9.0% of complaints (156 reports, 128 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 10,000 and 106,797 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.8% of complaints (118 reports, 75 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,641 and 110,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 6.4% of complaints (111 reports, 83 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 58,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,000 and 97,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 6.2% of complaints (108 reports, 73 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,372 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 21,900 and 82,580 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2003 model year drew the most — 390 complaints — while 2006 drew the fewest at 143. The median year sits at 296.
NHTSA records 1 recall campaign covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 1,731 complaints filed against this generation, 136 reported a crash; 30 reported a fire; 139 reported an injury; 3 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.9% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, a late-failure pattern shifts the question from whether to when. 41% of reported failures occur beyond 100,000 miles, so an example approaching that figure is approaching the range where other owners started reporting problems. The middle half of all failures falls between 45,000 and 126,000 miles.
On inspection, the suspension and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 87,500, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Automatic transmission failure is the dominant durability complaint for this generation; no manufacturer recall campaign, so it appears in complaint data rather than recall data.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 14V435000 | 2014-10-24 | Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs |