Overview & Reviews

Entering its second year of production, the Santa Fe gets four-wheel disc brakes as standard equipment as well as an optional upgraded stereo system. In May 2002, Hyundai responds to customer requests and makes a power sunroof optional for GLS and LX models. Besides that, all models benefit from midyear interior upgrades, among these larger air conditioning vents; a center stack-mounted clock; illumination for the power window buttons and glovebox; chrome accents; ISOFIX child-seat anchors for the outboard rear seating positions and an improved rear-seat recliner and folding mechanism. In September 2002, Hyundai announced that it had misstated the horsepower ratings for all of the models in its lineup -- the Santa Fe's 2.4-liter four-cylinder is now rated for 138 hp and its V6 is now at 173 hp. To compensate, the company is offering Hyundai owners (of 2000 models and newer) three options: 10 years of roadside assistance, 6-year/72,000-mile basic warranty coverage or 12-year/120,000-mile powertrain coverage.

• Relatively inexpensive price, super warranty, roomy interior.

• Unimpressive four-wheeling capability, underwhelming powertrain performance.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 251.00

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  Work that warranty - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Disgruntled - July 4 - 10:00 am

  I have had nothing but trouble with my new Santa Fe. Oil leak at rear engine seal. Vibrations and wheel shaking above 60 mph. Poor voltage regualtion under load. High pitched whining noise between 40-45 mph. 4 trips to the dealer with less than 5K miles. Going to test the Lemon Law in my state.

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  Not pleased - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Houston TX - February 22 - 10:00 am

  Very disappointed with mileage. Best mileage Ive gotten is 17.5 and thats highway. No head room for anyone over 6ft, little leg room. Seats are very uncomfortable for long trips. After reading other reviews, Im wondering what car theyre talking about. Were on our 3rd battery in 2 years!

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  Noisy and in shop way too often - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By D Sayre - November 4 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car after a two hour test drive. Within a week I knew I had made a mistake. This vehicle has such terrible road noise. When it rains no one in the back can hear a word you are saying in the front. My Hyundai has also been in the shop at least 8 times over the past two years for different belts, ignition system problems, and wiring harness defects. My husband has a Hyundai as well and it is in the shop way more often than any other new car we have ever owned. I will never buy another Hyundai as long as I can drive.

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  PROBLEMS!!! - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Michael Cunningham - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Got a Hyundai Santa Fe , but now we regret our decision. We have had multiple problems w/ this vehicle, such as paint peeling, check engine light coming on, and a very loud wind noise from the roof of the vehicle. It has been in the shop for the wind noise over 20 times and still not fixed. It took 3 months to get the check engine light fixed. Paint peeling has been replaced 3 times.

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  WATCH OUT FOR WARRANTY - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By SUE - March 15 - 2:00 am

  5/60,000 LIMITED warranty is much more limited than indicated in Owners Handbook. Watch out for items not listed in WHATS NOT COVERED section. Very vague, states what most owners already know, they dont cover the basic normal replacement parts, brake pads, bulbs, fuses etc. What they dont tell you about is what is usually covered by other manufactures under a true BUMPER TO BUMBER format. Had Chevy bumper to bumper and it covered everything for advertised time/mileage. Also considered noisy and heavy engine vibration when put into gear "normal" engine performance.

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  what was I thinking - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By heis - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Its a Hyundai- what was I thinking. guess we wwere influenced to much by the exterior design- The car looks really cool. However only after a short time we had the car thing are falling apart. The screw to the oiltank had a hairline crack. The motor needed readjustment. The engine noise is now transmitted to the interior and the plastic parts inside are vibrating. not much but I guess it will get worse. The car seems to accelerate pretty slowly- We ignored that when we bought the car. The actual economy is 24. (Much higher). We are really dis-illusioned

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  not happy - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By 2002 hyundai santa f - May 17 - 11:43 am

  my hyundai santa fe stopped running in 2006 and i had to have almost three thousand dollars worth of work done on it in which the hyundai dealer ship did not honner the waranty. 2009 it stop running again, this time it cost five hundred dollars. now 2010 its not running again. same thing wrong with it. i am a older lady that has always taken care of my cars and just wanted something i did NOT have to keep putting money into,and also i cant afford to get it fixed so here i am without a car to drive.the body and the interior look like new.this has not been a dependable car and i would never buy another one again and would never sell the idea to anyone else. VERY UNHAPPY!!!

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  Love the car, but not customer service - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By luvmysanta - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I love my car! For a great value, I got tons of stuff! People walk up to me in parking lots, and ask about it! Unfortunately, the customer service Ive encountered has bean really, really, REALLY bad! Theyve made it clear early on in my ownership, that if something does go wrong, they will not honor the warranty, or make any attempts to help the customer. I had a small concern, that I brought to their attention, and they just tried to sell me another car (requiring several thousand in cash), rather than fix the problem. Ive been trying to get the problem corrected since November of 2001, with no luck (its now April of 2003).

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  Poor Workmanship - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By thand - July 24 - 12:05 pm

  I was thrilled with my Hyundai until the clear coat started peeling off the hatch door and the drivers side mirror as well as rusting on the drivers side mirror. The wiper arms are rusting as well and I have just over 60,000 miles on my car. To me this is lousy workmanship. most of the time my car was parked in a garage at work so was only in the elements for limited amount of time. I have never owned a car in which the clear coat peeled. My daughter who also has a Hyundai is having the same problem. I did some research and found out that even some of the 2012 models had the same problem. This is why I would never buy another Hyundai product.

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  Multiple Problems - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Lauren81M - January 23 - 9:20 pm

  The second day I had it I took it on a long trip to Florida and the AC froze up after 2 hours. I got no support from the dealer of course. Ive replaced compressor, checked for leaks, replaced sensors...nothing works, cant take it on trips longer than 2 hours when I need AC. Also have had to replace O2 sensor 3 times. Was in shop for almost 3 months straight when I first bought it. Warranty is not transferable if bought used. Would never buy one ever again.