Overview & Reviews

For 2001, Hyundai comes to market with its very own sport-utility. The Santa Fe is based on a modified Sonata midsize car platform and is available with either front-wheel drive or full-time four-wheel drive with either a four-cylinder or V6 engine.

• Relatively inexpensive price, super warranty, roomy interior.

• Unproven reliability, unimpressive four-wheeling capability, underwhelming powertrain performance.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 82.00

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  too many problems - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By mantza - July 6 - 10:00 am

  Since I purchased this car, I have had problems with the rotors and the lift gate latch. The rotors are constantly needing replacement. At first the lift gate would not open at all, and then it wouldnt lock. I wish that I hadnt been so hasty in my decision.

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  Best car I got ..! - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By dapril32 - March 20 - 6:20 pm

  Look at this .. after 176,000km on the count. I decided to chage my tire for the first time! They are still good for one summer so I will keep them for next year. The best tire on this thing I never had. No problem at all with this SUV. Did change oil every 5000km, regular maintenance, the closer dealer in my area is about at 200km. Dont need them anyway .. haha The paint still great on it after these years. The one thing is the break that need to be change every 50000 at least. I paid this SUV after 3 years then its money in the bank! I cant compaint at all ...!

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  Best value SUV for the price - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By ericmalcolm82 - February 24 - 10:41 pm

  I live in the midwest and our winters are brutal, so I had saved up about $4,000 to buy a used SUV that I could drive during snowy treks. Found this SUV with 100,000 miles for only $3K, with minor issues (heater didnt work, check engine light). Heater was easy fix, I passed e-check with some Seafoam, and have been driving for two months and love it. Snowed real bad last night, and felt very safe all the way home from work. Interior is boring but everything you need, handles well, fun to drive. Looked at older CRVs that had higher miles and that cost about a grand+ more. Very happy with this vehicle, and hope to drive it for another 100,000 miles.

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  noisey? no power, guzzler - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By julie crowley - December 5 - 2:00 pm

  i love my santa fe, believe it or not from the title. But it has no acceleration to speak of and is very noisey. It drinks petrol and costs me a fortune to keep. although it got me through 2foot flood water with no problems at all recently.

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  A great vehicle for us - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By hoverfish - October 10 - 5:50 am

  Bought this one at 125K km, now has 205K. Weve replaced only wear parts so far. Its a little underpowered for my liking but it did pull a u-haul trailer through the Canadian Rockies just fine.

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  Great SUV..Until over 90K miles - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Melony - May 19 - 1:20 pm

  I really enjoyed this vehicle, and hoped it would last a lot longer; I certainly wasnt ready to see it go. I had one of the 89 Hyundais, standard transmission, and the trans went out at 60K, so I knew it was short lived...I only had it in the shop a few times, and at 97k miles, the check engine light came on again, and I had a gut feeling it was bad. I didnt take it to repair, I drove straight to the nearest dealer and traded in (not another Hyundai). The dealer called the next day wanting to know what the trick was to starting it. Evidently they couldnt start it (I hadnt had that problem) when they went to wholesale it. Long story short, BAD NEWS, the engine evidently bit the dust

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  Pleasantly Surprised - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Thomas Lindsey - April 29 - 2:43 pm

  I bought this vehicle in 2001 just a couple months after the release. Today, I have 89,000 miles on it and I have been pleased with its performance over the last 7 years. Ive been to the dealer for only a few minor problems, the last and biggest was the power steering pump which was covered under my extended warranty. Ive been pleased by the total package; AWD, comfort, reliability, performance, etc. I know this car doesnt do any one thing extremely well, but it does everything pretty darn well. Its well-rounded and solid. My only real complaint has been the paint. I feel like the color coat is about 1mm thick. Its fading, scratches MUCH too easily, and no clear coat of which to speak.

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  Quality check needed - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By kona - January 12 - 10:00 am

  In less than a year a console latch has broken, one heated seat does not work, and a lettering fell off the outside of the vehicle. Warranty, has though, covered it.

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  good warranty doesnt mean its reliable - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By drivergirl - October 2 - 10:00 am

  Have owned car 2 years and it has already been in the shop for major repair 2 times. Once I was stranded in a snowstorm when the alternator went out. The last shop trip was for a new transmission. Although the warranty covered everything, its a huge inconvenience to have a broken car. Why spend money on a new car that you cant depend on???

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  Great SUV - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By ralphredwolf - June 29 - 11:06 pm

  After 97000 Miles this has probably been the best vehicle I have ever owned. I happen to drive cars and trucks for a living and this is one of the best out there. Normally after this much mileage a vehicle has some play in the front end but not this SUV. It is just as tight as the day I first drove it, unbelieveable. If only the USA could make a great SUV like this GM & Ford would never have problems. Buy one,you will not be disappointed.