Used 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV Consumer Reviews
Good Truck
Purchased used @ 96k. Towing capacity is awful. Can pull a 13ft Boler travel trailer. Had continuous problem with rear brakes overheating. New calipers fixed it. Transmission cooler and power steering lines both rusted through @ 220k. Replaced tires 190k, Tie rods 215k, timing belt 190k, alternator 150k, crank sensor 120k. Malfunctions of rear wiper, drivers seat belt latch, passenger power lock, screws in driver window shook lose and window fell out. Currently it needs new shocks, and the diff. seal leaks. Other than that it still has lots of life, looks great and has 251,000k on it. I'd have to say after 250k that's not to bad. However, I'd like my old Safari van back. Less $ loss.
Best vehicle I have ever owned
Everyone in the deerwoods lauged at me when I left camp to buy my wife this veh. But now 3 of them have one also, yes it's an 02 and finally were waiting for the 2011's I'm 100% sure I will buy another, the only problem we had with ours was a tail light going out, it was fixed 4 yrs ago and now it has 80,000 miles and she wants another so spring we will, I will not even look at another brand, a bad taillight in 9 yrs. Why would I, by far the very best I have ever owned, I'm 50 and I look for comfort when I travel with my wife, just got back from a trip to padre island and round trip was 1802 miles long and I was fine the whole trip, I hope this will help
- LX 4dr SUVMSRP: $1,450289 mi away
- GLS 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,599524 mi away
- GLS 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,295739 mi away
Love my Hyundai Santa Fe BASIC 2WD Automatic
I have 191,000 miles on my 2002 Santa Fe. This is by far the best, most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. Only complaint is that this vehicle has an issue with every belt. The timing belt had been replaced 2x and I often had to have other belts replaced or tightened. Failure to do so immediately resulted in a loud squeeling every time I started my car. The good thing is, nothing EXPENSIVE ever went. This car is fun to drive, GREAT Gas Mileage, and cheap to maintain. I am on the road a lot, and I love being in this car. It is so comfortable that my MANY long trips per month (ranging from 2 hours one way to 12 hours one way) are always a breeze. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE
Love
I love my Hyundai Santa Fe I have had it for about 5 months so far and never have had a problem. I hesitated when buying because I didn't know much about them but I can say I am very glad I choose it. I know all cars have there ups and downs and there are good ones and bad ones. I have to say I got luck I purchased my 2002 with 123,000 miles on it and she has ran perfect for me. One thing I would like to give this car props on is the four wheel drive I go any where in the snow I live in Ohio.
Best car ive owned, too !
I bought my 2002 SantaFe in that year brand new. Its been very reliable and ive babied the car on doing maintenance which i do myself. It routinely gets a combined 21 MPG with 23 on the Highway at 70 mph. It is very peppy and in fact, the front tires will spin from a start if you take off real quick. I upgraded the crummy LongTrail Tires to Michelin LX Tires and went from 225's to 245's -- the extra width makes it handle superbly and they dont rub on anything. The Factory radio / tape/ cd player went out at 75,000 miles so i went with a new Pioneer from BestBuy. Other than that, i had a Temperature Sensor go out around 80,000 miles...and thats been it for failures. Its been good.
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe LX 4WD V6
This has been a very satisfactory car for me. The features are excellent for the price. It is a bit underpowered for the weight of the vehicle, but Hyundai has corrected that in newer models. The only failure in 5 years has been the interior clock for which a replacement doesn't seem to be available. I am considering purchasing another Santa Fe when I replace my present car.
2002 Santa Fe Still Going Strong!
I am the 2nd owner of this SUV, and I've done few major maintenance repairs to date. Kept up with regular oil changes. This SUV has me keeping it and passing onto my son, while I get a NEW Santa Fe. I'm usually not impressed by too many things. But for a 15+ year old SUV, this is as solid as it gets! Beginning to rust around the rear tire wells, but I don't have a garage, only open driveway, so can't complain ;). Timing belt is in need of replacement, otherwise still sturdy! Update 2/13/19 - I am still driving my Santa Fe since my last review - now 17 years old!! I did go to the Philadelphia Car Show, and saw the new 2019 Hyundais, I am going to be buying a new Santa Fe hopefully within this year. I am in love :)
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Nice car way to many problems
My first car. Wish it had more power and zip. Live the way it handles. Love the way it looks. When it is actually working I love the car but at 100k miles it all went down hill had to replace power steering pump, fuel injectors both front axles and both front abs speed sensors, rest carrier bearing, the transfer case and the transmission. Between the fuel injectors and the transfer case and transmission all going out with in the last year and a half it was a between $6,000 and $7,000 and the ac broke twice. Would not but another one or recommend the first generation Santa Fe to anyone who doesn't have deep pockets to keep it on the road. All that being said I am sad that I have to get rid of
Her name was Sandy
We owned our Santa Fe for 6yrs. Bought in 2010 for $6000. Had 104,000 miles on it. Sold it May 2016 for $4000, and had 140,000 on it. The only things we replaced on it were the brakes, tires, and ignition switch. Loved plowing through the Wisconsin winters. She was getting a little sluggish before we sold it, but was one of the best vehicles we ever owned. Back in 2013 we bought a 2007 Santa Fe and sold it a year later. We thought it would be like our 02 but couldn't hold a candle to it. Recently purchased a 2012 Chevy Captiva. Hope we have the same luck as we did with Sandy.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love this car!
I have 165000 miles and love it as the day I bought it! Changed the timing belt every 60000 miles and all I've changed is the alternator at 130000. Regular oil changes, tires wear well (yeah! Goodrich Long Trails). Goes through 2 ft snow without difficulty handles great with shiftronic! The price is now too high and auto has changed so can't afford another! Sob! It's still going strong so not to worry yet. Great car! Well built,I feel very safe driving it in any weather.
Santa Fe regrets...
Until recently I loved the Santa Fe, great gas mileage, great looking, good performance... until last year... things started failing, the axles broke... yes broke, within the axle boot, something let go, vehicle wouldn't move. 1 month later, the wheel bearing went, most recently the engine failed... everything within the engine, there wasn't much left of the engine, the service guy said it "grenaded". This left us stranded in the middle of nowhere without a warning. No strange noises, no tell tale warning signs of impending failure... nothing. Shut it off normally then went out to start it and nothing... this thing was seized up, the engine would not turn at all... Now it sits in the shop..
Losing my Santa Fe hurts!
Of all of the vehicles that I have ever owned and/or driven I would choose my Santa Fe. I bought it new in 2002 and it was totaled in an accident with my 20 yr old driving in May 2010. There were 5 people in the car when the accident happened and other than bruises (seat belt & my daughter's knee hit the dash) they were all fine. I always felt very safe driving/letting my daughter drive it. The car was reliable, fun, comfortable and could carry almost anything that I could possibly bring home including some huge rocks that I absolutely had to have. I was absolutely devastated when they told me that it was totaled! I would have driven this car for a long time yet. Boohoo, I miss my Santa Fe!
Great car for the money and tough
Only problem we have ever had was the visor breaking, other than that nothing. We do change oil and do all the pm to the car. The dealer has been great to deal with as well. Just like with anything take care of it and it will take care of you.
Bulletproof! - Eulogy to an Old Friend
Just sold my '02 GLS V6 Santa FeAWD a few days ago.(Feb 2012). I was 2nd owner. It was HANDS DOWN the best car I've ever owned, When I sold it it had 246K!! miles on it, and get this - not a SINGLE rattle or loose panel, etc. inside. Completely amazing.Unheard of for me who had always owned Ford's. YES I had to repair the engine, tran. etc along the way...but what a trooper! I hesitated before buying it-semed too utilitarian - grew over the years to totally respect its design integrity and heartiness. Went shopping for another-an '07 90k yesterday to replace it-what a DISAPPOINTMENT, SO cheaply made. Might just have to scout around out there for a low miles'02 again.What happened Hyundai?
100,000 miles without a single problem
I commute over a mountain and have had to successfully navigate through black ice, snow, steep terrain, suicidal deer, and drunken drivers. My Santa Fe just hit 100,000 miles and I have had ZERO problems. My factory tires lasted 60,000 miles (my friend who drives a European car over the same roads had to get new tires at 30,000 miles). My car has started, dependably, each and every time. It has the power to tackle steep roads (and with the Shiftronic Transmission) it is hell-a-fun to drive. I once raced another friend (who drove a Miata) over the mountain, and my Santa Fe handled the curves better than her little car. Great Car!!! Comfy cloth seats!! I'm so glad I own it.
love my car
I love my Santa Fe, but it has had a few problems I have had to replace the battery on it 4 times the brakes 2 times the timing chain, and pvc valves and 3 gas caps, and tires 2 times. I'm going to have to have it fixed again as the check engine light is back on and wont go off. Safety though in this car is wonderful I have been in 2 big accidents in it and no one in my car was hurt.
My Hyundai Rocks
Hyundai is not what they used to be. They are reliable! My first was a 1995 Accent; my husband drove the car until June, 2008. When Big Red finished, she had 159,000 miles! That type of reliable made me a loyal Hyundai customer! I bought my Santa Fe in 2002. I call her Lucille, and she still looks as good when I drove her off the lot! I wouldn't trade my Hyundai in for anything else! We just bought a 2008 Sonata!
Could have been built better
The assumption that a car must be good based on a 100,000 mile warranty is faulty; especially when it does not transfer to a new owner. I purchased this vehicle from a dealer, used, and then was told it needed $2,000.00 worth of required maintenance to keep from voiding the warranty. After that I had constant problems with the brakes, and transmission. Coming back from Florida one time, the car began to buck and jerk for more than 400 miles. We took it to a couple of places and were told that it was a transmission sensor. After paying many hundreds of dollars for repairs, we still are having transmission type issues, along with a brake fluid leak, and other continued brake issues.
Poor Workmanship
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.
The Best
This auto gave on the average 23 mpg and many times 28 mpg. The comfort and, performance was great for a 6 cyl. vehicle. Will be buying another within 1-2 years!
Three years old and still like new
My 2002 Santa Fe just turned 3 years old and it still runs like the day I got it. Never a second of trouble. This SUV has the quality, power, ride, roominess, and style to equal its more expensive competitors. Most important, it's extremely reliable.
pleasure to drive, but too many repairs
i bought this car with 46,000 on it. had to replace serpentine belt, Axle, engine light on - have to bring to authorized dealership, it was evaporation leak near the gas tank, had to repaint exterior, have engine light on now, going to dealer tomorrow to fix it.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Mixed reactions
This vehicle drives well. It accelerates well from a stop and has a fair amount of power in its engine. Fuel economy is about 20 MPG in the city and 27 on the highway. The ride is comfortable and reasonably smooth. However, maintenance is difficult for this vehicle. You must remove an intake manifold from the engine in order to change all spark plugs. The front suspension is set up so the ball joints and control arms are held in place against the weight of the car, so that it will collapse if one breaks, we recently found out the hard way. It will cost about $800 to fix this. Reliability and maintenance are sometimes issues for this vehicle.
Love My Santa Fe
I still love my Santa Fe after owning it for 5 yrs. It is just now starting to get little things wrong with it after 67,000 miles on it such as the light on the radio doesn't work, just replaced a brake switch, plugs and small things like that. The only major problem I've had is the air conditioner went out, thru trial and error with the dealership, they finally had to call the company, to find out it was the computer. They replaced it free of charge under the warranty with no problems. I've never had a car to compare with this one. Don't like the style of the new ones, but would love to have a new one just like I have now.
A great SUV
I own the 2002 LX AWD my daughter bought it and put the first 30K on it and we took over for the last 60K. It was the best SUV in it's class in 02 and we haven't been disappointed yet. It gets 26 to 28 mpg on long trips, I don't keep track in town. It handles great in snow and on icy roads, AWD is automatic with nothing to worry about. Our only repair was a cracked A/C line otherwise trouble free except for normal maint. Soon we will get an 07 or 08 RAV4 or Santa Fe, both the top performers in our test drives. The 07's are far nicer SUV's and that is what you would expect with 5 more years of expierence but the 02 is still a well built classy SUV.
Great Car!
Overall, I love this car. I bought it brand new and was initially concerned about reliability. However, that has turned out to be unfounded. I have 89,000 miles on it after 4 years and have not had any major problems. The car runs smooth. No rattles (surprising for the price range). I had one recurring problem with the air conditioner. Thought it might be a factory problem but think it could have been a dealership problem instead. It kept freezing up. Took them forever to fix that. Then kept getting leaks. I kept telling them but, what do I know, I'm a girl! I think the freezing of lines caused them to dry-rot, causing leaks. They finally fixed it!
Hyundai Warranty and Brake Quality
I have a 2002 Santa Fe GlS with less than 30,000 miles and had to get 3 brake jobs and 4 new rotors for the SUV. Hyundai says it is the way I drive but my Toyota Highlander is driven more, gets better gas milage and pick up and has no issue with it's brakes. Each change is $700 to $1200 dollars. Add that to the price of the car every 9,000 miles and see if you are happy. My engine is now sounding as if the lifters are going which they can not hear untill the warranty is over. My radio display is gone, Just missed warranty! Nothing was covered by the "warranty" which they tell you to read the fine print! GOODBY HYUNDAI AND WELCOME BACK TOYOTA!!!!!! AT LEAST THEY HAVE PROVEN QUALITY.
2002 Santa Fe Review
I have driven my Santa Fe since September 2002 and, without any hesitancy, purchase another Santa Fe. Its maneuverability in town traffic and over the road is outstanding. I'm been proud to recommend it to others.
A Dream Vehicle
Our Santa Fe is, without doubt, the best vehicle we have ever owned. Until recently, when a dragging brake manifested itself, there was not so much as a rattle in the car. The Santa Fe's handling is outstanding though the car is a bit underpowered. Service has been beyond excellent at Bellingham Hyundai. The longer we have the car, the more we like it. Fit and finish is superb. About the only improvement which Hyundai could make would be to increase the gas mileage.
Traded
I owned a 2002 Santa Fe LX for 9 months. After turning 10,000 miles, the engine started to sound like a diesel engine at idle. The service department and regional representative said it was normal engine noise. It was either the lifters or rods.....It also has an under-powered alternator; the lights fade after a stop, and the transmission indicator blinks with the turn signals. That was normal, also. I was afraid of engine durability. The engine is very unresponsive.
Been good to us
Purchased new in Sept. of '01 and overall have been very satisfied. We purchased the extended warranty for a very affordable price and has paid off for us. The 2.7 V6 has plenty of power for a vehicle as heavy as it is and fuel mileage is reasonable at 20 mpg. avg. We have had a few mechanical issues covered mostly under warranty. Both front axles cracked and were replaced, a strange squealing noise from the rear that the dealership fixed but seems to reappear from time to time, the rear hatch door handle release latch sticks in and the door will not latch shut if you don't pull it out by hand. Radio goes on and off itself. This SUV is GREAT in snow with full time 4wd. We're keeping it
Great get around vehicle
If your driving around town or on short excursions, it is a great vehicle to own. Drives and handles very well, good gas mileage for an SUV, has a lot of cargo room. Was hit by another car from behind and it felt like I rolled over a little speed bump -- good quality construction.
Driving IS believing...really it is.
I've been impressed. Being a long time Honda/Toyota buyer, I was somewhat skeptical about Hyundai. But what really drew me to the Santa Fe was it's unique and bold styling..so I got one last fall. It's been an impressive experience for me ever since. Hyundai's advertising claim, "Driving is Believing"...is reality. Once you drive one (especially the FWD version - sportier)...you'll want to get one.
Almost an RX300 for half the price
Wife really wanted the Lexus RX300 but the price was heart-stopping. We each test drove the Sante Fe at 2 different dealerships and couldn't believe value of this SUV. Toured the entire Dallas Auto Show and NOTHING touched it. After 6 months we have 10K miles and a trip to Colorado with our new Sante Fe and zero problems. Very fun to drive, great ride, lots of cargo room (more than our old Windstar van with a family of 4 loaded in), loads of standard. features. Second gear is geared a little low but the pickup overall is just fine, city or highway. From a die- hard Toyota and GM fan, this is one great car. Plus the warranty if you're still not convinced!
Worst Car I ever owned!!
When I purchased my 2002 Santa fe in 2006 I thought I had found a great deal. It had only 45k miles on it with one previous owner. The first couple years were great...then the problems began. At 80k my transmission was replaced. At about 100k everything started leaking from engine coolant to power steering fluid. Then to top it all off I was driving on the freeway 2 days after an oil change and my engine started knocking and I as I was trying to get over to pull off the road it began to smoke. When I popped the hood there was a small engine fire. Needless to say I needed a new engine, but opted to get rid of it. I had already spent close to $5,000 in repairs and was done.
Yes Hyundai does build a quality Vehicle
I love this truck...If you are looking for a car like ride with the height of a truck, this vehicle is for you. The interior is roomy & comfortable. Compared this truck to the Ford Escape & Mazda Tribute....Drive all three, & you will buy the Hyundai like I did.
Smooth Ride
I have had nothing but fun tooling around in my santa fe. It handles real smooth and is easy to drive. The engine is quiet but the cockpit with the windows open is noisy when you are in a confined area with traffic. A little more sound proofing would have been nice to block out the road sounds. The visibility at night is great the headlights along with the fog lights you can see pretty far ahead. I have the LX model which did not have a sun/moon roof option at the time of purchase other than that this is a great suv at a real value price and a great warranty. I would recommend this vehicle and the nice dealorship where I bought it.
A TEACHERS REVIEW
I have had this vehicle for over a year now and I am continually impressed with the comfort and the styling of the Santa Fe. The ride and space is a major plus. We have taken several trips and neither my back nor anyone else is in discomfort after a long ride. With the warrenty ther is alot of peace of mind. I would definately but another one and HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT
So far so good!
I researched SUV's until my wife was ready to kill me. Was looking hard at Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute until I saw the crash results (marginal). The Hyundai is a blast to ride, the wife keeps trying to take it from me! I paid $20,736 (before taxes and tags) and got rails, mats, guards, cargo mat and tray from Fairfax Hyundai (Danny Lee). Really impressed with the dealership. To get a Ford or Mazda equally equipped would cost another $3000-$4000.
AWESOME
I NEVER EXPECTED "HYUNDAI TO COME OUT WITH A CAR I CAN SAY I LOVE" I BELEIVE HYUNDAI HAS COME A LONG WAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING BUSINESS WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE.
The Best of Everything
You have to drive it. So many people stare at this SUV. It rides beautiful. Turns great. There is so much room. Sterio is good and It is getting about 22 miles per gallion. No problems just a smoth ride with heated seats and a great view of the road. I have LX front wheel drive model. Love it. Kept my BMW and got this SUV. Tested every other SUV. Did like the Lexus. But love this SUV.
Wow, pleasure to drive and look at!!!
I tried several of the competitor's vehicles, then we saw a Santa Fe on the highway. We road-tested it and bought one. The stylish looks are far superior to others in same class. The vehicle is comfortable, quiet and powerful enough to be a pleasure to drive. The Santa Fe handles well and offers plenty of room for back seat passengers. Lot's of space in cargo compartment with easy access through hatch or door.
What a vehicle !!!
V6 GLS, front wheel drive, with traction control and ABS. It's bigger and rides smoother than a RAV 4,in my opinion, and is not as bulky as a Ford Explorer. Great warranty !!! It's a blast to drive. The 6cylinder is peppy, and seems to want to leap forward with little nudging of the gas pedal. The chassis smooths out those nasty New England potholes, bridge expansion joints, and ripples. The cloth seats were stiff, and bland, so we added leather seats (Katskin) which have an extra half inch of foam backing. We added seat heaters, and a Webasto sunroof.
A Great Deal
I bought this vehicle by researching it on the internet. I didn't know a Hyundai from a Yugo. After comparing every small to midsized SUV on the market I surmised that this one presented the best value. It has performed flawlessly. People come up to me all the time in parking lots and whatnot and ask me what kind of vehicle it is. It looks like a Lexus SUV, but 15 grand less.
Multiple Problems
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. I've replaced compressor, checked for leaks, replaced sensors...nothing works, can't 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.
As they say "Driving is beleiving"
After driving a BMW 325IS for 5 years I decided that I needed to upgrade to something with 4 doors with the ability to carry cargo. I drove numberous other SUV's mini and mid sized. None of them could complete with the feel, drive, design, and space of the Hyundai, not to mention the warranty. The Hyundai Santa fe is the best in its class hands down and as they say "Driving is believing" beacause once you drive the new Hyundai's you will agree.
Santa Fe Rocks!
The Santa Fe is Fun to drive, very reliable and a tremendouse value. No regrets! Can't wait for the snow to use the ABS and Traction Control System.
go for it, won't regret...
you get more for money. nice ride and safe
Awesome
Awesome SUV! This is my 3rd Hyundai. I stick with them because they stand behind their product with the best warranty in the business, and I like to purchase with all the options included. I don't like having to pick and choose for options so they can low- ball the price in the advertisements, and then when you go in to shop, you have to add $5,000 to the price! The only thing I would possibly complain about, which was in all of the reviews, is that it is a little slow off the start. This vehicle is heavy compared to similar vehicles, and the small 2.7L engine could use a little more umph to get going. Otherwise, as the title says, AWESOME!
best mini suv there is
I just brought my santa fe and I love it. Its very comfortable fun to drive. It goes up hills very well. You difently get your moneys worth with the Santa Fe