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.
Safety risk
If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the coil spring, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 124.
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.
Safety risk
THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CRASH OR THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A SIDE COLLISION CRASH; SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE'S OCS WILL PROPERLY CLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN WHEN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AND WILL DISABLE THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAGS. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN FOR RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
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.
Safety risk
THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CRASH OR THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A SIDE COLLISION CRASH; SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE'S OCS WILL PROPERLY CLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN WHEN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AND WILL DISABLE THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAGS. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN FOR RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Air bags
72
94,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
38
21,500 mi
Service brakes
18
85,000 mi
Seat belts
16
94,000 mi
Suspension
16
94,300 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
14
102,000 mi
Engine
11
96,052 mi
Electrical system
9
42,000 mi
Power train
9
119,131 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
8
40,120 mi
Unknown or other
8
135,000 mi
Steering
6
45,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
5
76,264 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
5
10 mi
Engine and engine cooling
4
45,000 mi
Exterior lighting
4
81,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
3
3,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
3
3,962 mi
Structure: body
3
71,000 mi
Tires
3
83,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
38,000 mi
Equipment
2
800 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.
2
3,962 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery
2
10 mi
Fuel system, other
2
10 mi
Seats
2
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
2
7,400 mi
Structure
2
56,700 mi
Suspension: front
2
40,120 mi
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
2
100,802 mi
Wheels
2
131,000 mi
Air bags: frontal
1
800 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module
1
900 mi
Air bags: side/window
1
800 mi
Air bags: SRS malfunction warning lamp/light
1
—
Electrical system: starter assembly
1
—
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)
1
1 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal
1
47,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
1
10 mi
Latches/locks/linkages
1
40,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: tailgate: lock
1
99,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
1
—
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)
1
24,500 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
1
93,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor
1
120,697 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock
1
100 mi
Service brakes, electric
1
52,600 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system
1
—
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments
1
7,400 mi
Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments
1
7,400 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
1
4,520 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint
1
4,520 mi
Vehicle speed control: cables
1
65,549 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control
1
650 mi
Visibility/wiper
1
151,894 mi
The 2004 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2006 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.