FaultScore

2001 Hyundai Santa FE transmission problems

24 of the 293 complaints about the 2001 Hyundai Santa FE are about the transmission — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 58,000 miles.

B

24

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 11 45.8%
Power Train 5 20.8%
Manual Transmission 3 12.5%
Clutch Assembly 3 12.5%
Axle Assembly 1 4.2%
Transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive) 1 4.2%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Hyundai Santa FE year

2001 24 2.7%
2002 14 1.6%
2003 36 4.0%
2004 21 2.3%
2005 11 1.2%
2007 31 3.4%
2008 24 2.7%
2009 24 2.7%
2010 111 12.3%
2011 21 2.3%
2012 24 2.7%
2013 52 5.8%
2014 36 4.0%
2015 22 2.4%
2016 20 2.2%
2017 157 17.5%
2018 10 1.1%
2019 31 3.4%
2020 24 2.7%
2021 50 5.6%
2022 56 6.2%
2023 44 4.9%
2024 38 4.2%
2025 18 2.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 15,400 miles Baltimore, MD

POWER TRAIN

THERE'S A REALL ON THIS VEHICLE THAT I JUST PURCHASED THE DESCRIPTION SAYS: FRONT COIL SPRING PROTECTOR INSTALLATION HOW CAN THIS ISSUE BE RESOLVED? THIS ISSUE SHOULD BEEN TAKING CARE OF AND REPORTED TO YOU GUYS BUT OBVIOUSLY IT HASN'T. SO I NEED TO KNOW IS IT STILL AVAILABLE TO BE FREE OF CHARGE OR DO I HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET TO GET THIS REPAIRED? OR CAN I STILL GO TO A HYANDAI DEALER FOR FREE REPAIRS? I'M NOT SURE OF THE NOTIFICATION DATE. SO IN THE BOX BELOW I'LL PUT THIS YEAR AND DATE

NHTSA complaint #11317237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 154,000 miles Elizabethton, TN Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

TL*THE CONTACT HAD A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH DOWN A 60 DEGREE INCLINE WHEN THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL AND LIGHT POLE. THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA complaint #10311482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Rocky Mount, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

OIL LIGHT CAME ON .SO I CARRY TO THE PEOPLE THAT DID MY OIL CHANGE THEY CHECKED IT OUT THEY DID NOT SEE WHERE IT WAS LEAKING FROM. THEY REFILL IT AND THEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ,SO THIS TIME I CARRY IT TO THE DEALER ON THAT MONDAY THEY GAVE ME AN APP. FOR THAT WEDNESDAY THE 13TH KEPT IT OVERNITE AND RETURNED BACK THE 14TH MAN IN PARTS DEPT SAID IT WAS BLOWING OUT THE TAIL PIPE. NO LEAKS ON THE GROUND. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND NOW THEY SAID THE B.B.B.SAID MY CAR IS TO OLD AND THAT THE PEOPLE THAT DID MY OIL CHANGE DID NOT PUT OIL IN ,WHICH IS A LIE. START TO BURN OIL AT LITTLE OVER 85000 MILE. I CARRY IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT BUT THEY DID NOT.

NHTSA complaint #10248796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,353 miles Cincinnati, OH

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

SUSPENSION /CHECK ENGINE LIGHT /LOWER BALL JOINT: DEALER REPLACE @54,353 MILES, LOWER ARM IN 2004 AND 8/2006 REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED I HAVE TAKEN MY 2001 SANTA FE TO DEALER 8 PLUS TIMES FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WAS TOLD FOUND TETHER ON GAS CAP NOT LETTING CAP CLOSE TIGHT ENOUGH /MOVED TETHER AND RAN EVAP TEST AND CHECK OUT OK . I WAS TOLD CAP LOOSE 8 PLUS TIMES THIS PROBLEM IS ON GOING. RETURN TO DEALER FOR JERK TRANSMISSION ISSUES I HAVE TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT TAKES OFF SLOW AND ONCE GETS POWER THE CAR JERKS STARTS AS IF THE GEARS OR NOT SWITCHING OVER. DEALER SAID DO THE PRESSURE IN GAS CAP AND GAS CAP NOT CLOSED TIGHT ENOUGH EVAL TEST WAS DONE. BACK AT DEALER AFTER ROAD TRIP MY CAR WAS RUNNING AFTER BEGIN PARKED WITH A/C RUNNING AND I TURN CAR OFF AND CAR WOULD NOT START THOUGHT MAY BATTERY CHECK AND NO WATER WAS IN BATTERY I PUT WATER IN BATTERY AND LET CAR SIT FOR ABOUT HOUR AND CAR RESTARTED BACK AT DEALER EXPLAIN THIS ISSUE MY BATTERY WAS REPLACE I WAS TOLD FACTORY BATTERY WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH WAS FOR SANTA FE THIS IS 3RD BATTERY WITH IN FIVE YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10166021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles Elgin, IL

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE- HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2001 2.4L 58000 MILES SUDDEN CLUTCH FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE SLIPPAGE CAUSED BY HYDRAULIC PROBLEM IN THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI CLUTCHES IN GENERAL. MANUFACTURER APPARENTLY IS IGNORING THE PROBLEM. IN EXCESS OF $2000 IN QUOTED REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10161110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,385 miles Salisbury, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MANY SANTA FE OWNERS. PROBLEMS OF ACCELERATION AT 40, ALONG WITH SHIFTING ISSUES. ON SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER, LEAVING THE CAR THERE FOR SOMETIMES 7-15 DAYS AT A TIME. IT HAS HAD 4 THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS, AN ALTERNATOR AND 2 BATTERIES. MY MILEAGE IS 100,386 AND THE VEHICLE NEEDS 3000.00 WORTH OF TRANSMISSION WORK. HYUNDAI SIMPLY STATES MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THESE ISSUES DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A SIGNED STATEMENT FROM THE TRANSMISSION SHOP MANAGER THAT STATES A TPS PROBLEM ABSOLUTELY WILL AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10136786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles Springfield, NJ

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

MY CAR IS A 2001 4-CYLINDER 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE ENGINE IS TOO SMALL FOR THE CAR'S WEIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED AFTER ONLY 24,000 MILES, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY (COST WAS OVER $1000). THE DEALER INSISTED THAT I CAUSED THE PROBLEM BY "BAD DRIVING". I HAVE DRIVEN A STICK FOR WELL OVER 12 YEARS, AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH ON ANY OTHER CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10130787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,253 miles Port Saint Lucie, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT: 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS AUTOMATIC/STANDARD TRANSMISSION WHICH WOULD DOWNSHIFT ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WHEN GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR. WHEN CONSUMER EXITED THE HIGHWAY HE NOTICED HE ONLY HAD SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. HE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10124566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belleville, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHS APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IT STUTTERS. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS I TAKEMY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN PUTTING YOUR FOOT BACK ON THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM. IF I PUSH THROUGH 40 MPH THEN I DO NOT GET THE STUTTER. I HAVE TAKING THE CAR IN TO HYUNDAI AND THEY FIXED THE BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL, THEY SAID THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM; BUT HAS NOT FIXED IT. I WENT BACK UP TO HYUNDAI AND NOW THEY SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT COULD BE. ANYTHING FROM TRANSMISSION FLUSH TO THE BALANCE OF THE WHEELS.

NHTSA complaint #10118154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbus, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE TENDED TO GO INTO NEUTRAL AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE BEING DRIVEN, AND DID NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR TESTING, AND TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10117799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ponchatoula, LA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NAR 05/21/2003 *MR WITH OUT NOTIFICATION THE CONSUMERS PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRANDED AS A LEMON. PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR, HEADLIGHT DIMMERS, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THEY'RE REQUESTING THE DEALERSHIP TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10020369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,300 miles Mastic, NY

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

COMPLAINED OF CLUTCH NOT BEING RIGHT 10-3-01 15000 MILES, NO PROBLEM FOUND, ALWAYS FELT WRONG, CLUTCH/PRESSURE PLATE/FLYWHEEL IN PIECES NOW AT 64000 NOTHING COVERED UNDER "AMERICA'S BEST WARRANTY" CAR ONLY 3 YRS OLD. WAS TOLD FLYWHEEL COST IS $1114. + $975 +TAX TO REPAIR AT DEALER BUT DIDN'T TRUST SALES PITCH SEVICE REP WAS GIVING ABOUT FLYWHEEL NOT BEING ABLE TO BE RESURFACED BEFORE CAR WAS EVEN LOOKED AT ONLY CAN BE REPLACED. DECIDED TO HAVE CAR FIXED ELSEWHERE FOR A COST OF APPROX. $2000.

NHTSA complaint #10082943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,300 miles Winsted, CT

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AXLE SNAPPED AND OIL LEAK ONTO THE ALTERNATOR. *AK *SC

NHTSA complaint #10072268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 133,000 miles Columbia, PA

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A SCREECHING SOUND THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BUMPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE SOON STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK THE BALL JOINT AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10072040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Clovis, NM

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT TO THIRD GEAR AT HIGH SPEEDS CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK AND SWERVE. DEALER CHECKED CPU AND SHOWED NO FAULTS. SENT BACK TO HUYNDI FOR CHECK UP. SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN A SPEED SENSOR. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DAMAGE TO TRANSMISION AFTER THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. WILL TRADE IN ASAP.

NHTSA complaint #10060169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,327 miles Corpus Christi, TX

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE RATTLES AND SHAKES WHEN DRIVING IN CITY. NOISE APPEARS TO COME UNDER THE CARRIAGE. TAKEN SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. HAVE A WRITTEN COMPLAIN WITH HYUNDAI.

NHTSA complaint #10045735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oshkosh, WI

POWER TRAIN

SPPEDOMETER OUT BY 7.75% , O2 WAS A RECALL NEVER CONTACTED BY MFG HYUNDAI REPLACING WHEN OWNERS STOP IN FOR SERVICE, ALSO OWNERS ON SANTA FE FORUM HAVING ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS NUMEROUS ALTERNATORS BEING REPLACED (ECU REPROGRAMMING)ON CASE BY CASE BASIS?

NHTSA complaint #766199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yauco, PR

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS, INSTEAD IT WOULD STAY IN THIRD GEAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN, AND WHEN IT DID, IT WOULD RUN VERY SLOWLY, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #564420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yauco, PR

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS, INSTEAD IT WOULD STAY IN THIRD GEAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN, AND WHEN IT DID, IT WOULD RUN VERY SLOWLY, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #564420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cincinnati, OH

POWER TRAIN

MY CAR LURCHED (DUE TO TRANSMISSION) OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF A MAIN ROAD AND LURCHED ALMOST INTO ANOTHER CAR AT A SEPARATE TIME, AND NOW THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK.

NHTSA complaint #758143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING OWNER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT PROBLEM WAS IN TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8002002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stratford, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHS APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BUCKS, STUTTERS, HESITATES, DOWNSHIFTS FOR A FEW SECONDS. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS IT IS LIKE YOU ARE TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN PUTTING YOUR FOOT BACK ON. WE NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE AND ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION BREAKS LEAVING US STRANDED OR EVEN WORSE CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT. AMERICAS BEST WARRANTY IS A MEANINGLESS SLOGAN WHEN A COMPANY CHOOSES TO DENY THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS DEFECT IN A VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #748134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbus, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 45 MPH, WHETHER ACCELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN, THERE IS A SEVERE "DOWNSHIFT" WHICH JERKS THE TRUCK, IN THE ENGINE AS THOUGH THE ENGINE IS CUTTING OUT BEFORE IT CATCHES UP WITH ITSELF. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND AM ALWAYS TOLD WHEN I GO TO PICK UP MY TRUCK THAT NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS RUN ON MY VEHICLE AND THAT THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT MAY BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #744528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ocean View, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL JERK FORWARD , ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN DEPRESSED WILL SLOW DOWN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ACCELERATOR WILL RESPOND AGAIN. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION, DID NOT REMEDY. CURRENTLY, DEALER INSISTED IT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #884700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Hyundai Santa FE problems

← Full 2001 Hyundai Santa FE report