Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that on separate occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was towed to Marco's body shop where it was diagnosed that both struts, new tires, front passenger side wheel cylinder, wheel mount, tie rod, and wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the mechanic noticed that the driver's side cross member had fractured and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the subframe was corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number and advised to take the vehicle to the dealer at a different location. The failure mileage was 140,000.
I live in Roy city utah and i drive a santa fe 2001 and my trailing arm in the rear driver side snaped while i was going 45 mph. when i took it in to a shop to have it looked at they said that my trailing arm had snaped do to the rust corrision under the car. I know that there are recalls on the santa fe for the rear suspention trailing arms but only if you live in a salt belt state and utah is not one of those states and i think it should be because of the salt we use on our roads as well as i live 20 mins from the great salt lake . i have bearly had my car 5 months befor it broke i paid 2000.00$ for it. i guess i didnt fully understand the saltbelt state thing and i called young hayndai in ogden utah and they called a tow truck and had my car towed to the dealer ship they had it like 12 days or something befor they diganosed it. …
The contact's friend owns a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while a friend was driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle began to veer off to the right without warning and the driver began losing control of the vehicle. Despite the failure, the contact's friend was able to drive the vehicle to her home at slow speeds. Another friend was able to inspect the vehicle and discovered that the rear passenger's side trailing arm had fractured due to severe corrosion. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V123000 (Suspension) which he linked to the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were both notified of the failure and he was informed that his vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Rear trailing on on both sides have corroded through. Driver side rear control case has disintegrated, passenger side is severely corroded. - March 18, 2010: vehicle had service preformed on to address "recall #090 rear trailing arms and front sub-frame corrosion treatment", rust preventative v and plug kit service performed by dealer. - May 16, 2012: vehicle had subfame replaced due to rust hole at right front lower control arm connection, replacement of rack & pinion and transfer case for $2777. - dec 12, 2014: vehicle had service performed to address "TSB# 14-01-141-1 - front coil spring protector. There is a fault with how the recalls and service requirements have been issued with this vehicle. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle began to swerve left to right rapidly. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted, but the failure recurred. The contact noticed that the rear driver's side wheel was almost touching the inside of the rear fender. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a nearby independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear trailing arm was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer because it was eighty miles away. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.
Our mechanic has identified significant corrosion to the driver's side rear trailing arm, a safety and operational vulnerability consistent with NHTSA safety recall notice 09V123000. The NHTSA safety recall observes the danger of the rear trailing arm fracturing, and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. We have contacted the local dealership and the manufacturer, Hyundai, about the safety vulnerability, resulting from the latent manufacturing weakness. As detailed in the attached file. The dealer service department is indifferent to the faulty vehicle part and safety vulnerability, and no response has been received from the manufacturer. We are attaching photos of the rear trailing arm corrosion consistent with the manufacturing failure identified in the NHTSA safety recall.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal popping sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact drove back to her residence where her husband inspected the vehicle. The contact's husband discovered corrosion on the rear control arm. Due to the corrosion, the driver's side rear control arm fractured. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact linked her failure to NHTSA campaign number: 09V123000 (suspension) however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.
I had been driving the vehicle home and noticed the car was rubbing against the car. The subframe has rusted so much that I can't drive it. Had taken the vehicle to Firestone. They said not to drive it and you should have it towed to our house. They said the tire would fall off or worse. They wouldn't touch it. So I had it towed to the Hyundai dealership. They told me that to replace the sub frame in the front on the driver's side, it would cost $2000. When I towed the vehicle to Hyundai, they said it could cost up to $5000. I couldn't afford to fix it. I then towed it home and it is sitting in my garage. I wish I would have know about this problem before I bought.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle's lower frame control arm was making a clicking noise. The dealer diagnosed that the a frame needed to be replaced; however, the bolts that held the frame were rusted. The a frame was not able to be removed and the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer issued a previous recall that was directly related to the failure; however, they were unable to identify the recall number. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 172,000.
Subframe/engine cradle rot to point of separation, loss of steering and vehicle control. My newly licensed grand-daughter took it for a short about town drive, not getting more than a quarter mile before the wheel snapped out of her hands and the vehicle headed for the center line. She managed to get it to the side of the road. Both front wheels were in different directions, movement forward was sloppy. Aweful noises coming from below. Fluids leaking. I knew there was rust underneath but not such greatly weakened parts. Img_6087.jpg
Related recalls
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
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,…
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.
Suspension › Rear
Hyundai is recalling 83,355 my 2001-2003 santa fe vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia,…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear trailing arms for internal corrosion damage. If specified levels of corrosion damage are found, the rear trailing arms will be replaced.
NHTSA investigations
Rear suspension trailing arm failure
In response to an information request letter sent by the office of defects investigation (odi) during this preliminary evaluation, Hyundai provided odi with 15 allegations of corrosion failure of the left- and/or right-rear suspension trailing arm.three of the 15 consumers alleged a loss of vehicle control as a result of a rear trailing arm corrosion failure.similarly, odi has received 12 complaints of rear trailing…
Rear trailing arm corrosion failure
In a letter dated April 14, 2009, Hyundai-Kia America technical center, inc (Hyundai) notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall of approximately 85,000 model year (my) 2001 through 2003 Hyundai santa fe vehicles manufactured prior to January 27, 2003, that are registered and operated in the following salt belt states and the district of columbia:connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine,…
Suspension complaints in other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 76 complaints about the suspension of the 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe, 36% of the model year's 209 complaints. The component named most often is rear (29 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe suspension problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-435 (coil springs, Jul 18, 2014); NHTSA recall 09V-123 (rear, Apr 16, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 120,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.