Suspension complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2025 | 3 | 2% | 11,000 miles |
| 2022 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2017 | 10 | 1% | 20,000 miles |
| 2016 | 2 | 1% | 31,000 miles |
| 2015 | 2 | 1% | 0 miles |
| 2014 | 6 | 1% | 30,000 miles |
| 2013 | 23 | 4% | 18,000 miles |
| 2012 | 14 | 4% | 103,000 miles |
| 2011 | 16 | 9% | 56,000 miles |
| 2010 | 14 | 5% | 76,000 miles |
| 2009 | 7 | 2% | 89,000 miles |
| 2008 | 11 | 2% | 80,000 miles |
| 2007 | 30 | 4% | 79,000 miles |
| 2006 | 13 | 12% | 84,000 miles |
| 2005 | 21 | 10% | 94,000 miles |
| 2004 | 69 | 23% | 91,000 miles |
| 2003 | 56 | 18% | 120,000 miles |
| 2002 | 59 | 36% | 137,000 miles |
| 2001 | 76 | 36% | 120,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while stopped and making a left turn from a cross street, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and traffic allowed the contact to make the turn; however, the steering wheel jerked to the right, and the vehicle jumped over a median strip. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the right front passenger's side tire rolled over the median strip, and then the rear passenger's side tire next. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle stopped in a parking spot on the side of the street. The contact shifted the vehicle to park(P) and turned off the vehicle. The contact observed that the right front passenger's side tire was flat. …
Intermittent and variable vibration/shaking at all speeds ranging from mild to severe. Worse when cold. TSB 25-SS-002H-1. Despite multiple balancing attempts (hunter road force balancer) and complete set of tire swap there was no resolution. TSB indicates this is a known abnormality/issue and present across all models. Vehicle inspected by 2 different hyundai dealerships and independent dealership without resolution. Began at 7500 miles and has persisted.
The engine throttles while accelerating and leaks oil and a burning smell comes from under the hood. the smell passes through the air vents and fills the car. I am afraid it might catch fire under the hood. The suspension makes noise and can also feel on the steering wheel. I will appreciate the company if they take safety measures in fixing this issue.
Sway bar and struts continuously malfunctioning causing brake system to fail quickly.Engine more than 5qts a biweekly causing the maintenance numbers to malfunction.Seat belt light keeps going on and off even when in use.These problems are causing a safety risk due to them failing and can cause harm to driver/drivers on the road.Electrical issue has the brake lights malfunctioning and cause harm to others as well.Vehicle has been inspected by Hyundai dealership .Seat belt light continuously come on and off.
I have a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe sport AWD. This is my 3rd Hyundai. I have really been impressed until now. My car wanders all over the road when driving over 50mph either on a road or interstate. I have to work hard to hold the wheel to keep the vehicle straight. The handling is awful I feel like my car is skating all over the road. Like I am driving on ice. The car is unsafe to drive. I have been to the dealership, had the alignment checked, had a new alignment performed, as well as replace the tires. This has not fixed the issue. I feel it is unsafe to put my 5 year old in the vehicle. I cannot keep the steering straight. What is Hyundai doing to fix this issue? I am making payments on a vehicle I feel is unsafe to drive and no one can tell me why?
While driving up a steep winding road my car began making a fluttering noise like a paddleboat. There was a lot of play in the steering wheel with a small squeak to only the left, in the play of the steering wheel. The dealership has let me know I need to replace the steering shaft. What actually makes the steering shaft go out, isn't that a component that has a long life? The noise was more intense driving up the road than going down. As reached a city level the drumming noise was still happening, but inconsistent.
We brought our vehicle into the dealer for a recall for undercoating on [redacted]. The work was completed by Tarbox Hyundai in north kingstown ri. We noticed our car started drifting to the right and our tire was out of align. We brought the car to our local mechanic and were told that the entire under carriage is rotting away and needs to be replaced. I feel Hyundai should be responsible for this because they knew about it and didn't tell us. Instead they just did the undercoating trying to hide the fact that is was completely rotted. thank you
Engine has always burned oil and vehicle only has 72,000 miles on it.leaking black liquid/oil out exhaust pipe, blowing out Black clouds of smoke and have to keep adding oil. Whole rear end had to be replaced, timing chain and cover replaced, AC unit replaced, rear camera replaced, climate controls change settings by them selves, leaking gaskets, all this and more has been going on with this vehicle when it only had 35,000 Miles on it. Front suspension creaks for years. No way a vehicle should have all these issues with low mileage and has been very well cared for!
Related recalls (2)
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,…
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Santa Fe years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (76), 2004 (69), 2002 (59), 2003 (56) and 2007 (30) model years. Suspension complaints make up 36% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Santa Fe suspension problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 14V-435 (coil springs, Jul 18, 2014); 09V-123 (rear, Apr 16, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Santa Fe suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles; 21% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the rear (50 mentions), followed by the front (29).
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.