Faults:

Light bulbs (front and back).

Left CV axle.

Valve cover gaskets (both sides).

Stabilizer bar links and bushings.

Steering rack makes a noise.

Cruise control stopped working.

General Comments:

The car has proven pretty reliable. When I bought it with 103K miles, I changed the leaking valve cover gaskets, the left CV axle and the stabilizer bar links and bushings. Together with a set of 4 tires, filters and general other service items, the cost was about $2K. The car paint was fading since I bought it, and that continued during the last four years, but the metal is still not exposed and no rust has appeared anywhere. In Florida, where I bought the car, the paint on the majority of Santa Fe vehicles of this generation is fading.

During the last four years that I have been using the car, and after driving it for about 34K miles, only three light bulbs went out, and the cruise control stopped working, which I did not bother to fix. Oh, and the central mirror is loose, which I cannot fix without changing the whole electrochromatic mirror.

Otherwise the car drives smoothly and has been trouble free. I hope it continues like this. Compared to other vehicles that I have driven of similar age and miles (Honda CRX, Buick LeSabre, and Mercury Grand Marquis), this so far has the been the most reliable. It is not the most economic vehicle to refuel, but its substantial weight and stability makes it a good choice for driving the family around in comfort.

Faults:

Computer failed to turn on the A/C condenser cooling fan.

Wheel speed sensor became defective.

Brake calipers have stuck about every 60,000 miles.

Very noisy factory tires... got rid of them after 10,000 miles for quiet ones.

General Comments:

Overall, I love this car. It's been reliable except for a couple of in warranty issues.

The car is plenty powerful, the steering is precise, and gas mileage on combined runs is 20-21 MPG... 23 on the highway.

Spacious interior. Front seat is cramped for legs if you're more than 6' tall -- I moved the seat back more by modifying it.

Faults:

Driver's side window fell off the track.

Differential is leaking. When I went to the dealership, they told me I had to pay $116 just to look at it to see if it is covered. They couldn't tell me that over the phone when I made the appointment??? For that amount of money I may be able to have the whole problem fixed somewhere else.

General Comments:

The car is reliable, and for the last 7 years has been well worth the money.

Faults:

Only thing I have noticed wrong with the car, is when I get over 70, the wheel shakes pretty badly, but it was like that when I first bought the car used.

General Comments:

I am only 16 years old and this is my first car. I bought a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe, and I bought it used at 60,000 miles and for about 6,200.

I was hoping to get an SUV, because I have to drive about 2 hours each weekend during the winter through the snow, and this car holds up really well. I don't have the all wheel drive version, but even just the 2 wheel drive does really well. It's great in snow and rain.

Another reason I got this car, is because for an SUV, it has pretty good gas mileage. It's a good car, pretty cheap and I HIGHLY recommend it.

The only thing I could complain about is how when I go over 70, the wheel shakes, but that has happened since I had the car. But GREAT CAR!