There are 3 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I WAS AT A GAS STATION DURING A WINTER STORM IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I STARTED MY ENGINE TO PROCEED AWAY FROM THE PUMPS. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE I COMMENCED TO TURN MY WIPERS ON AS IT WAS A VERY SNOWY DAY AND VISIBILITY WAS VERY DIFFICULT. MY WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK AT THE IDLE. I TRIED THEM DURING THE DIFFICULT DRIVE HOME AND THEY STILL DID NOT FUNCTION. THE NEXT DAY AFTER I STARTED THE CAR, I TRIED TO USE THEM AGAIN. I CAN HEAR THE MOTOR UNDER THE HOOD BUT THE WIPERS DO NOT MOVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY BLOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THE PART WAS INSTALLED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED TEMPORARILY. THE UNIT HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,245. KMJ
THE FAN SPEED SWITCH FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. IT FIRST STARTED A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN DECEMBER OF 2007, I CAME OUT OF THE STORE STARTED THE CAR AND THE BLOWER WOULDN'T CAME ON FOR THE HEATER. I HAD TO JIGGLE THE SWITCH FOR THE FAN SPEED CONTROL TO GET THE BLOWER TO COME ON, IT WORKED FOR AWHILE, BUT IT FAILED COMPLETELY. I HAD NO WARNING AT ALL, THE FAN SPEED BLOWER SWITCH JUST STOPPED WORKING. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND BOUGHT THE PART FOR $20.57, IT WAS WORKING FINE AND THEN ON 7/19/2008 I CAME OUT OF THE STORE STARTED THE CAR, I ENGAGED THE AIR CONDITIONER AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER AND BUY THIS PART AGAIN. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A SIMPLE FAN SPEED CONTROL SWITCH CAN FAIL IN 7 MONTHS. IT IS VERY ANNOYING TO GO THROUGH THIS. I HOPE THAT HYUNDAI CAN HELP ME WHEN I GO BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026