Corroded rear suspension parts – specifically that of the rear trailing arms – could result in seriously endangered structural rigidity for the ’01-’03 Hyundai Santa Fe…. but only in certain geographical areas. The salt belt of the USA, including Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, pose dangers to these Hyundais that other states do not.
Thus, if your ’01-’03 Santa Fe has lived a significant portion of its life in one of these states, you’ll be getting a Recall notice sometime this month. Dealers will inspect, and if needed, replace the rear trailing arms. NHTSA believes some 85,036 Hyundai Santa Fes will be involved in this Recall.
As for the Tiburon and Elantra, the front lower control arms are the issue. The potential is apparently present for corroded upper and lower panels of the lower control arms to become perforated. That could lead to a fractured ball joint. With the same geography in place, ’01-’03 Elantras and ’03 Tiburons could total 170,610 cars.
