2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Hyundai › Santa Fe › 2002
These records cover every 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe. Newest first.
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, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine…
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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. Hyundai's number for this recall is 124.
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, wisconsin, and the district of…
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the corrosion IS allowed to progress, the rear trailing arm may fracture while driving, thereby increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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. rear trailing arms that do not require replacement will have drainage holes added and will be treated with rust-proofing material to arrest the corrosion process. inspection, treatment and replacement procedures will be conducted at no cost to owners. the recall IS expected to begin during may 2009. owners may contact the hyundai customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Risk and remedy
Risk
The tire pressure labels do not contain the information required by the standard.
Remedy
Owners will be provided with a correct label and installation instructions. owner notification began on october 29, 2003. owners should contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 2.7 liter V-6 engines, improperly manufactured crankshaft position sensors (cps) were installed. the cps cases were improperly manufactured and did not meet dimensional specifications. internal gaps within the cases allowed epoxy to contact the printed circuit board, which resulted in cracking of the printed…
Risk and remedy
Risk
A damaged cps capacitor could result in engine stalling.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the cps. owner notification began on march 10, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact hyundai at 1-800-829-9956.
Owner complaints
165 complaints9 involved a crash2 involved a fire6 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Unknown or other
The starter motor housing bottom ear bracket that holds the bolt to the transmission has broken off on 3 different starters in the same exact spot on all 3.
- Service brakes
While dragging the trash can back to the house, I was approaching fence in front of the house, at a slow speed, as I applied the brakes the car started to accelerate. Pressing down harder on the brakes ,it felt like stepping on a brick, with no braking taking place the car accelerated at a high…
While dragging the trash can back to the house, I was approaching fence in front of the house, at a slow speed, as I applied the brakes the car started to accelerate. Pressing down harder on the brakes ,it felt like stepping on a brick, with no braking taking place the car accelerated at a high rate. At this time the car crashed into the left side of the garage and continued into the cement porch taking out the fence, fill tube, and vent tube of the oil tank. At this time I push gear shift into N and turned off the engine. At this time there is damage done to house and car is now totaled with no injuries. Hate to think what would have happened if this happened at the major 4 lane intersection 1 mile from my home.
- Suspension · Wheels
I was riding down the road and felt the car feel as if it was floating. The next thing I know the car feels like the tire came off and it had. rusted completely off. I had two children in the car and came very close to being hit in the rear because I lost control of the vehicle. it seems as if it IS the control arm bar. This incident happened on gall blvd. Zephyrhills fl.
- Suspension
TL* the contact called on behalf of a client who owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that while his client was driving at 55 mph, she experienced what she thought was a flat tire on the rear of the vehicle. As the client began to pull over, the entire passenger's side rear control arm…
TL* the contact called on behalf of a client who owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that while his client was driving at 55 mph, she experienced what she thought was a flat tire on the rear of the vehicle. As the client began to pull over, the entire passenger's side rear control arm collapsed without warning. Due to the failure, the contact's client had the vehicle towed to his independent mechanic shop where he discovered that the entire lower rear control was corroded and had detached from the vehicle. The contact linked the failure to nhtsa campaign number: 09v123000 (suspension) however, upon speaking with twin city hyundai (3024 alcoa hwy, alcoa, tn 37701) the contact was informed that the vin was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.*dt*jb
- Power train · Suspension · Wheels
My 2002 hyundai santa fe IS sharply jerking to the right its almost impossible to stop it sounds as if the car if going to fall into peices im a disabled mom with one one the way I can't drive for fear im going to lose the wheel and crash
- Suspension
TL* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that upon inspection of his rear brakes, he noticed excessive corrosion on the rear trailing arms located by the coil springs. Upon investigation, the contact discovered nhtsa campaign number: 09v123000 (suspension) which he linked to…
TL* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that upon inspection of his rear brakes, he noticed excessive corrosion on the rear trailing arms located by the coil springs. Upon investigation, the contact discovered nhtsa campaign number: 09v123000 (suspension) which he linked to the failure. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
- Suspension
This santa fe has a rear right trailing arm that has completely rusted and has also disintegrated the wheel bearing assembly, wheel hub, emergency brake cable and spring. I checked the website for a recall on this vehicle, there IS a recall for the rear trailing arms, but this vin number was not…
This santa fe has a rear right trailing arm that has completely rusted and has also disintegrated the wheel bearing assembly, wheel hub, emergency brake cable and spring. I checked the website for a recall on this vehicle, there IS a recall for the rear trailing arms, but this vin number was not part of the recall. This vehicle has been registered in the northeast "salt belt" and should have been included in the recall. Because of this oversight by not including this vin on the recall it has caused massive corrosion on all attached parts. The right rear side has been more affected than the rear left side. I would greatly appreciate any assistance you could provide me in providing a remedy for this situation
- Suspension
Frame rusted through on at least left side where the control arm IS bolted.. Previously rear trailing arm rusted through.
- Steering · Suspension · Wheels
When accelerating between 30-50 mph, the steering wheel pulls violently to the right. When the accelerator IS released, the tension on the wheel goes away. The front tires wear faster then unseal.
- Suspension
Both lower control arms are rusting out due to salt roadways
- Engine
Was driving on highway and my 2.4L engine just stopped and it was towed home the timing belt IS chewed up. From my understanding this IS happening to a lot of these engines the 2.4L
- Vehicle speed control
TL* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle independently accelerated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code or duplicate the failure. Fox ann arbor hyundai (located at 3975 jackson…
TL* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle independently accelerated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code or duplicate the failure. Fox ann arbor hyundai (located at 3975 jackson rd, ann arbor, mi 48103, (734) 663-7770) was notified. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
- Structure › Body
Right side main frame rusted threw. Can not pass state inspection. Car for all practical purposes the car IS totaled and not covered by car insurance !!!
- Service brakes
When applying brakes, the ABS activates on dry ground and feels like you might not stop. Car has been test driven with a computer attached to main computer and all wheel sensors are working. At this time no one can find out why this IS happening. I think one day the brakes will fail.
- Engine · Fuel/propulsion system · Steering · Suspension
TL* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn and there was an abnormal odor of fuel inside the vehicle. In addition, the contact had to add air to the four tires and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an…
TL* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn and there was an abnormal odor of fuel inside the vehicle. In addition, the contact had to add air to the four tires and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the suspension and axle needed to be repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 160,000. The vin was unknown.
- Suspension › Rear
TL* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. While driving 55 mph, the contact felt that the rear of the vehicle was out of alignment. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road and noticed that the rear passenger wheel was bent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic…
TL* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. While driving 55 mph, the contact felt that the rear of the vehicle was out of alignment. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road and noticed that the rear passenger wheel was bent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear trailing arms were corroded all the way through and needed to be replaced. The vin was included in nhtsa campaign numbers: 09v123000 (suspension) and 14v435000 (suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
- Service brakes · Steering
At low speeds the brakes lock up and the car goes into a jerking motion while approaching a stop light and while going into a store parking lot. the car IS hard to steer and stop and the brakes must be depressed harder than normally required. this happens when the car gets wet but also during dry times. The ABS light has been coming on.
- Unknown or other
This IS in response to my tracking number 11092056. I found that you have assigned a campaign ID number which IS 09v-123000 hyundai campaign 090. I feel like I should have been included in this settlement since I worked in ohio for 30 years which IS a saltbelt state.
- Unknown or other
Took my car in to a garage for parts and labor totaling 874.00 before leaving I was told that my subframe was terribly rusted out and to get rid of the car quickly. I asked to see and took a couple of pictures.after looking on the internet found out about a recall for this.there was a class action…
Took my car in to a garage for parts and labor totaling 874.00 before leaving I was told that my subframe was terribly rusted out and to get rid of the car quickly. I asked to see and took a couple of pictures.after looking on the internet found out about a recall for this.there was a class action lawsuit that would include me as I worked in ohio.which IS a saltblelt state. I went to the dealer for an inspection which they are submitting pics to hyundai. They said I would be denied however because of a salvaged title which I explained had nothing to do with the recall or class action lawsuit.it IS a matter of safety and they need to fix it. I only have 104,000.00 on a car that IS rusting so badly the bottom could fall out.
- Electronic stability control (esc) · Engine · Power train
The belt that runs the alternater has broken twice and continuously IS squealing it wont keep speed when going up hill and wont let battery charge correctly to keep running will stop when it IS being ran
- Electrical system
TL* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. While stationary and driving various high speeds, the vehicle shook and stalled without warning. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the alternator failed. A dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
- Suspension
While driving on a city street my rear end began to shake and continue to try to swing out from behind. My rear suspension IS rusted through and now completely out of commission.
- Suspension
While driving slowly, I heard a clunk from the rear, and heard tire scrubbing noise while noticing steering wheel cocked 90 degrees in order to keep vehicle straight. returned vehicle slowly to house driveway about 1/4 mile away. Noticed right reat trailing arm cracked and deformed. vehicle had…
While driving slowly, I heard a clunk from the rear, and heard tire scrubbing noise while noticing steering wheel cocked 90 degrees in order to keep vehicle straight. returned vehicle slowly to house driveway about 1/4 mile away. Noticed right reat trailing arm cracked and deformed. vehicle had been serviced 4 years earlier for recall # 09v123000 (trailing arm corrosion problem.) hyundai and local dealer claimed that recall was complete and I would have to pay for the repair. obviously, their recall fix (drilling holes in the stamping to let water out) was insufficient to fix a potentially dangerous defect. I had just sunk $1800 dollars in this vehicle to fix other problems. again, hyundai claimed no responsibility to fix. I called nhtsa and have file fcc complaint #87016133 at their recommendation.
- Suspension
Driving at 25 mph, there was a loud noise and vehicle started swaying violently in the rear. luckily no other cars were around and I hadn't gotten on the freeway yet. after tow, discovered the trailing arm cracked the suspension. this was supposedly "corrected" during previous recall. obviously…
Driving at 25 mph, there was a loud noise and vehicle started swaying violently in the rear. luckily no other cars were around and I hadn't gotten on the freeway yet. after tow, discovered the trailing arm cracked the suspension. this was supposedly "corrected" during previous recall. obviously not. dealer won't look at it stating they have new owners. 3 people with 70 years of repair experience have never seen anything like this. vehicle IS not drivable, opened case with hyundai, not expecting much. vehicle also had to have engine cradle replaced (hyundai did replace at no expense) however they screwed more up and it had to be returned to fix their mistakes. vehicle was "inspected" front to rear and was "ok", twice. that was end of 2015. this corrosion could not happen in that short amount of time. everything IS rusted to almost beyond recognition underneath.
- Suspension
TL* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 09v123000 (suspension) and 14v435000 (suspension). The parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the…
TL* the contact owns a 2002 hyundai santa fe. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 09v123000 (suspension) and 14v435000 (suspension). The parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that the suspension was rotted through to the point that the vehicle was not able to be driven. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- 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…
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, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin.hyundai IS recalling the vehicles to remedy a condition where internal corrosion of either the right or left rear trailing arms may result in fracture of the affected arm while driving, which could result in loss of vehicle control and a crash.the rear trailing arms will be inspected in the recalled vehicles using a procedure developed by hyundai to measure metal thickness.parts with perforations from corrosion or with metal below the specified thickness will be replaced with redesigned trailing arms.if the minimum metal thickness IS met, drainage holes and and rust proofing material will be added to the existing rear trailing arms.although not subject components of this investigation, hyundai noted it would perform a similar procedure for the front subframes of the subject vehicles. Odi's analysis of complaint data revealed that 99% of all consumer complaints related to trailing arm corrosion were from vehicles either originally sold or operated in saltbelt states. Similarly 92% of the warranty claims were from vehicles originally sold or operated in saltbelt states.odi identified 30 rear trailing arm fracture incidents through analysis of complaint and warranty information and consumer interviews.twenty-nine (29) of the fracture incidents involved vehicles in states covered by the recall.based on hyundai's decision to conduct a safety recall this engineering analysis IS closed.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10251285This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, which could lead to poor wiping performance and/or possible scratching of the windshield glass. Follow the procedure in this bulletin to properly remove the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all new wiper blades.
- 10247189This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
- 10235566Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moisture trapped between the PPF and the paint.
- 10230904This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation.
- 10217258Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for correcting load carrying capacity information indicated on tire placards when vehicle weight has been increased before retail sale. This limit is the lesser of 1.5% of GVWR or 100 pounds. If the total added weight exceeds the lesser of the limit, a label must be added to the driver-side B-pillar within 25mm (1 inch) of the original tire placard.
- 10217251Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain components of the engine intake system accordingly during engine short block or sub-assembly replacement.
- 10196546Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicles owners manual. Use of other ATF may result in improper shift quality or other drivability conditions. Use of other DCT and IVT gear oil may result in reduced durability. Hyundai does not approve the use of any aftermarket ATF or gear oil additives.
- 10190044This bulletin provides the service procedure for engine connecting rod bearing clearance testing. Perform the procedure outlined in this bulletin to fulfill the Bearing Clearance Test inspection requirements to determine next required steps.
- 10190038This bulletin provides best practice recommendations when performing brake service procedures.
- 10189989This bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain vehicles listed below.
- 10183963This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear around the brake caliper area.
- 10183960This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. For all wheel/tire balance claims, the Tire Balance Data Sheet must be fully completed including imbalance and Road Force Variation (RFV) data. The Data Sheet can be found at the end of this bulletin.
- 10178175This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to moisture accumulation in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. The TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes, or during normal driving operation.
- 10176182This bulletin provides information on tire maintenance best practices and procedures for dealers and customers to maximize tire life and performance.
- 10176178This bulletin describes the general guidelines to help disinfect and protect vehicle exterior/interior surfaces using recommended safe chemical products.
- 10174808This bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: A Battery SOC alert - low Battery State of Charge (SOC) at or below 50%. A 30 Day alert - vehicle has not started and reported an SOC in 30 days.
- 10174807The automatic transmission warranty repair policy authorizes in-dealership repairs of the following components for both OEM (new) and remanufactured automatic transmissions:
- 10173546This bulletin describes the general guidelines to disinfect and protect vehicle interior surfaces using certain safe chemical products.
- 10172142This bulletin describes the requirements for all wheel alignment and/or vehicle tracking claims and best practices when diagnosing and conducting alignment-related repairs for all models and model years.
- 10170883This bulletin provides guidelines to inspect the USB, head unit, and multi-box for common connection conditions. 2. This bulletin presents guidelines to inspect for common Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connection conditions. 3. This bulletin provides physical differences between the USB 2.0 port and USB 3.0 port.
- 10169370The Blind Spot Detection (BSD) or Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) is a system that measures the speed of and distance from the following vehicles by using two magnetic wave radar sensors attached in the rear bumper. The BSD/BCW detects vehicles within the blind spot zone and gives off an alarm (visual and audible). The two magnetic radar sensors provide these functions for BSD/BCW: ? Senses other vehicles in the BSD/BCW zone and turns on the BSD/BCW warning lamp for the driver. The warning lamp starts blinking, along with an audible sound, when the driver turns on the turn signal lamp to enter the lane where another vehicle is driving.
- 10167253This bulletin provides instruction detailing the proper methodology for scanning and uploading captured GDS data files to the Techline Repository. Compliance with this bulletin ensures that the GDS data files are correctly transferred and matched with a Techline Case number.
- 10128154This SKU is an Air Conditioning Bypass Pulley. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for potential bracket cracking. Bracket cracks may cause the engine drive belt to slip or jump off the pulley causing loss of power steering assist and electrical system charging.
- 10128153This SKU is an Air Conditioning Bypass Pulley. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for potential bracket cracking. Bracket cracks may cause the engine drive belt to slip or jump off the pulley causing loss of power steering assist and electrical system charging.
- 10128119This SKU is an Air Conditioning Bypass Pulley. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for potential bracket cracking. Bracket cracks may cause the engine drive belt to slip or jump off the pulley causing loss of power steering assist and electrical system charging.
- 10128118This SKU is an Air Conditioning Bypass Pulley. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for potential bracket cracking. Bracket cracks may cause the engine drive belt to slip or jump off the pulley causing loss of power steering assist and electrical system charging.
- 10067807Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10060631Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10032908Hyundai: ata solenoid diagnostic trouble codes p0740, p0741, p0742, p0743, p0746, p0748, p0750, p0755, p0760, p0765, p0770. Incorrect operation of the transaxle solenoids may result in the following symptoms-check engine light illuminated; transaxle held in 3RD gear fail safe.
- 10030984Hyundai: automatic transaxle range switch diagnostic trouble codes p0705 (range switch signal problems), p0707 (range switch open circuit), and p0708 (range switch short circuit or multiple inputs). An improperly adjusted or improperly operating range switch may result in the above mentioned conditions. Malfunction indicator light (mil) illuminated; impossible engine start in p or n.
- 10024542Trailer hitch wiring harness replacement procedure (campaign 082).
- 10022202Tailgate garnish contacts the tailgate. Procedures to repair if contact has occured.
- 10020912Automatic transaxle diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) list.
- 10020878Exhaust gas recirculation (egr) system diagnosis.
- 10019637ABS pump self-check noise.
- 10018734Reprograms are available for automatic transaxle driveability issues. Technet times. Hyundai.
- 10018184Automatic transaxle diagnostic trouble codes list.
- 10016420Transfer case removal procedure.
- 10016301Electronic throttle system (ets) diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) update.
- 10015866Automatic transaxle diagnostic trouble codes list.
Every Hyundai Santa Fe model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.