Hyundai Santa Fe problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 2,092 owner complaints and 27 safety recalls for the Hyundai Santa Fe. That averages 58.4 complaints per year on the road — more complaints than typical (index 1.45 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #8 of 14 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 52.5.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 148% above the 2018 and 2019 models (126 early complaints per model year versus 54).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (129.8 complaints per year) and the 2019 model year the lowest (29.1). The 2025 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 58.4 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2019, 2020 and 2021 run at least 40% below this model's average of 58.4 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (33.0% of complaints), followed by Unspecified or other (12.2%) and Transmission / powertrain (11.9%). 132 complaints (6.3%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 87 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 677 complaints versus 430 in the previous 12 months — up 57%. The 2025 model year generated the most recent reports (173). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 28 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 27 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2021 (5), 3 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning, 1 fixable over the air. 3 NHTSA investigations have covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires” (audit query, opened 2023-11-17, still open).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Dodge Durango, Nissan Pathfinder, Honda Passport and Kia Sorento, but fewer than Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Subaru Outback and Kia Telluride.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 432 | 49.2 | 1.22 | 59 | 5 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2019 Fewest complaints | 227 | 29.1 | 0.72 | 42 | 3 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 216 | 31.8 | 0.79 | 73 | 2 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 187 | 32.3 | 0.8 | 35 | 8 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 264 | 55.1 | 1.37 | 63 | 8 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 290 | 76.5 | 1.9 | 77 | 1 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2024 | 190 | 68.1 | 1.69 | 101 | 7 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2025 ▲50%+ | 232 | 129.8 | 3.22 | 173 | 5 | Engine | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 54 | 54.0 | 1.34 | 54 | 4 | Unspecified or other | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 677 · Previous 12 months: 430 Rising
Problem areas
Engine ›
691 · 33.0% · 1.48 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Unspecified or other ›
255 · 12.2% · 1.36 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Transmission / powertrain ›
249 · 11.9% · 1.02 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Electrical ›
222 · 10.6% · 0.67 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Body & structure ›
147 · 7.0% · 0.77 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Driver-assist systems ›
122 · 5.8% · 1.02 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Brakes ›
120 · 5.7% · 0.95 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Airbags & seat belts ›
75 · 3.6% · 0.94 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
58 · 2.8% · 1.11 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Fuel system ›
54 · 2.6% · 0.6 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Other
53 · 2.5% · 1.37 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Steering
31 · 1.5% · 0.23 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
15 · 0.7% · 0.46 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 28 months
What owners report
Vehicle was turned on and in park. I placed my child in the back seat, opened the driver door and was able to enter the vehicle. The car began to roll down the driveway, while in park, and ran me over.
I do not know what caused this. Here is what happened. While parking the car suddenly accelerated, over the curb, on the sidewalk narrowly missing the building because I turned hard right to avoid the building and I was able to brake to a stop glancing off a…
On September 20, 2026, my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy suffered sluggish acceleration while operating on a public roadway due to an internal dual-clutch transmission (DCT) failure.
The vehicle is a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in hybrid. Purchased new in January 2024. It currently has 40,087 miles. My wife and I were traveling were traveling at the posted speed limit when we heard a loud bank. The operation of the vehicle was not effected.
The vehicle came to a complete stop filling cabin with smoke and wouldnt start in a bend on road blocking entrance ramp. Its available for inspection but at dealership. My safety was put at risk for collision as well as health with cabin filling with smoke.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Durango | 786 | 15.2 | 0.38 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 18 | Lighting |
| 2 | Nissan Pathfinder | 596 | 19.2 | 0.48 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 3 | Honda Passport | 759 | 24.8 | 0.61 | Improving | Rising | 17 | Electrical |
| 4 | Kia Sorento | 1,446 | 33.7 | 0.83 | Stable | Rising | 18 | Engine |
| 5 | Chevrolet Traverse | 1,738 | 42.0 | 1.04 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 6 | Ford Edge | 2,244 | 44.4 | 1.1 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 20 | Engine |
| 7 | Toyota Highlander | 2,162 | 45.8 | 1.13 | Improving | Rising | 21 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 8 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 2,092 | 58.4 | 1.45 | Worsening | Rising | 27 | Engine |
| 9 | Honda Pilot | 2,945 | 63.4 | 1.57 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 27 | Engine |
| 10 | Ford Explorer | 3,270 | 64.0 | 1.59 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 77 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 11 | Subaru Outback | 3,816 | 71.8 | 1.78 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Body & structure |
| 12 | Kia Telluride | 2,014 | 74.3 | 1.84 | Improving | Rising | 17 | Body & structure |
| 13 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 3,477 | 82.4 | 2.04 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 53 | Electrical |
| 14 | Hyundai Palisade | 2,471 | 105.3 | 2.61 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 16 | Airbags & seat belts |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 27
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 3
- Over-the-air fix: 1
Safety recalls: 2018 (5) · 2019 (3) · 2020 (2) · 2021 (8) · 2022 (8) · 2023 (1) · 2024 (7) · 2025 (5) · 2026 (4)
Investigations
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect…
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
- Loss of Motive Power Closed
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…