2019 Hyundai Santa Fe problems, complaints & recalls
FewerSteady
NHTSA has received 220 owner complaints about the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, or 28.7 per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.68, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 76 model-year 2019 vehicles we track, it ranks #37 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Hyundai models its rate is 48% lower; against other Midsize SUVs it is 46% lower.
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
Complaints filed between 2018-10-23 and 2026-09-02. Median delay from incident to filing: 24 days.
220Complaints
28.7Complaints per year on the road
0.68Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
3Recalls · ⚠ 2
11.8%Share involving a crash or fire
42Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2018) drew 49.2 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2020) drew 30.9 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2019 model collected 52 complaints, 36% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (36.4% of complaints), followed by Interior & equipment (15.9%) and Body & structure (10.0%). Engine complaints are 1.6 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Engine reports, owners most often mention “oil”, “engine”, “consumption”, “theta” and “turbo”. 26 reports (11.8%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 10 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 51 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (40% of incidents). In the last 12 months 42 new complaints were filed, versus 39 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for this model year, 2 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 13% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 2 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires” (opened 2023-11-17, still open).
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.68
vs. other Hyundai models0.52
vs. other 2019 models0.63
vs. other Midsize SUVs0.54
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (52)0.64
Yesterday afternoon after running errands, my car was off and in my driveway. Within 15 minutes I noticed it was smoking. When I opened the hood. The engine was on fire. I attempted to put it out but was unsuccessful.
Engine · 2025-05-04 · ODI 11658806 · Fire
The contact owned a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that as his daughter was driving at 20 MPH on the highway, she depressed the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond, and the vehicle started to smoke from the engine and into the cabin.
Brakes · 2025-03-17 · ODI 11648747 · Crash · Fire
Update Re: ODI Complaint Number: 11759237 Subsequent Actions and Manufacturer Refusal to Remediate Safety Defect: Following the [XXX], acute safety incident—where the vehicle lost motive power and entered severe limp mode on [XXX] immediately upon release…
Engine · 2026-09-02 · ODI 11761505
Transmission was replaced under warranty by Hyundai in Nov 2024. Engine was replaced at 100600 miles in Nov 2025. Issues with the transmission were happening at that time but ignored by dealership as issues related to failing engine.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-07-22 · ODI 11752203
In December 2025, a Hyundai dealer performed Service Campaign 9C2 (TSB 25-01-087H), an ECU software update for the 2.4L GDI Theta II engine, during a routine annual NY state emissions inspection.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-05-30 · ODI 11741031
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.
Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW Campaign 18V715000 · 2018-10-11
Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. The Side Curtain Air Bag (SCAB) mounting bolts may interfere with and damage the air bags during deployment.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the air bags become damaged during deployment they may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the SCAB installation bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 177.
AQ23002 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE · Opened 2023-11-17 · Model years: 2018, 2019
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…
Loss of Motive PowerClosed
DP22003 · ENGINE · Opened 2022-09-12 · Closed 2023-12-12 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
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…
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe?
220 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, or about 28.7 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The most common category is Engine, accounting for 36.4% of complaints.
Does the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recall(s) for this model year. 2 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires” (opened 2023-11-17, still open).
Is the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 42 new complaints were filed, versus 39 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
How does the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 220 owner complaints about the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, or 28.7 per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.68, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 76 model-year 2019 vehicles we track, it ranks #37 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Hyundai models its rate is 48% lower; against other Midsize SUVs it is 46% lower.