Hyundai Santa Fe

Where it stands out against its peers

• Engine: more complaints than 98% of 2017 cars — 67% of its 956 complaints, where an ordinary 2017 car has 22%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• ENGINE — 470 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash, 6 involving a fire
• POWER TRAIN — 65 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 45 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

27% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 13V355000

  A fractured front axle may result in a loss of power to the wheels. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked without the parking brake applied, it may roll away. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

  Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Custom Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 112.

• 13V624000

  The damaged sidewall may result in a separation between the belt edges which could cause tread detachment or rapid air loss, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Hyundai notified dealers to suspend sales of affected Santa Fe Sport vehicles equipped with the P235/65R17 103T tires, and replace them with alternative tires. All affected vehicles were remedied prior to retail sale. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151.

• 16V145000

  Without a warning to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.

  Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reroute the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses to their proper locations, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 141.

• 16V842000

  If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.

• 17V142000

  An underinflated inflated tire can increase the risk of a crash.

  Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the TPMS sensors, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for the recall is 159.

• 17V358000

  If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

  Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.

• 17V578000

  The engine bearing wear may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Hyundai will notify all owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 168.

• 18V118000

  A steering wheel separation while driving can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.

  Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will check the production lot number of the steering wheel assembly, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 26, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 173.

12 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• 3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP)

  Defect petition, opened February 2024, closed May 2024.

• Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

  Audit query, opened November 2023, still open.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.

• Loss of Motive Power

  Defect petition, opened September 2022, closed December 2023.

• Engine Fires

  Engineering analysis, opened December 2021, closed February 2024.

• Throttle control system vulnerabilities

  Defect petition, opened November 2021, closed June 2023.

• Non-crash Vehicle Fires

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2019, closed December 2021.

• Non-crash Vehicle Fires

  Defect petition, opened August 2018, closed May 2019.

• Scope and Timeliness

  Recall query, opened May 2017, closed December 2021.

• Front Axle Shaft Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2013, closed September 2013.

  Became recall 13V355000.

• Steering Shaft Universal Joint Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2012, closed June 2013.

• Transmission Intermediate Driveshaft

  Preliminary evaluation, opened April 2011, closed May 2011.

• Stop lamp switch failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2009, closed April 2009.

• Rear trailing arm corrosion failure

  Engineering analysis, opened October 2008, closed April 2009.

• Rear suspension trailing arm failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2008, closed October 2008.

• Engine seizure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2002, closed August 2002.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Hyundai filed 9 bulletins about the 2026 Santa Fe.

• Seats: 4
• Air bags: 2
• Electrical system: 1
• Exterior lighting: 1
• Power train: 1

• Some Santa Fe (MX5A) and Santa Fe Hybrid (MX5A HEV) vehicles equipped with power seats with or without Integrated Memory System (IMS) may produce buzz, squeak, rattle noises when the driver’s front… · June 2026
• Some Santa Fe (MX5A) and Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles may exhibit a low idle or excessive vibration while in Drive or Reverse, or DTC P050600 (Idle Air Control System – RPM Lower than Expected) caused… · June 2026
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile… · May 2026
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo… · May 2026
• Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink functions. This may be due to an occasional disconnection on Verizon’s communication network. Follow… · April 2026
• Certain Santa Fe Hybrid (MX5A HEV) vehicles may experience battery drain and inoperative heated seat capacitive touch buttons due to incorrect ECU logic for the Seat Heater Unit – Front (SHU_FRT).… · November 2025
• Certain Santa Fe (MX5A) vehicles may experience battery drain and inoperative heated seat capacitive touch buttons due to incorrect ECU logic for the Seat Heater Unit – Front (SHU_FRT). This bulletin… · November 2025
• Certain Santa Fe (MX5A) and Santa Fe Hybrid (MX5A HEV) vehicles may experience battery drain and inoperative heated seat capacitive touch buttons due to incorrect ECU logic for the Seat Heater Unit –… · November 2025

1 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.