Hyundai Santa FE Problems by Year
NHTSA has 7,674 owner complaints and 46 safety recalls on file for the Hyundai Santa FE, across 26 model years (2001–2026). The 2017 model year has the most complaints (970). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
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Hyundai Santa FE years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Santa FE year: 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2017. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2017 Santa FE: 970 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2007 Santa FE: 684 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2013 Santa FE: 605 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2026 Santa FE: 37 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2006 Santa FE: 106 complaints, 1 recall
- 2018 Santa FE: 109 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Hyundai Santa FE problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 2,428 | 26 | 28 |
| Power Train problems | 933 | 26 | 29 |
| Electrical System problems | 851 | 26 | 24 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 756 | 26 | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 588 | 26 | 81 |
| Air Bags problems | 506 | 25 | 115 |
| Service Brakes problems | 439 | 25 | 53 |
| Suspension problems | 436 | 22 | 13 |
| Steering problems | 408 | 26 | 15 |
| Structure problems | 278 | 25 | 33 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 262 | 21 | 30 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 214 | 22 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 187 | 20 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 174 | 23 | 9 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance problems | 162 | 16 | 12 |
| Visibility problems | 152 | 23 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems | 147 | 17 | 3 |
| Visibility/wiper problems | 140 | 23 | 2 |
| Seat Belts problems | 128 | 25 | 16 |
| Wheels problems | 104 | 22 | 8 |
| Tires | 89 | 23 | 1 |
| Seats | 73 | 22 | 2 |
| Lane Departure | 43 | 11 | 0 |
| Equipment | 39 | 14 | 4 |
| Back Over Prevention | 38 | 13 | 5 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 25 | 13 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 18 | 8 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 14 | 9 | 1 |
| Trailer Hitches | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Firerelated | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Insert, Padding | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Hyundai Santa FE problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2022: power train (57) · engine (54)
- 2021: power train (51)
- 2020: engine (80)
- 2019: engine (73)
- 2018: engine (54)
- 2017: engine (650) · power train (166) · electrical system (69) · fuel/propulsion system (60) · vehicle speed control (54)
- 2016: engine (151)
- 2015: engine (160)
- 2014: engine (274) · steering (52)
- 2013: engine (273) · steering (95) · electrical system (53) · power train (52)
- 2012: engine (228)
- 2011: engine (64)
- 2010: power train (109)
- 2009: fuel/propulsion system (109) · engine (60) · vehicle speed control (51) · electrical system (50)
- 2008: fuel/propulsion system (215) · electrical system (74) · air bags (70) · engine (60) · fuel system, gasoline (58) · vehicle speed control (52)
- 2007: fuel/propulsion system (121) · air bags (102) · electrical system (97) · electronic stability control (esc) (68) · vehicle speed control (58) · engine (54)
- 2005: air bags (74)
- 2004: suspension (69)
- 2003: suspension (56)
- 2002: suspension (59)
- 2001: suspension (76)
All Hyundai Santa FE model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Santa FE | 37 | 4 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2025 Santa FE | 135 | 5 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Santa FE | 155 | 7 | 4★ | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Santa FE | 211 | 1 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2022 Santa FE | 201 | 5 | 5★ | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2021 Santa FE | 167 | 7 | 5★ | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 Santa FE | 216 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2019 Santa FE | 202 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2018 Santa FE | 109 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 Santa FE | 970 | 6 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Santa FE | 236 | 3 | — | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2015 Santa FE | 254 | 2 | — | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2014 Santa FE | 493 | 3 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Santa FE | 605 | 3 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Santa FE | 353 | 1 | 3★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2011 Santa FE | 181 | 2 | — | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2010 Santa FE | 259 | 2 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2009 Santa FE | 358 | 2 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | More complaints than other years |
| 2008 Santa FE | 541 | 4 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Santa FE | 684 | 7 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 Santa FE | 106 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2005 Santa FE | 216 | 3 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2004 Santa FE | 303 | 3 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 Santa FE | 308 | 4 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 Santa FE | 165 | 4 | — | Suspension | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 Santa FE | 209 | 4 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
More from Hyundai: all Hyundai models · Hyundai VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Santa FE years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2007 (684), 2008 (541), 2013 (605), 2014 (493), 2017 (970) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Santa FE year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Santa FE?
Engine, with 2,428 complaints across 26 model years.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Santa FE have?
46 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.