Hyundai Santa FE Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 439 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the Hyundai Santa FE across 25 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (45). The words owners use most often: “service brakes hydraulic” (5% of reports).
- 439service brakes complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 53mention a crash
- 26mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- $1,050typical repair cost reported by owners
- 37%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Service brakes hydraulic: mentioned in 22 of 439 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes repair on the Hyundai Santa FE at $1,050, and half of them between $650 and $1,650.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do service brakes problems happen?
Based on 230 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 439 complaints, 53 mention a crash, 22 a fire, 26 an injury.
Hyundai Santa FE service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Santa FE | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2025 Santa FE | 4 | 3% | — |
| 2024 Santa FE | 11 | 7% | — |
| 2023 Santa FE | 23 | 11% | — |
| 2022 Santa FE | 11 | 5% | 17,500 |
| 2021 Santa FE | 6 | 4% | 58,800 |
| 2020 Santa FE | 9 | 4% | 1,000 |
| 2019 Santa FE | 11 | 5% | 8,306 |
| 2018 Santa FE | 7 | 6% | 6,954 |
| 2017 Santa FE | 34 | 4% | 7,050 |
| 2016 Santa FE | 8 | 3% | — |
| 2015 Santa FE | 21 | 8% | 59,250 |
| 2014 Santa FE | 32 | 6% | 77,900 |
| 2013 Santa FE | 45 | 7% | 70,000 |
| 2012 Santa FE | 25 | 7% | 27,414 |
| 2011 Santa FE | 17 | 9% | 56,128 |
| 2010 Santa FE | 7 | 3% | 35,500 |
| 2009 Santa FE | 41 | 11% | 48,069 |
| 2008 Santa FE | 16 | 3% | 105,678 |
| 2007 Santa FE | 44 | 6% | 81,300 |
| 2006 Santa FE | 12 | 11% | 78,000 |
| 2005 Santa FE | 18 | 8% | 86,250 |
| 2004 Santa FE | 16 | 5% | 109,000 |
| 2003 Santa FE | 10 | 3% | 98,147 |
| 2002 Santa FE | 10 | 6% | 146,600 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Model years: 2013, 2014, 2015
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Model years: 2016, 2017, 2018
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Model years: 2007
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
Risk: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
Model years: 2011
Problem: Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2011 santa fe vehicles manufactured from september 28, 2010, through november 25, 2010. Some of the rear brake calipers may not have been properly machined.
Risk: As a result, brake fluid will leak, followed by illumination of the malfunction indicator light indicating the brake fluid level is low and should be checked, then a soft or spongy brake pedal feel, and if not serviced, reduced braking power which could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear calipers and replace it if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on december 17, 2010. Owners may contact hyundai roadside assistance at 1-800-243-7766.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Model years: 2003, 2004
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.5 liter v-6 engines, 4-wheel drive and antilock braking systems (abs), if the brake pedal is depressed at speeds between 3 and 12 mph when the brake pad friction surfaces are wet, a vibration may occur between the brake discs and pads causing abs sensor electronic signal noise to develop. At speeds below 5 mph, the abs sensor signal noise may cause the abs electronic control unit (ecu) to activate the abs, extending the stopping distance.
Risk: If an extended stopping distance occurs, it could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the abs ecu. Owner notification began on march 24, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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 concrete pillar. We could have been hurt…
While traveling on [XXX] from [XXX] to [XXX] XXX, I initiated the adaptive cruise control. While engaged, with no other vehicles or other impediments on the roadway in front of me, the emergency braking system engaged and attempted to stop the vehicle. The first time this happened, I pressed the…
Despite having the DCT software recall repaired, today the parking brake disengaged after the car was idling for a few minutes at my sonâs school. It lurched forward, startling me, and then I was alerted that the emergency parking brake deployed. The rollaway could have injured a child in the…
Collision warning sensor alarm randomly comes on my dash and my car slams on the breaks. Very dangerous, Iâm scared to drive down the highway going 60mph. 80,109 miles 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. I have not brought it in to a Hyundai dealership because they want a diagnosis fee and everything else…
Brake Lights Stay, On ESC OFF Light Illuminated, Cruise Control Won't Engage, Unable to Shift Out of Park. Fuse had to be pulled because the battery was going dead due to lights not turning off. Its doing the same thing that is outlined in this recall (NHTSA Campaign ID: 13V113000)
Frequently asked questions
Do all Hyundai Santa FEs have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 439 owner complaints about service brakes for the Hyundai Santa FE. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Hyundai Santa FE service brakes?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list service brakes. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes problems on the Hyundai Santa FE?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,050 (half paid between $650 and $1,650), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the Hyundai Santa FE?
The most frequent phrase is “service brakes hydraulic”, in 22 of 439 complaints.
Other Hyundai Santa FE problems
- Engine problems (2,428)
- Power Train problems (933)
- Electrical System problems (851)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (756)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (588)
- Air Bags problems (506)
- Suspension problems (436)
- Steering problems (408)
See all Hyundai Santa FE problems.