What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2021 Hyundai Santa FE

Typical pattern

11.3% of complaints about the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2021 vehicle — around the middle of the 159 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 2.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (48 complaints), typically at 2.3 yr or about 18,500 miles.

Complaints
239
Median age at failure
2.4 yr
Median mileage
18,500 n=41
Crash / fire / tow
5% of reports
Safety recalls
7 1 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
48 reports · 18,500 mi
2.3 yr
4.2%
Other
41 reports · 1,500 mi
2.9 yr
4.9%
Engine
37 reports · 37,500 mi
2.3 yr
13.5%
Electrical system
29 reports · 55,000 mi
2.7 yr
3.4%
Collision avoidance
23 reports · 1,100 mi
1.9 yr
4.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

23V181000 2023-03-17 Do not drive
Trailer hitches

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.

A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

24V879000 2024-11-21
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles. Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.

22V746000 2022-10-06
Power train:automatic transmission

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.

Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

21V00M000 2021-12-28
Visibility:windshield

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.

A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

21V524000 2021-07-09
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.

A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

21V308000 2021-05-03
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 2.5-litre Turbo engines. The fuel pipe connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not have been tightened properly.

An insufficiently tightened fuel pipe may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

21V185000 2021-03-17
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles. The Occupant Detection System (ODS) module may not deactivate the air bag upon detection of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

In owners’ own words

Other mileage not reported 10 mo in service
Vehicle stalled 5 times when finally got it to restart wouldn’t accelerate more than two mph. Broke down on a busy road was finally able to get the car into a parking lot but was almost hit from behind cause the vehicle was obstructing traffic. Towed to dealership where was told it would take them a week to look at it and they won’t provide any alternative transportation for me that I would have to pay out of pocket. My car is only 2 months and 2400 miles old
Other mileage not reported 1.8 yr in service
I keep my vehicle backed into my single car garage. I have had 3 incidents in the last couple of months Beginning of mayish to now, where I start the vehicle, put it in drive and it does not drive. Twice it started to reverse and today it acted as though it were in neutral. I've taken video of the last 2 incidents showing that drive is selected, the dashboard and the Birdseye camera. My dealership is working to resolve but has stated to plan on my vehicle being there for awhile. This seems to be quite dangerous. When I turn the vehicle off and restart it, drive works.
Other mileage not reported 1.8 yr in service crash / fire / tow
The passenger door has a sharp edge at the bottom exactly like the palasade hyundai recall. Both my daughter and my 82 year old mother have gashed their ankle on the door. In the case of my mother she was lucky we did not need stitches! I have a picture of the injury. I made a case submission to Hyundai.
Collision avoidance mileage not reported 1.2 yr in service
While driving in the fast lane on the freeway at speed limit the car suddenly began to slow/stop, after which a warning flashed on the display that said Danger, collision imminent, or something like that. There was no one close in front of me when that happened. This exact scenario has happened three times now in this car, in the same way! I felt my life was endangered every time by the sudden and unnecessary braking of my car.

Other Santa FE model years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001

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