Hyundai Santa Fe years to avoid
Every Hyundai Santa Fe model year on file (2012-2026), ranked worst to best by severity index - the share of owner complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or fatality.
2019
Worst year on file
91.9
Severity index
Engine
Most-reported system
2021
Cleanest year on file
Ranked worst to best
| # | Model year | Severity | Complaints | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe | 91.9 High | 195 | Engine |
| 2 | 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe | 91.8 High | 206 | Engine |
| 3 | 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe | 79.4 Medium | 206 | Unknown Or Other |
| 4 | 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe | 78.3 Medium | 494 | Engine |
| 5 | 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe | 75.5 Medium | 108 | Engine |
| 6 | 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe | 73.4 Medium | 141 | Power Train |
| 7 | 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe | 72.0 Medium | 254 | Engine |
| 8 | 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe | 70.4 Medium | 353 | Engine |
| 9 | 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe | 66.2 Medium | 605 | Engine |
| 10 | 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe | 53.0 Medium | 30 | Unknown Or Other |
| 11 | 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe | 49.5 Medium | 128 | Electrical System |
| 12 | 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe | 43.3 Low | 235 | Engine |
| 13 | 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe | 41.4 Low | 197 | Power Train |
| 14 | 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe | 37.6 Low | 960 | Engine |
| 15 | 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe | 37.3 Low | 165 | Power Train |
A high rank here means a larger share of this year's complaints described a crash, fire or injury - not that the vehicle is unsafe to drive, and not a reliability or repair-cost rating. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold.
Hyundai Santa Fe complaints and recalls by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crashes | Fires | Severity | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 353 | 1 | 25 | 17 | 70.4 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2013 | 605 | 3 | 14 | 41 | 66.2 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2014 | 494 | 3 | 16 | 30 | 78.3 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2015 | 254 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 72.0 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2016 | 235 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 43.3 Low | ENGINE |
| 2017 | 960 | 6 | 14 | 23 | 37.6 Low | ENGINE |
| 2018 | 108 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 75.5 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2019 | 195 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 91.9 High | ENGINE |
| 2020 | 206 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 91.8 High | ENGINE |
| 2021 | 165 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 37.3 Low | POWER TRAIN |
| 2022 | 197 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 41.4 Low | POWER TRAIN |
| 2023 | 206 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 79.4 Medium | UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
| 2024 | 141 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 73.4 Medium | POWER TRAIN |
| 2025 | 128 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 49.5 Medium | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2026 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 53.0 Medium | UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold; a high-volume seller will attract more filings than a rare trim.