2021 Hyundai Santa Fe problems and recalls

Owners have filed 165 complaints on the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, and NHTSA has issued 7 recalls. The most cited component is the Power Train (50 complaints).

165
Complaints
7
Recalls
4
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
2
Injuries
37.3
Severity index

Severity index 37.3 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 37.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 86 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 7% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 50 complaints (30.3%)50 30%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 41 complaints (24.8%)41 25%EngineEngine: 36 complaints (21.8%)36 22%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 29 complaints (17.6%)29 18%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 18 complaints (10.9%)18 11%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 9 complaints (5.5%)9 5%Back Over PreventionBack Over Prevention: 7 complaints (4.2%)7 4%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 7 complaints (4.2%)7 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN5030.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4124.8%
ENGINE3621.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2917.6%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1810.9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM95.5%
BACK OVER PREVENTION74.2%
VISIBILITY/WIPER74.2%

Complaints filed per year

022432021: 192022: 432023: 352024: 172025: 212026: 30 (partial year)21224323242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
202119
202243
202335
202417
202521
2026 (year to date)30
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2021 to 2022 (73 against 62).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V52400009/07/2021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSHyundai 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.
21V00M00028/12/2021VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELDHyundai 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.
21V18500017/03/2021AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULEHyundai 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 require
21V30800003/05/2021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSHyundai 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.
22V74600006/10/2022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONHyundai 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 re
23V18100017/03/2023TRAILER HITCHESHyundai 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 de
24V87900021/11/2024BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAHyundai 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 comp

Other Hyundai Santa Fe model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-29. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.