Model year
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
NHTSA lists 7 recalls and 167 complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 3 recalls and 20 complaints under SANTA FE HYBRID and SANTA FE PLUG-IN HYBRID. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. 1 recall marked park outside. The components listed on the most complaints are POWER TRAIN (51), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (41), ENGINE (37). NHTSA lists 1 investigation. NHTSA rated 4 variants 5 stars overall. EPA rates it 24–34 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $1,950–$2,800, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2001 209 complaints
- 2002 165 complaints
- 2003 308 complaints
- 2004 303 complaints
- 2005 216 complaints
- 2006 106 complaints
- 2007 684 complaints
- 2008 541 complaints
- 2009 359 complaints
- 2010 260 complaints
- 2011 181 complaints
- 2012 355 complaints
- 2013 605 complaints
- 2014 493 complaints
- 2015 255 complaints
- 2016 236 complaints
- 2017 970 complaints
- 2018 109 complaints
- 2019 203 complaints
- 2020 217 complaints
- 2021 167 complaints
- 2022 201 complaints
- 2023 211 complaints
- 2024 155 complaints
- 2025 135 complaints
- 2026 37 complaints
- 2027 0 complaints
Recalls
24V879000 · Nov 21, 2024
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…
23V181000 · Mar 17, 2023
Park outsideTRAILER 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…
22V746000 · Oct 6, 2022
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…
21V00M000 · Dec 28, 2021
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.
21V524000 · Jul 9, 2021
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.
21V308000 · May 3, 2021
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.
21V185000 · Mar 17, 2021
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER; 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…
Complaints
167 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 4, fire flag on 2, injury field 2, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| SANTA FE HYBRID | 3 | 20 |
| SANTA FE PLUG-IN HYBRID | 0 | 0 |
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| DP22003 | Loss of Motive Power · ENGINE | Sep 12, 2022 | Dec 12, 2023 |
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid SUV AWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.147 | NHTSA photo |
| Hybrid SUV FWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.155 | NHTSA photo |
| SUV AWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.147 | NHTSA photo |
| SUV FWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.155 | NHTSA photo |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe FWD · 2.5L · Automatic (S8) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 | 28 | 26 | — | — | $2,600 |
| Santa Fe FWD · 2.5L · Automatic (AM-S8) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 28 | 25 | — | — | $2,700 |
| Santa Fe AWD · 2.5L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 25 | 24 | — | — | $2,800 |
| Santa Fe AWD · 2.5L · Automatic (AM-S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 | 28 | 24 | — | — | $2,800 |
| Santa Fe Hybrid · 1.6L · Automatic (AM-S6) · All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 33 | 30 | 32 | — | — | $2,100 |
| Santa Fe Hybrid Blue · 1.6L · Automatic (AM-S6) · All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 36 | 31 | 34 | — | — | $1,950 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.