2021 Hyundai SANTA FE HYBRID

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Hyundai SANTA FE HYBRID has 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: while i was traveling 70-75 mph the vehicle had a sudden loss of engine and battery output performance and i began losing speed. there was a very rapid decrease in speed, and no warning chime activated per manual. “check hybrid system. stop safely, triangle warning displayed.” the vehicle would not .

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

9 complaints

24%

• While I was traveling 70-75 mph the vehicle had a sudden loss of engine and battery output performance and I began losing speed. There was a very rapid decrease in speed, and no warning chime activated per manual. “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely, triangle warning displayed.” The vehicle would not
• While traveling 70 mph the vehicle had a sudden loss of engine and battery output performance while driving and began losing speed despite the accelerator being fully depressed. There was a very rapid decrease in speed, and no warning chime activated per manual. “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely, tr
• While driving on the highway, when I pushed on gas pedal the car would not accelerate, I was uncertain if I was losing power of the vehicle, luckily it maintained the current speed and did not decelerate,but I was unsure at the moment if I was losing complete power, because it wasn't responding, it

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“While I was traveling 70-75 mph the vehicle had a sudden loss of engine and battery output performance and I began losing speed. There was a very rapid decrease in speed, and no warning chime activated per manual. “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely, triangle warning displayed.” The vehicle would not ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints

19%

• While I was traveling 70-75 mph the vehicle had a sudden loss of engine and battery output performance and I began losing speed. There was a very rapid decrease in speed, and no warning chime activated per manual. “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely, triangle warning displayed.” The vehicle would not
• While traveling 70 mph the vehicle had a sudden loss of engine and battery output performance while driving and began losing speed despite the accelerator being fully depressed. There was a very rapid decrease in speed, and no warning chime activated per manual. “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely, tr
• While driving on the highway, when I pushed on gas pedal the car would not accelerate, I was uncertain if I was losing power of the vehicle, luckily it maintained the current speed and did not decelerate,but I was unsure at the moment if I was losing complete power, because it wasn't responding, it

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

5 complaints

14%

• I purchased my car in May 2021. Shortly after purchase, I noticed a "clicking" sound under the car when the car was operating between 15 and 20 MPH. I took the car to the dealer, who couldn't identify what was causing the sound. The dealer subsequently replaced the front axle, but the clicking sound
• Refill inverter coolant comes up on my dash daily. I have taken the vehicle back to the dealership several times to get that serviced. After having the vehicle all day they tell me everything is running fine and they can’t find the problem or figure out why the message is coming up. This has been go
• On December 28, 2022, we were driving 70 miles per hour on Route 75 in the third lane of a four-lane highway from Michigan to Tennessee. In Ohio, the vehicle lost all drive power without warning. As it decelerated, we were able to maneuver the vehicle to the breakdown lane, narrowly avoiding other v

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I purchased my car in May 2021. Shortly after purchase, I noticed a "clicking" sound under the car when the car was operating between 15 and 20 MPH. I took the car to the dealer, who couldn't identify what was causing the sound. The dealer subsequently replaced the front axle, but the clicking sound”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

4 complaints

11%

• This vehicle hesitates to a dangerous degree when trying to accelerate from a stop or rolling stop. When pressure is applied to the gas pedal, the vehicle will not accelerate until nearly a whole second later. This delay in response has created dangerous situations where merging onto a road in a pre
• While I was traveling 70-75 mph the vehicle had a sudden loss of engine and battery output performance and I began losing speed. There was a very rapid decrease in speed, and no warning chime activated per manual. “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely, triangle warning displayed.” The vehicle would not
• While traveling 70 mph the vehicle had a sudden loss of engine and battery output performance while driving and began losing speed despite the accelerator being fully depressed. There was a very rapid decrease in speed, and no warning chime activated per manual. “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely, tr

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“This vehicle hesitates to a dangerous degree when trying to accelerate from a stop or rolling stop. When pressure is applied to the gas pedal, the vehicle will not accelerate until nearly a whole second later. This delay in response has created dangerous situations where merging onto a road in a pre”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

3 complaints

• Visual Red Triangle code illuminated on the instrument cluster with the number 1 on the side of it. I used my OBD2 reader (Blue Driver) to retrieve the 8 AIR BAG codes. They were B1511 ,B1513, B1378, B1382, B1346, B1481, B14AE, B2618. Problem resulted after the Cowl Cross Bar Assembly (Unpainted), a
• Visual Red Triangle code illuminated on the instrument cluster with the number 1 on the side of it. I used my OBD2 reader (Blue Driver) to retrieve the 8 AIR BAG codes. They were B1511 ,B1513, B1378, B1382, B1346, B1481, B14AE, B2618. Problem resulted after the Cowl Cross Bar Assembly (Unpainted), a
• The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V816000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The driver'

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“Visual Red Triangle code illuminated on the instrument cluster with the number 1 on the side of it. I used my OBD2 reader (Blue Driver) to retrieve the 8 AIR BAG codes. They were B1511 ,B1513, B1378, B1382, B1346, B1481, B14AE, B2618. Problem resulted after the Cowl Cross Bar Assembly (Unpainted), a”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 37 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: While I was traveling 70-75 mph the vehicle had a sudden loss of engine and battery output performance and I began losing speed. There was a very rapid decrease in speed, and no warning chime activated per manual. “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely, triangle warning displayed.” The vehicle would not
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: While I was traveling 70-75 mph the vehicle had a sudden loss of engine and battery output performance and I began losing speed. There was a very rapid decrease in speed, and no warning chime activated per manual. “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely, triangle warning displayed.” The vehicle would not
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I purchased my car in May 2021. Shortly after purchase, I noticed a "clicking" sound under the car when the car was operating between 15 and 20 MPH. I took the car to the dealer, who couldn't identify what was causing the sound. The dealer subsequently replaced the front axle, but the clicking sound
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: This vehicle hesitates to a dangerous degree when trying to accelerate from a stop or rolling stop. When pressure is applied to the gas pedal, the vehicle will not accelerate until nearly a whole second later. This delay in response has created dangerous situations where merging onto a road in a pre
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)