Is the 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE reliable?

The 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE has 679 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.3x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE?

Top problems: ENGINE (277 complaints, avg repair $500); BRAKES (59 complaints, avg repair $500); STEERING (52 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE?

Yes, there are 3 recall(s): LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH, TIRES:SIDEWALL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. Contact any Hyundai dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE?

The 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE gets 21 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2286. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Is the 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE often stolen?

The Hyundai SANTA FE was the #22 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 4,500 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: high. Pre-2022 models are affected by the Kia Boys challenge — verify your VIN has the manufacturer security update.

How much does it cost to insure a 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE is approximately $1,860/year (suv-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2014 Hyundai SANTA FE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE has 679 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 289. The most common issue is engine problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: the vehicle stalled so frequently, either on free way and local. *tr. There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 40 fire reports filed.

40 fire reports 18 crash reports 16 injuries

679

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

277 complaints

41%

• THE VEHICLE STALLED SO FREQUENTLY, EITHER ON FREE WAY AND LOCAL. *TR
• THE VEHICLE KEPT STALLING ON FREE WAY AND LOCALLY. *TR
• I PURCHASED A NEW CAR, ON FEB.1, 2014. THE MALFUNCTION LAMP ON THE DASHBOARD WAS LIGHTED UP IN 1 MONTH. MY CAR WAS REPAIRED FROM MY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT CLEARED YET. AT LAST, THE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WAS HAPPENED ON APR. 19. I STEPPED DOWN FULLY ON THE GAS PEDAL ON THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 21 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“THE VEHICLE STALLED SO FREQUENTLY, EITHER ON FREE WAY AND LOCAL. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE

Based on 351 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 60K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

103

30-60K

60-100K

106

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

Earlier than typicalmedian 28K mi · 38 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Earlier than typicalmedian 60K mi · 26 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

Earlier than typicalmedian 40K mi · 21 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

FUEL SYSTEM

Earlier than typicalmedian 42K mi · 18 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

Earlier than typicalmedian 69K mi · 17 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

VISIBILITY

Earlier than typicalmedian 35K mi · 16 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (3)

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH05/06/2017

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

Risk: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.

High theft risk

#22 most stolen in 2025

The Hyundai SANTA FE was the #22 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 4,500 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Kia Boys / TikTok theft vulnerabilityModel years 2010-2021 Hyundai and Kia vehicles without engine immobilizers were widely targeted starting in 2022 after a viral TikTok exploit. If you own this vehicle, verify it has an ignition immobilizer or install a security upgrade. Hyundai and Kia both offered free software updates and steering-wheel-lock programs for affected models.

Recommended protection: engine immobilizer verification, steering wheel lock, GPS tracker, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Higher theft risk usually translates to higher comprehensive-coverage insurance premiums.

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,286

Per month

$191

Per mile

19.1¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,667/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,920/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2014 Hyundai SANTA FE

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,860

Full coverage / month

$155

Liability only / year

$639

vs US avg

+11%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x

× theft risk1.15x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1860

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Hyundai SANTA FE Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

60K mi

Spark plugs

90K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

Turbo engines (1.6T, 2.0T) need premium fuel and more frequent oil (some owners service at 5,000 miles).

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Hyundai New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

5 yr / 60K mi

Powertrain

10 yr / 100K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

10 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

7 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / unlimited mi

10 years/100K powertrain warranty is transferable only to first purchaser after initial owner

These are the terms for a new Hyundai. If you're buying a used 2014 SANTA FE, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Hyundai dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 679 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE VEHICLE STALLED SO FREQUENTLY, EITHER ON FREE WAY AND LOCAL. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: JUNE15,2015 EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING NEAR HOME.SOMEHOW MADE IT INTO MY DRIVEWAY W/O INCIDENT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP THAT AFTERNOON. DEALER CONFIRMED BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO TOTAL LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID, "VERIFIED NO BRAKES & MASTER CYLINDER EMPTY, FOUND BRAKE FLUID L
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: DROVE NEW 2014 SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER BUYING IT 3 DAYS EARLIER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT PATH WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SF REQUIRED CONTINUOUS CORRECTION AT A VARYING DEGREE. IT IS NOT ONLY THAT THE VEHICLE WONDERS, BUT IT DOES SO MILDLY AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. CAN START/STOP ENGINE IN VARIOUS GEAR INCLUDING REVERSE. PURCHASED APRIL 10, 2014. AFTER DRIVING MY NEW HYUNDAI FOR A WEEK OR SO, DECIDED TO WASH IT. MY HABIT IS TO WIPE OUT THE HATCH AND UNDER THE HOOD. UPON OPENING THE HOOD DISCOVERED NO COOLANT IN RESERVOIR. EVIDENT THERE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Hyundai dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)