Hyundai SANTA FE — Years to Avoid
Which model years have the most problems and which are safe to buy.
Avoid These Years
2017 Hyundai SANTA FE
1227 complaints (1534% of segment average)
Main issue: I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ON 5/7/16. ON 6/2/16 I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 395 WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER AND EVENTUALLY DIED. WHEN I GOT IT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I NOTICED FLAMES COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. I GRABBED WH
2013 Hyundai SANTA FE
806 complaints (1007% of segment average)
Main issue: 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER STATES ISSUES WITH HESITATION AND STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING. *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION, WHICH WAS COMMON AMONG SEVERAL BRANDS OF AUTOMOBILES AND THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE HESITATION AT ACC
2014 Hyundai SANTA FE
679 complaints (849% of segment average)
Main issue: THE VEHICLE STALLED SO FREQUENTLY, EITHER ON FREE WAY AND LOCAL. *TR
2012 Hyundai SANTA FE
474 complaints (593% of segment average)
Main issue: ON THURSDAY MAR 22 2012 I WAS DRIVING MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE SE AWD WITH 2400 MILES ON IT IN TWO WAY DOWN HILL ROAD WITH A SPEED OF 20 TO 25 MILES PER HOUR THAN ALL OF SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR ANY SIGN THE CAR JUST DIE ON ME I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON IT DID TURN ON SO NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO HYUNDA
2015 Hyundai SANTA FE
331 complaints (414% of segment average)
Main issue: ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CALL LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT OPERATE IN A NORMAL FASHION. RPM GAUGE WAS HIGHLY ERRATIC AND PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR DID NOT RESULT IN INCREASED SPEED. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE 2ND TIME I
2010 Hyundai SANTA FE
331 complaints (414% of segment average)
Main issue: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE V6 AWD LIMITED I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START IT, AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WHEN I STARTED IT. LUCKILY MY FOOT WAS NEAR THE BRAKE, SO I INSTINCTIVELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE. I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAR IT WOULD HAVE GONE
2023 Hyundai SANTA FE
301 complaints (376% of segment average)
Main issue: I bought a brand new 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. Not even one month later the panoramic sunroof exploded while I was driving on the interstate at 75 mph. There were no warning lamps, messages or other signs that this would/could happen prior to the incident. I was not informed by the dealership that this
2022 Hyundai SANTA FE
289 complaints (361% of segment average)
Main issue: We have a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe with less than 17,000 miles. We pulled into the left turn lane at an intersection. When we stopped for a red light, the vehicle abruptly shut down all power with no warning. We tried to restart the car and nothing would work. We tried the hazard warning flashers a
2016 Hyundai SANTA FE
288 complaints (360% of segment average)
Main issue: THIS VEHICLE HAS A SURGING ISSUE. WHEN I COME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT STOP IT ACTS LIKE IT'S GOING TO DIE I CAN FELL MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL ALSO THE RPM IS DROP . TOOK IT TO DEALER AND ADVISE ME THEY CAN'T TEST IT WITH OUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND IT CONTINUES TO PERFORM THE SAME ALSO I REPLACE THE SP
2020 Hyundai SANTA FE
270 complaints (338% of segment average)
Main issue: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED VARIOUS WARNING ALERTS
2019 Hyundai SANTA FE
268 complaints (335% of segment average)
Main issue: ON MARCH 5, THIS VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREET. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND ME AND MY PASSENGER COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND HAS 2600 MILES ON IT. I HAVE FOUND THAT HYUNDAI IS DOING A RECALL TO REPLACE STARTER AN
2011 Hyundai SANTA FE
268 complaints (335% of segment average)
Main issue: NEW SANTA FE, 45 DAYS OLD, SCREECHING / METAL ON METAL GRINDING SOUND. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. AT 3 MONTHS OLD, CAR ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. DO NOT TRUST CAR. *TR
2021 Hyundai SANTA FE
232 complaints (290% of segment average)
Main issue: I bought a new 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL in January 2021. The vehicle occasionally will not shift out of first gear unless you slow down to almost a stop and then accelerate again. It began within the first month or two of owning. Hyundai has had it in the shop three times. Two times they said they
2024 Hyundai SANTA FE
182 complaints (228% of segment average)
Main issue: My transmission went out at only 1800 miles. It slipped out of gear 2 times while driving. Looking on line I see that I am not the only one. Also people are saying that there 2nd transmission goes out also. I am in the middle of trying to get a buy out.
2025 Hyundai SANTA FE
166 complaints (208% of segment average)
Main issue: Hyundai Distracted Driver feature is FAULTY and VERY hazardous! If someone puts on sunglasses to drive SAFELY, the vehicle says you ARE distracted; and cuts the cruise control and starts braking on its own. VERY BAD!!! The vehicle is almost undrivable. Many others are having their dealerships buy
2018 Hyundai SANTA FE
143 complaints (179% of segment average)
Main issue: DRIVING @60 W/CRUSE ON GOING DOWN A HILL ENGINE RPM'S SUDDENLY JUMP FROM 2000 TO ANYWHERE FROM 3000 TO 5000 RPM'S AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP ENGINE RACING IS TO TAP THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE CRUSE. ALSO VEHICLE WILL NOT SPEED UP WHEN TURNING A CORNER,LIKE THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T DOWN SHIFT.THESE BOTH H