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 (425% 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 (279% 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 (235% of segment average)
Main issue: THE VEHICLE STALLED SO FREQUENTLY, EITHER ON FREE WAY AND LOCAL. *TR
2012 Hyundai SANTA FE
474 complaints (164% 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 (115% 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 (115% 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
Safe to Buy
2018 Hyundai SANTA FE
143 complaints — well below segment average
2025 Hyundai SANTA FE
166 complaints — well below segment average
2024 Hyundai SANTA FE
182 complaints — well below segment average
2021 Hyundai SANTA FE
232 complaints — well below segment average