The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 76 of 205 complaints (37%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 110 in 2018 to 205 in 2019.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 205
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,500–$3,300
- Combined MPG
- 19–25
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | vs. 2019 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,600–3,300 | 2,600–3,300 | 2,500–3,300 | 2,500–2,850 | 1,850–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–24 | 19–24 | 19–25 | 22–25 | 24–34 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–21 / 22–28 | 17–21 / 22–28 | 17–22 / 22–29 | 20–22 / 26–29 | 21–36 / 25–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 379–475 | 379–475 | 362–479 | 362–411 | 264–378 | |
| Complaints filed | 973 | 110 | 205 | 218 | 190 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 14 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 23 | 5 | 13 | 9 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 18 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Engine: 76 of 205 NHTSA complaints (37%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA rates it 19–25 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe?
EPA estimates $2,500–$3,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.3L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 18 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 432 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.3L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 18 mpg | 23 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 453 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.3L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 445 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.3L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 17 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 479 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 22 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | $2,500 (low) | 362 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 21 mpg | 27 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 380 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 20 mpg | 25 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 408 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 19 mpg | 24 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 422 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 76 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 37 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 48 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
TRAILER HITCHES
- Defect
- 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 dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
- Consequence
- A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. The Side Curtain Air Bag (SCAB) mounting bolts may interfere with and damage the air bags during deployment.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash, if the air bags become damaged during deployment they may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the SCAB installation bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 177.