2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 57 of 186 complaints (31%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 208 in 2020 to 186 in 2021.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,500–3,300 | 2,500–2,850 | 1,850–2,600 | 1,850–2,600 | 1,850–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–25 | 22–25 | 24–34 | 24–34 | 24–34 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–22 / 22–29 | 20–22 / 26–29 | 21–36 / 25–31 | 21–36 / 25–32 | 21–36 / 25–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 362–479 | 362–411 | 264–378 | 264–378 | 264–378 | |
| Complaints filed | 196 | 208 | 186 | 262 | 284 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 16 | 13 | 4 | 12 | 13 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 10 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 17 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
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 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
8 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 57 of 186 NHTSA complaints (31%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA rates it 24–34 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe?
EPA estimates $1,850–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 25 mpg | 28 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 344 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 22 mpg | 28 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 365 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg | 25 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 378 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 21 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 375 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 1.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 33 mpg | 30 mpg | 32 mpg | $1,950 | 283 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 1.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 36 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | $1,850 (low) | 264 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 46 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 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 (8)
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · Campaign 24V879000 · Nov 21, 2024
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles. Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 271.
TRAILER HITCHES · Campaign 23V181000 · Mar 20, 2023
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.
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER; SEAT BELTS:FRONT · Campaign 22V816000 · Nov 1, 2022
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023 Genesis G80 Electric, 2021-2022 Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
Consequence: An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
Remedy: Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioners with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 238/011G. This recall is an expansion of recall numbers 22V-354 and 22V-458.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 22V746000 · Oct 7, 2022
Defect: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Consequence: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD · Campaign 21V00M000 · Dec 28, 2021
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
Consequence: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · Campaign 21V524000 · Jul 12, 2021
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Consequence: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · Campaign 21V308000 · May 4, 2021
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 2.5-litre Turbo engines. The fuel pipe connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not have been tightened properly.
Consequence: An insufficiently tightened fuel pipe may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers inspected and tightened the fuel pipe connection, free of charge. The affected vehicles have been repaired and therefore no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 206.
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE; AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · Campaign 21V185000 · Mar 18, 2021
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles. The Occupant Detection System (ODS) module may not deactivate the air bag upon detection of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ODS module, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied as of May 12, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 202.