The Lemon Index2021 Hyundai Santa Fe.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is worse than average by owner complaints: 134 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 124, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 8 recalls, and it gets 24 to 34 mpg combined. The best Hyundai Santa Fe year is 2016.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 187 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Hyundai Santa Fe year. 2021 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 11K to 46K miles on the car (35 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 8
- back over prevention 2024
Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display.
- trailer hitches 2023
Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
- seat belts 2022
In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
Show all 8 recalls
- transmission & drivetrain 2022
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.
- visibility 2021
During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
- fuel system, gasoline 2021
Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
- fuel system, gasoline 2021
The fuel pipe connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not have been tightened properly.
- airbags 2021
The Occupant Detection System (ODS) module may not deactivate the air bag upon detection of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Hyundai told dealers about
Hyundai sent dealers 126 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a Check Engine light on and one or more of the…
- If you are servicing an 8-speed front-wheel-drive vehicle with the DTC or symptoms listed…
- Automatic transmission
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1900–2700 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Got stuck at a traffic light when the idle stop and go never came back. Diagnosed as a transmission problem and the dealerâs going to replace the transmission.
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe owner · NHTSA complaint 11475062
More owner reports
When turning at low speeds especially sharp turns and accelerating, a cracking sound occurs.
NHTSA complaint 11515463
During low speeds the car stalls out which could cause a safety issue for my family
NHTSA complaint 11544648
Quick answers
Is the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 124; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Hyundai Santa Fe year by this measure is 2016.
What are the most common 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (34%), engine (28%) and electrical (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
8 safety recalls (latest: back over prevention). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
24 to 34 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 11,900 and 46,700 miles. The middle report was at 21,000 miles, from 35 complaints.
Does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 34% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe cost in fuel a year?
About $1900 to $2700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
1.6L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Hyundai Santa Fe year is better than the 2021?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2016, 2015 and 2018.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works