The Lemon Index

All cars · Hyundai Santa Fe · 2021

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index124100 = average car
Complaints134NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold112,071U.S. model year
Per 100K sold120complaints
Year rank#15 of 21#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 5

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
1.6L 4-cyl turbo hybridAuto (AM-S6)AWD33 / 30 / 32Regular$1,950
2.5L 4-cylAuto (S8)FWD25 / 28 / 26Regular$2,400
2.5L 4-cylAuto (S8)AWD22 / 25 / 24Regular$2,600
2.5L 4-cyl turboAuto (AM-S8)FWD22 / 28 / 25Regular$2,500
2.5L 4-cyl turboAuto (AM-S8)AWD21 / 28 / 24Regular$2,600

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 11,900 and 46,700 miles. Median 21,000, from 35 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Transmission & drivetrain18,50012,400–40,60013
Engine28,00015,200–45,30010

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Transmission & drivetrain34%
Engine28%
Electrical16%
Automatic emergency braking15%
Fuel or ev drive system7%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
18742208

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 8

  • 24V879000 Nov 2024 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera

    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."

    Risk. 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.

  • 23V181000 Mar 2023 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.

    Risk. 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 previou

  • 22V816000 Oct 2022 Seat Belts / Pretensioner

    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.

    Risk. 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.

  • 22V746000 Oct 2022 Power Train / Automatic Transmission

    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.

    Risk. 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.

  • 21V00M000 Dec 2021 Visibility / Windshield

    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.

    Risk. 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.

  • 21V524000 Jul 2021 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

    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.

    Risk. 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.

  • 21V308000 May 2021 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

    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.

    Risk. 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.

  • 21V185000 Mar 2021 Air Bags / Air Bag/Restraint Control Module

    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."

    Risk. 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.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedPedestrian alert sounds20232023
ClosedLoss of motive power20222023

Manufacturer communications 126

Hyundai filed 126 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • 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

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardStandardStandard

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
20186985117,038Engine
20197496127,373Engine
20209592100,757Engine
2021124134112,071Transmission & drivetrain
2022130191119,589Transmission & drivetrain
2023172269131,574Transmission & drivetrain
2024179191119,010Transmission & drivetrain

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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