The Lemon Index2023 Hyundai Santa Fe.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe is so far worse than average by owner complaints: 269 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 172, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 1 recall, and it gets 24 to 34 mpg combined. The best Hyundai Santa Fe year is 2016.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 269 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Hyundai Santa Fe year. 2023 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 1K to 27K miles on the car (21 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 1
- 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.
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 68 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- If you are servicing an 8-speed vehicle with a Check Engine light on and one or more of the…
- If you are servicing an 8-speed DCT front-wheel-drive vehicle with the DTC or symptoms listed…
- If you are servicing an 8-speed front-wheel-drive vehicle equipped with automatic transaxle…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
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
We were at full stop with Auto Hold feature enabled. Car lurched / jumped forward with no depression of the gas pedal. This caused us to strike the car in front of us.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe owner · NHTSA complaint 11743508
More owner reports
When I start driving the car if I come up to a hill when I try to accelerate to move forward the cars engine cuts out almost like it stalls. I have to floor or pump the gas which makes a revving sound and the car will go.
NHTSA complaint 11603420
Shuddering Issue with Current Vehicle: - Problem: Progressive shuddering during take-off, accelerating, slowing down, and braking uphill.
NHTSA complaint 11629441
Quick answers
Is the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.7× the average car's complaints per car sold, against other 2023 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 172; 100 is average). The best Hyundai Santa Fe year by this measure is 2016.
What are the most common 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (23%), engine (22%) and automatic emergency braking (20%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
1 safety recall (latest: trailer hitches). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
24 to 34 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2023 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 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 1,400 and 27,400 miles. The middle report was at 9,100 miles, from 21 complaints.
Does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 23% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe cost in fuel a year?
About $1900 to $2700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
1.6L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Hyundai Santa Fe year is better than the 2023?
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