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All cars · Hyundai Santa Fe · Transmission

Hyundai Santa Fe transmission problems by year.

Worst years for transmission complaints per car sold: 2010 (91 complaints), 2017 (87 complaints), 2021 (36 complaints). Fewest since 2010: 2018, 2016, 2015.

Hyundai Santa Fe
Photo shows a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

20011827.1 per 100K sold200267.7 per 100K sold20033029.6 per 100K sold20041614.4 per 100K sold2005913.2 per 100K sold200634.7 per 100K sold20072122.7 per 100K sold20081115.5 per 100K sold20091316.2 per 100K sold201091118.7 per 100K sold20111013.4 per 100K sold20121115.5 per 100K sold20131719.1 per 100K sold20141614.8 per 100K sold2015119.3 per 100K sold201686.1 per 100K sold20178765.3 per 100K sold201843.4 per 100K sold20192015.7 per 100K sold2020109.9 per 100K sold20213632.1 per 100K sold20223831.8 per 100K sold20233425.8 per 100K sold20243831.9 per 100K sold20251913.3 per 100K sold

What owners describe

Hard or jerky shifting20%
Lost power while driving19%
Delay or hesitation15%
Transmission replaced8%
Slipping7%
Stuck in gear or limp mode7%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

  • 2024 2024

    A software error in the transmission control unit may result in a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in PARK.

  • 2022 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.

  • 2013 2013

    Due to a manufacturing issue, the right front axle shaft may fracture.

  • 2010 2011

    HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 SANTA FE 2WD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 15, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 5, 2010.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

In owners' words

Mostly shifting into first gear or backing up , you get a very hard bang , as if you hit something. City street mostly turning.

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe owner · NHTSA complaint

Brand new 2010 hyundai santa fe intermittently lurches forward and reverse when started up in park. Appears as if starting up "in gear" when in park.

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which Hyundai Santa Fe years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Hyundai Santa Fe years are 2010, 2017, 2021.

What are common Hyundai Santa Fe transmission problems?

Owners most often describe hard or jerky shifting, lost power while driving, delay or hesitation.

Which Hyundai Santa Fe years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the Hyundai Santa Fe years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2018, 2016, 2015.

See every problem, not just the transmission: Hyundai Santa Fe reliability by year. How we count

Updated

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