2007-2025 model years · 1,610+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
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According to Au7o's analysis of 1,610+ owner reports, the 2007-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe has 17 documented known issues, with 9 rated critical. The most serious are ABS/HECU Module Electrical Short Causing Engine Compartment Fire, Tow Hitch Harness Water Intrusion Causing Electrical Short and Fire, 8-Speed Wet Dual-Clutch (DCT) TCU Failure — Rollaway Risk and Rough Shifting ($0-$4,500 repair), Front Seat Belt Pretensioner Abnormal Deployment — Metal Fragment Recall (22V-816) ($0-$0 repair), Rear Subframe Corrosion ($200-$3,000 repair), 2.5L Smartstream GDI Fuel Injector Internal Leak Causing Misfire and Stalling ($600-$1,800 repair), Theta II GDI Connecting Rod Bearing Failure and Engine Seizure, Theta II Engine Seizure / Recall and 2.0T Theta II Turbocharger Oil Feed Hose Leak and Turbo Bearing Failure ($250-$2,400 repair). The most commonly reported issue is Steering Column Intermediate Shaft Clunk with 620 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $50 to $4,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
TRAILER HITCHES
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Santa Fe vehicles. The B+ positive terminal cover on the starter motor assembly may be improperly installed, which can cause an electrical short during a crash.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The rearview camera may not have been installed properly, which can damage the wiring harness and cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
+ 12 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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According to Au7o's analysis of 1,610+ owner reports, the 2007-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe has 17 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: ABS/HECU Module Electrical Short Causing Engine Compartment Fire, Tow Hitch Harness Water Intrusion Causing Electrical Short and Fire, 8-Speed Wet Dual-Clutch (DCT) TCU Failure — Rollaway Risk and Rough Shifting. Of these, 9 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2007-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe has 17 known issues documented across 1,610+ owner reports. 9 issues are rated critical: ABS/HECU Module Electrical Short Causing Engine Compartment Fire and Tow Hitch Harness Water Intrusion Causing Electrical Short and Fire and 8-Speed Wet Dual-Clutch (DCT) TCU Failure — Rollaway Risk and Rough Shifting and Front Seat Belt Pretensioner Abnormal Deployment — Metal Fragment Recall (22V-816) and Rear Subframe Corrosion and 2.5L Smartstream GDI Fuel Injector Internal Leak Causing Misfire and Stalling and Theta II GDI Connecting Rod Bearing Failure and Engine Seizure and Theta II Engine Seizure / Recall and 2.0T Theta II Turbocharger Oil Feed Hose Leak and Turbo Bearing Failure. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Hyundai Santa Fe issues range from $0 to $4,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Reliability varies across model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 2007-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe with 17 documented issues documented across 1,610+ owner reports.
NHTSA recall 22V-056 (Hyundai recall 218) covers certain model-year 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe vehicles not equipped with Smart Cruise Control. The ABS module can malfunction internally and cause an electrical short over time. Significant overcurrent can increase the r… Severity: high.
NHTSA recall 23V-181 (Hyundai recall 244) covers model-year 2019-2023 Santa Fe vehicles that may have a Hyundai accessory tow-hitch harness, including listed hybrid and plug-in-hybrid populations. The tow-hitch-harness module circuit board can be susceptible to water entering thr… Severity: high.
The fifth-generation (MX5) Santa Fe's 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission has a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software logic error that can inadvertently disengage the clutches, damaging the transmission case and/or allowing the vehicle to roll away while in Park. Owners also… Repairs typically run $0-$4,500. Severity: high.
Hyundai recalled certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe Hybrid (TM HEV) and 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (TM PHEV) vehicles because the front driver and/or passenger seat belt pretensioners contain pyrotechnic charges that can deploy abnormally in a crash. Instead of retracting the belt… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
The rear subframe on second-generation Santa Fe models (especially in salt-belt states) is prone to severe corrosion that can compromise structural integrity. The steel subframe traps moisture and road salt, accelerating rust from the inside out. In extreme cases, the subframe ca… Repairs typically run $200-$3,000. Severity: high.
On the 2.5L Smartstream GDI+MPI engine (G4KR) used in the TM Santa Fe from 2021, the internal filter/screen inside the direct injector can break apart and the injector leaks fuel into the cylinder after shutdown and at idle. Owners report a hard hot start, raw-fuel smell, rough i… Repairs typically run $600-$1,800. Severity: high.
NHTSA recall 17V-226 (Hyundai recall 162) covers certain model-year 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter or 2.4-liter gasoline-direct-injection engines. Residual debris from factory machining can restrict oil flow to the main bearings and cause premature bear… Severity: high.
NHTSA recall 20V-746 (Hyundai recall 198) covers certain model-year 2012 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with the 2.4-liter Theta II MPI engine. Conditions in the engine can cause premature connecting-rod-bearing wear. Continued operation with a worn bearing can damage the engine and… Severity: high.
The 2.0L Theta II turbo (G4KH) in the Santa Fe Sport uses a banjo-bolted oil feed hose to the turbocharger center section. The hose assembly and its sealing washers leak, and heat-soak after shutdown cokes the oil inside the small-diameter feed line, restricting flow to the turbo… Repairs typically run $250-$2,400. Severity: high.
Alternators in Santa Fe models fail prematurely, often between 60,000-100,000 miles. The voltage regulator or rectifier diodes fail, causing undercharging, battery drain, and eventually no-start conditions. Some owners report multiple alternator replacements within the vehicle's… Repairs typically run $300-$600. Severity: medium.
The power transfer unit (PTU) on AWD Santa Fe models develops seal leaks, leading to fluid loss and eventual bearing damage. A whining noise from the front of the drivetrain is the first sign. If fluid runs low, the PTU gears can be damaged, requiring expensive replacement. The o… Repairs typically run $300-$2,200. Severity: medium.
Hyundai TSB 23-EM-008H provides inspection and repair guidance for vehicles with engine-oil-consumption concerns. Its parts and labor tables include model-year 2013-2018 Santa Fe Sport and 2019-2020 Santa Fe vehicles with the 2.4-liter GDI engine. The bulletin notes that some oil… Severity: medium.
The Continuous Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) actuator and its associated oil control valve (OCV) on the Santa Fe's Theta II engine can fail, causing rough idle, poor fuel economy, and check engine lights. The OCV gets clogged with sludge from extended oil change intervals, and the… Repairs typically run $300-$900. Severity: medium.
The panoramic sunroof drain tubes on the Santa Fe clog with leaves, pollen, and debris, causing water to overflow the sunroof tray and leak into the cabin. Water typically enters through the headliner area and drips onto the front seats or pools in the rear footwells. Extended wa… Repairs typically run $50-$500. Severity: medium.
Santa Fe (and Santa Fe Sport) panoramic sunroofs have repeatedly shattered spontaneously, with no impact, often described by owners as sounding like a gunshot. Tempered glass tensioned over the large panoramic opening, combined with edge stress and ceramic-frit weakening, fails s… Repairs typically run $0-$1,500. Severity: medium.
The intermediate steering shaft on 4th-gen Santa Fe models develops a clunking or popping noise when turning the steering wheel, especially at low speeds or when going over bumps while turning. The universal joint in the shaft dries out and develops play. Hyundai issued TSB 19-ST… Repairs typically run $100-$600. Severity: low.
Santa Fe paint, especially white/pearl-white and Hyundai's 'Scratch Recovery' self-healing clear coat, is prone to delamination — the clear coat and color coat lose adhesion to the layer beneath and begin peeling, flaking, or bubbling off in sheets, accelerated by UV exposure. It… Repairs typically run $0-$2,000. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
