Hyundai · Known Issues
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems: 5 Known Issues
2021 model year · 620+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2021 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2021 model year · 620+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2021 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 620+ owner reports, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has 5 documented known issues, with 3 rated critical. The most serious are Tow Hitch Harness Water Intrusion Causing Electrical Short and Fire, Front Seat Belt Pretensioner Abnormal Deployment — Metal Fragment Recall (22V-816) ($0-$0 repair) and 2.5L Smartstream GDI Fuel Injector Internal Leak Causing Misfire and Stalling ($600-$1,800 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 $1,800. 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
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.
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
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."
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6, 2023-2026 Genesis G90, 2024-2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The driver and passenger seat belt anchors may detach.
+ 12 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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According to Au7o's analysis of 620+ owner reports, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has 5 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Tow Hitch Harness Water Intrusion Causing Electrical Short and Fire, Front Seat Belt Pretensioner Abnormal Deployment — Metal Fragment Recall (22V-816), 2.5L Smartstream GDI Fuel Injector Internal Leak Causing Misfire and Stalling. Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has 5 known issues documented across 620+ owner reports. 3 issues are rated critical: Tow Hitch Harness Water Intrusion Causing Electrical Short and Fire and Front Seat Belt Pretensioner Abnormal Deployment — Metal Fragment Recall (22V-816) and 2.5L Smartstream GDI Fuel Injector Internal Leak Causing Misfire and Stalling. 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 $1,800, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.