2021 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
216 complaints filed with NHTSA.
NHTSA Safety Rating
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 45 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 36 |
| ENGINE | 32 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 26 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | 15 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS | 6 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 6 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 5 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| VISIBILITY | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS | 3 |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
Recalls (7)
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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
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 requirem
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 acc
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 Mot
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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 l
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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.
Recent Complaints
Replaced horns a couple times, after doing research, this seems to be a deeper and ongoing issues with this car ok a larger scale. Horns die out or stop completely, causing multiple replacements.
Horns stopped working entirely. Car was crossing into my lane and I attempted to honk horn and no sound. No warning lights or messages on dash. Is available for inspection. No inspections conducted currently.
Vehicle has now had several incidences of completing losing all acceleration power while driving at both high and low speeds, resulting in need to turn on hazards and abruptly pull to side of road. Pushing on gas pedal does nothing and vehicle will even roll backwards if I pull over on a hill and take my foot off the brake. I have to put vehicle in park and turn off. Sometimes I have to restart the vehicle a few times before it will drive forward after putting it back into drive. The vehicle doe
Code P1C2D03 is popping up on my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe after the dealership "fixed" the recall in 2023. My car is going into limp mode, failing while driving, and unsafe. Dealership and corporate won't help me. The transmission was never replaced with the recall and they are claiming they aren't relatable and can't do anything unless a recall is reopened.
Horns assemblies are Failing repeatedly. Since ownership of the vehicle (2023 and a CPO Platinum Wrap), I have had to replace a single horn, or both horns three times with local Hyundai dealerships. mostly the right horn would fail, then the left. I am currently making efforts to have my vehicleâs horns serviced for the fourth time as they are not working. I have been to my dealership on Dec 16, 2025 & Jan 15, 2026, to have the horns repair to no avail. In December, a diagnosis was performed w
Horns assemblies are Failing repeatedly. Since ownership of the vehicle (2023 and a CPO Platinum Wrap), I have had to replace a single horn, or both horns three times with local Hyundai dealerships. mostly the right horn would fail, then the left. I am currently making efforts to have my vehicleâs horns serviced for the fourth time as they are not working. I have been to my dealership on Dec 16, 2025 & Jan 15, 2026, to have the horns repair to no avail. In December, a diagnosis was performed w
Horn stopped working due to the same issue other Hyundai horns stopped working.
Was coming off an exit on the interstate and started slowing down. My brakes act like they didnât want to work. Grinding and the pedal was twitching under my foot. The car stopped thankfully, but then all Linda of lights came on the my dash and will not go off. And 3 warning come up!
Was coming off an exit on the interstate and started slowing down. My brakes act like they didnât want to work. Grinding and the pedal was twitching under my foot. The car stopped thankfully, but then all Linda of lights came on the my dash and will not go off. And 3 warning come up!
Was coming off an exit on the interstate and started slowing down. My brakes act like they didnât want to work. Grinding and the pedal was twitching under my foot. The car stopped thankfully, but then all Linda of lights came on the my dash and will not go off. And 3 warning come up!
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle experienced hard shifting while attempting to change gears, and the vehicle hesitated, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired; however, DTC: P1C2D03 was retrieved. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where the same diagnostic trouble code was confirmed. The dealer diagnosed that the trans
Mileage: 99,700
Car misfiring symptoms like rough or shaky idle, hesitation and loss of power during acceleration, stumbling, unusual popping/backfiring noises, poor fuel economy, and a lit Check Engine Light. Felt vibrations / heard sputtering sounds, as if the engine skipped a beat, often becoming more noticeable under load or when accelerating. Sometimes, the issue goes away after restarting the engine.
On 1/1/26 while traveling on the highway with no traffic in front of or right of my vehicle the ADAS emergency brakes applied themselves and slowed the vehicle nearly causing my vehicle to be rear ended. Vehicle is available for inspection. Faulty assistance nearly caused a rear end collision along the highway. Not aware of ADAS being tested inspected although multi-point inspection was done 10/2025. No warnings prior to incident.
My transmission failed, even after the #236 recall in 2022. My car was recalled for Recall #236 in 2022. My car was updated and "fixed" and now in 2025 is showing the p1c2d03 code and requiring a new transmission. The same recall, without the fix.The car is in great health and never had issues until I was going 60 miles per hour on a busy highway and it reduced to 26 miles per hour during busy traffic. Causing me to almost get rear-ended multiple times and people swerving off the highway to miss
While traveling Interstate 75in Florida en route to Venice Hyundai for routine oil change at 65 mph, vehicle rapidly slowed to 40mph, driver pressing on gas pedal but vehicle would not accelerate( while being tailgated by semi that was flashing warning headlights at me). There was burning smell while this was happening. Pulled onto shoulder and called Hyundai service for assistance tow truck brought me in. Vehicle inspected by Hyundai Venice technicians ran through computer tests all ok, tech dr
The transmission in my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has failed multiple times. The first failure occurred within the first two years of owning the vehicle. The car began jerking, hesitating, and struggling to accelerate, and the check engine light came on. The dealership confirmed a transmission issue and replaced the transmission under warranty. After that replacement, the same symptoms returned, and the transmission had to be replaced a second time, again under warranty. The most recent transmission
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the controls on the steering wheel became inoperable. In addition, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with clock spring failure. The contact was informed that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the Department of Motor Vehicles declined the reg
Mileage: 60,000
The horn on my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has completely stopped working. This is a severe safety hazard. I recently attempted to warn another driver who was drifting into my lane but was unable to, forcing me to swerve and nearly resulting in a head-on collision. The horn failed without any warning. After researching online, I have found that this appears to be a known issue with the Santa Fe model and Hyundai vehicles in general. I am requesting a diagnostic and repair as this is a safety feature
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, a bystander noticed that the glass partition had shattered without impact. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the part replacement was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,677.
Mileage: 46,677
For a few month now the light of ABS have been turning on. At the beginning there was no diagnosis specific, cause kept turning off. Two or three months ago again turn on and gave code of back caliper on the left and was changed. An now yesterday August 5, 2025 the diagnosis its need of change of the SBS module whole.