HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID · model year

2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID

82 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2025HYUNDAISANTA FE HYBRID carries 82 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2025 SANTA FE HYBRID is vehicle speed control with 13 filings, followed by electrical system (12) and unknown or other (9). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2025 SANTA FE HYBRID, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

82
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID. Overall composite: 4.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 4.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 4.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

82 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 4/5 — Strong NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL8
ENGINE7
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS7
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING5
POWER TRAIN3
VISIBILITY/WIPER2
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST2
SERVICE BRAKES1
WHEELS1
TIRES1
STEERING1

Recalls (2)

25V80800021/11/2025

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 requ

25V80900021/11/2025

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.

Recent Complaints

20260206POWER TRAIN

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has had multiple occasions, most recently on February 3, 2026 with 12,330 miles on the car, where the gas-powered engine fails to provide any power to the drivetrain. The car experiences vast power loss and enters "limp mode" where only the small hybrid battery is powering the vehicle. Max speed ranges from 10 - 25mph and there is little, if any, acceleration, even when the gas pedal is pegged to the floor. It is necessary to pull over, engage the flashing safety lights and try to find a safe place to park. After turning the vehicle off and on several times, eventually, the gas engines re-engages. The first incident of this type for this vehicle was on August 7, 2025 with approximately 4,400 miles on the vehicle. It was taken to the dealer, Key Hyundai of Salem, who could not find any DTCs and could not replicate the problem. They said "bring it back if it happens again." They next time was on February 3, 2026 where it happened several times on

20260206FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has had multiple occasions, most recently on February 3, 2026 with 12,330 miles on the car, where the gas-powered engine fails to provide any power to the drivetrain. The car experiences vast power loss and enters "limp mode" where only the small hybrid battery is powering the vehicle. Max speed ranges from 10 - 25mph and there is little, if any, acceleration, even when the gas pedal is pegged to the floor. It is necessary to pull over, engage the flashing safety lights and try to find a safe place to park. After turning the vehicle off and on several times, eventually, the gas engines re-engages. The first incident of this type for this vehicle was on August 7, 2025 with approximately 4,400 miles on the vehicle. It was taken to the dealer, Key Hyundai of Salem, who could not find any DTCs and could not replicate the problem. They said "bring it back if it happens again." They next time was on February 3, 2026 where it happened several times on

20260206VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has had multiple occasions, most recently on February 3, 2026 with 12,330 miles on the car, where the gas-powered engine fails to provide any power to the drivetrain. The car experiences vast power loss and enters "limp mode" where only the small hybrid battery is powering the vehicle. Max speed ranges from 10 - 25mph and there is little, if any, acceleration, even when the gas pedal is pegged to the floor. It is necessary to pull over, engage the flashing safety lights and try to find a safe place to park. After turning the vehicle off and on several times, eventually, the gas engines re-engages. The first incident of this type for this vehicle was on August 7, 2025 with approximately 4,400 miles on the vehicle. It was taken to the dealer, Key Hyundai of Salem, who could not find any DTCs and could not replicate the problem. They said "bring it back if it happens again." They next time was on February 3, 2026 where it happened several times on

20260202UNKNOWN OR OTHER

While driving, the vehicle will suddenly fail to accelerate beyond approximately 45 mph, even with the accelerator fully depressed. During these events, the engines RPMs increase significantly without a corresponding increase in vehicle speed. When this occurs, the hybrid battery fails to hold or maintain a charge, and the vehicle appears to enter a reduced-power or limp mode condition. This condition makes the vehicle unsafe to operate, particularly in traffic, on highways, or when merging or passing is required. This issue has occurred multiple times and is ongoing. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership 5 separate times (currently in there now for the 5th time) for the same issue. Despite repeated repair attempts, the dealership has been unable to identify or permanently correct the problem, and the condition continues to occur. The safety impacts are as follows: -Vehicle cannot maintain normal traffic speeds -Sudden loss of acceleration -High RPMs without propulsion -Inabili

20260131FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

While driving at highway speeds (59–75 mph), the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion power and entered a reduced-speed “limp mode,” rapidly decelerating and creating a dangerous traffic situation. The dashboard displayed a “Hybrid Power Control Unit” warning along with audible alarms. During the second incident, the vehicle failed to shut off when the engine stop button was pressed. Multiple adult witnesses were in the vehicle on each dangerous traffic situation.

20260131ENGINE

While driving at highway speeds (59–75 mph), the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion power and entered a reduced-speed “limp mode,” rapidly decelerating and creating a dangerous traffic situation. The dashboard displayed a “Hybrid Power Control Unit” warning along with audible alarms. During the second incident, the vehicle failed to shut off when the engine stop button was pressed. Multiple adult witnesses were in the vehicle on each dangerous traffic situation.

20260131ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving at highway speeds (59–75 mph), the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion power and entered a reduced-speed “limp mode,” rapidly decelerating and creating a dangerous traffic situation. The dashboard displayed a “Hybrid Power Control Unit” warning along with audible alarms. During the second incident, the vehicle failed to shut off when the engine stop button was pressed. Multiple adult witnesses were in the vehicle on each dangerous traffic situation.

20260106UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Sitting at stoplight and attempted to go. Car wouldn’t go above 10mph even with pedal all the way down. Drove for a bit trying to figure out what was wrong. Then flashing red lights and beeping telling me to pull over safely. Pulled over and turned the car off. Restarted and car said charge battery. Apparently this is called “limp mode” and happens when there is something seriously wrong with the car in order to prevent further damage. Very dangerous to not be able to go about 10mph on the highway. Took to dealership. Vehicle isn’t throwing any codes and blue link shows nothing of the incident. Dealership supposedly checked battery and connections. Nothing done

20260106VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Sitting at stoplight and attempted to go. Car wouldn’t go above 10mph even with pedal all the way down. Drove for a bit trying to figure out what was wrong. Then flashing red lights and beeping telling me to pull over safely. Pulled over and turned the car off. Restarted and car said charge battery. Apparently this is called “limp mode” and happens when there is something seriously wrong with the car in order to prevent further damage. Very dangerous to not be able to go about 10mph on the highway. Took to dealership. Vehicle isn’t throwing any codes and blue link shows nothing of the incident. Dealership supposedly checked battery and connections. Nothing done

20260105ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Supplemental Update – Ongoing Safety Concerns and Extended Loss of Use Since submitting my initial complaint, my leased Hyundai vehicle (VIN [XXX] ) has now been presented for service for the third time for the same unresolved safety-related issues. The vehicle has been held by the dealership for eight (8) consecutive days during this service visit with no resolution and no clear timeline for return. Safety concerns remain unresolved, including: Persistent toxic/chemical odor inside the cabin Random rear hatch opening while vehicle is parked and locked Repeated false “windows open” alerts Electrical/body control system irregularities To date, I have not been provided with documentation confirming that cabin air quality testing, exhaust intrusion testing, or comprehensive electrical diagnostics have been performed. These unresolved conditions present ongoing safety risks and loss of use. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552

20260105FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Supplemental Update – Ongoing Safety Concerns and Extended Loss of Use Since submitting my initial complaint, my leased Hyundai vehicle (VIN [XXX] ) has now been presented for service for the third time for the same unresolved safety-related issues. The vehicle has been held by the dealership for eight (8) consecutive days during this service visit with no resolution and no clear timeline for return. Safety concerns remain unresolved, including: Persistent toxic/chemical odor inside the cabin Random rear hatch opening while vehicle is parked and locked Repeated false “windows open” alerts Electrical/body control system irregularities To date, I have not been provided with documentation confirming that cabin air quality testing, exhaust intrusion testing, or comprehensive electrical diagnostics have been performed. These unresolved conditions present ongoing safety risks and loss of use. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552

20260105UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Supplemental Update – Ongoing Safety Concerns and Extended Loss of Use Since submitting my initial complaint, my leased Hyundai vehicle (VIN [XXX] ) has now been presented for service for the third time for the same unresolved safety-related issues. The vehicle has been held by the dealership for eight (8) consecutive days during this service visit with no resolution and no clear timeline for return. Safety concerns remain unresolved, including: Persistent toxic/chemical odor inside the cabin Random rear hatch opening while vehicle is parked and locked Repeated false “windows open” alerts Electrical/body control system irregularities To date, I have not been provided with documentation confirming that cabin air quality testing, exhaust intrusion testing, or comprehensive electrical diagnostics have been performed. These unresolved conditions present ongoing safety risks and loss of use. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552

20251226ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Started car, reading paperwork and suddenly my car went into Neutral bycitself and rolled backwards in a parking lot. Thank goodness no one was walking behind my car. This is the 2nd time it has happened. Additionally, twice previously, my car screen blacked off. 1 other time while sitting at a traffic light, the car shut off. I have been patient but now I'm afraid ti drive this car with only 2,650 miles on it.

20251226POWER TRAIN

Started car, reading paperwork and suddenly my car went into Neutral bycitself and rolled backwards in a parking lot. Thank goodness no one was walking behind my car. This is the 2nd time it has happened. Additionally, twice previously, my car screen blacked off. 1 other time while sitting at a traffic light, the car shut off. I have been patient but now I'm afraid ti drive this car with only 2,650 miles on it.

20251225CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I was stopped at a red light. When the light turned green, I proceeded to apply the gas and accelerate. I quickly noticed that the vehicle began accelerating at a faster rate than I was intending. The vehicle continued to accelerate without me applying my foot to the gas pedal. Nothing would stop the continued acceleration (application of brake). I crashed into the rear of a vehicle in my lane going approximately 50-60mph (estimate). I am unsure what the issue was that resulted in this crash. In doing some internet searching, it seems it could have something to do with the transition from electric to gas when I was stopped temporarily at the intersection. It could have been a faulty sensor (throttle position) or software glitch. These components have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The crash resulted in the airbags being deployed, I was taken to th

20251225CrashENGINE

I was stopped at a red light. When the light turned green, I proceeded to apply the gas and accelerate. I quickly noticed that the vehicle began accelerating at a faster rate than I was intending. The vehicle continued to accelerate without me applying my foot to the gas pedal. Nothing would stop the continued acceleration (application of brake). I crashed into the rear of a vehicle in my lane going approximately 50-60mph (estimate). I am unsure what the issue was that resulted in this crash. In doing some internet searching, it seems it could have something to do with the transition from electric to gas when I was stopped temporarily at the intersection. It could have been a faulty sensor (throttle position) or software glitch. These components have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The crash resulted in the airbags being deployed, I was taken to th

20251225CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

I was stopped at a red light. When the light turned green, I proceeded to apply the gas and accelerate. I quickly noticed that the vehicle began accelerating at a faster rate than I was intending. The vehicle continued to accelerate without me applying my foot to the gas pedal. Nothing would stop the continued acceleration (application of brake). I crashed into the rear of a vehicle in my lane going approximately 50-60mph (estimate). I am unsure what the issue was that resulted in this crash. In doing some internet searching, it seems it could have something to do with the transition from electric to gas when I was stopped temporarily at the intersection. It could have been a faulty sensor (throttle position) or software glitch. These components have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The crash resulted in the airbags being deployed, I was taken to th

20251207ENGINE

Description of the Problem: I own a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited with approximately 3 months of use. While driving on highway, the vehicle suddenly stalled displaying “Hybrid System Failure-Stop by side”. I had to stop on shoulder and restart, drove it couple of days and it happened again. Engine would not start, leaving the vehicle stuck in EV mode only with no ability to accelerate properly, Vehicle wouldnt go beyond 35mph. The vehicle then stalled and became unsafe to operate on a public road. After restarting, the vehicle displayed a Check Engine Light. Tookk it to the dealer and the dealer reported DTC P1122000, but did not provide clear evidence of an internal system fault. The dealer claimed the event was caused by “20% ethanol in the fuel,” which is inconsistent with U.S. pump labeling laws. When I checked my credit card entries around the time for refuel, all of them are reputed gas stations with nothing lower than "87" gas which is in alignment with car manufa

20251207VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Description of the Problem: I own a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited with approximately 3 months of use. While driving on highway, the vehicle suddenly stalled displaying “Hybrid System Failure-Stop by side”. I had to stop on shoulder and restart, drove it couple of days and it happened again. Engine would not start, leaving the vehicle stuck in EV mode only with no ability to accelerate properly, Vehicle wouldnt go beyond 35mph. The vehicle then stalled and became unsafe to operate on a public road. After restarting, the vehicle displayed a Check Engine Light. Tookk it to the dealer and the dealer reported DTC P1122000, but did not provide clear evidence of an internal system fault. The dealer claimed the event was caused by “20% ethanol in the fuel,” which is inconsistent with U.S. pump labeling laws. When I checked my credit card entries around the time for refuel, all of them are reputed gas stations with nothing lower than "87" gas which is in alignment with car manufa

20251118UNKNOWN OR OTHER

On August 8, I was traveling to work on the interstate. The car started losing speed even though my foot was on the accelerator. I was unable to get the car above 30 mph despite having my foot on the accelerator. I exited the interstate to try and find a safe place to pull over. I parked the car, turned it off, restarted it and attempted to drive it. The problem continued. There were no icons or alerts showing up on the dashboard of the car to alert me that there was an issue. The vehicle has been at the dealership for repair for over 100 days. They will not communicate with me about the issue or provide updates.

Compare 2025HYUNDAISANTA FE HYBRID to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID have?
The 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID has 82 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID?
The 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID?
Yes, the 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID?
The most-complained component for the 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID has an NHTSA safety rating of 4/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.