Your vehicle report

2021 Hyundai Santa FE

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
168
Received Mar 2021 to Oct 2026
Official recalls listed
7
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
1
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Horn fails with airbag warning light16 complaints · 9.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Glass shatters or cracks without impact15 complaints · 8.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Automatic emergency braking applies without reason11 complaints · 6.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #23V181000Park outsideHyundai 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.
  • Recall #24V879000Hyundai 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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 4 crashes, 2 fires, 2 people injured, 0 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 14 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

4 more problems

Brakes

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE
9
Show as a table
MonthComplaints
March 20211
April 20210
May 20214
June 20212
July 20214
August 20212
September 20214
October 20211
November 20211
December 20210
January 20220
February 20222
March 20225
April 20220
May 20223
June 20225
July 20225
August 20226
September 20223
October 20222
November 20223
December 20229
January 20237
February 20233
March 20233
April 20234
May 20233
June 20234
July 20231
August 20234
September 20233
October 20231
November 20230
December 20232
January 20240
February 20242
March 20244
April 20241
May 20242
June 20242
July 20242
August 20240
September 20241
October 20240
November 20240
December 20243
January 20251
February 20252
March 20252
April 20251
May 20256
June 20251
July 20251
August 20252
September 20251
October 20254
November 20250
December 20250
January 20269
February 20263
March 20265
April 20263
May 20263
June 20262
July 20263
August 20262
September 20261
October 20262
Total168

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Horn fails with airbag warning light169.5%69×BrakeNews flag · First signal: May 2024
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.2%
Glass shatters or cracks without impact158.9%1.9×
Automatic emergency braking applies without reason116.6%–
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips105.9%2.3×
Transmission fails or loses power while driving105.9%2.4×NHTSA recall #22V746000
Rearview backup camera fails or goes black95.4%3.5×NHTSA recall #24V879000
Engine stalls and loses power while driving74.2%–
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving63.6%–
Rear door latch fails to open or close42.4%–
Unintended acceleration despite braking42.4%–
Transmission will not engage reverse gear42.4%–
Vehicle suddenly loses engine power at speed42.4%–NHTSA recall #22V746000
Seat belt fails to latch or retract31.8%–
Battery drains and dies when parked31.8%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #23V181000March 17, 2023584,784 vehicles affected

    Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.

    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.

    A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.

  • NHTSA recall #24V879000November 21, 2024226,118 vehicles affected

    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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 271.

  • NHTSA recall #22V746000October 6, 202256,148 vehicles affected

    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 loss of drive power.

    Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.

  • NHTSA recall #21V00M000December 28, 202126,413 vehicles affected

    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.

    A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.

  • NHTSA recall #21V524000July 9, 202115,752 vehicles affected

    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.

    A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.

  • NHTSA recall #21V308000May 3, 20212 vehicles affected

    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.

    An insufficiently tightened fuel pipe may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy

    Dealers inspected and tightened the fuel pipe connection, free of charge. The affected vehicles have been repaired and therefore no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 206.

  • NHTSA recall #21V185000March 17, 202110 vehicles affected

    air bags: air bag/restraint control module; air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger

    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."

    In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

    Remedy

    Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ODS module, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied as of May 12, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 202.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN