Model research hub

Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a crossover SUV made in five generations since 2000, and the 2017 model is the year to check hardest: federal data shows 6 recalls and 959 complaints, and guides tie it to Theta II engine problems. The 2021 and 2024 have the most recalls (7 each), and the 2026 redesign adds a boxy body and a hybrid rated up to 36 mpg.

What the Hyundai Santa Fe is and who buys it

Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Santa Fe as a series of crossover SUVs produced across five generations by Hyundai since 2000, introduced for the 2001 model year and named after the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is a mainstream family SUV, and the 2026 redesign leans further into that: Roadlancer (opens in a new tab) calls it boxy and unapologetically bold, available as a hybrid, and priced from around $35,000 for a three-row family SUV. Kelley Blue Book base prices for the 2026 Santa Fe start at $36,650 for the SE and reach $48,000 for the top Limited.

Best and worst Santa Fe model years

Federal counts make 2017 the outlier. It has 6 recalls covering tires, door latches, engine cooling and the electrical system, and 959 complaints, the most of any year, with the 2015 (254) and 2016 (235) next. The 2021 and 2024 each have 7 recalls, the 2022 and 2025 have 5, the 2023 has one recall and 205 complaints, and the 2018 has the fewest complaints at 108.

Guides agree on 2017. CarComplaintData (opens in a new tab) calls it the clear worst year to avoid, suffering from the same Theta II engine problems that plagued other Hyundai-Kia products, and says any Santa Fe with the Theta II 2.4L engine warrants extra scrutiny. GearTechGuy (opens in a new tab) lists 2017, 2012 and 2007 as the years most buyers regret, and CarWhere (opens in a new tab) names 2008, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2022, 2023 and 2024 as its years to avoid, led by engine issues. Open the 2017 Santa Fe page for that year's recalls.

The 2026 redesign and rivals

The 2026 Santa Fe is rated 21 to 36 mpg combined by the EPA, with a 1.6L hybrid and a 2.5L gasoline engine. Roadlancer says the hybrid earns up to 36 city, 35 highway and 36 combined mpg with front-wheel drive, that it costs only around $1,000 more than the base model, and that not many three-row vehicles are offered as hybrids. GreenCars (opens in a new tab) says the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a bit more efficient, but has less third-row legroom and starts at nearly $50,000 MSRP, and Carmind (opens in a new tab) says the Kia Sorento adds a third-row option and a longer warranty while the Santa Fe brings a bolder look and slightly better hybrid economy.

Questions buyers ask

Which Hyundai Santa Fe year is the worst?

CarComplaintData (opens in a new tab) says the 2017 is the clear worst year to avoid because of Theta II engine problems. Federal data shows it with 959 complaints and 6 recalls.

Does the Hyundai Santa Fe come as a hybrid?

Yes. The 2026 Santa Fe offers a 1.6L hybrid, which Roadlancer says earns up to 36 combined mpg with front-wheel drive.

Research map

Every major decision path.

Current model year

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

Every gas 2025 Santa Fe uses the same 277-horsepower 2.5L turbo engine; XRT is the only trim with standard AWD, boosting towing to 4,500 lb. Calligraphy's captain's chairs cap seating at six versus seven elsewhere.

Read specifications, trims, answers and sources

Model-year archive

7 indexed Hyundai Santa Fe model years.

2027202620252024202220202016
Number of trims per model year for the Hyundai Santa Fe (most: 1).
Model yearTrimsOpen record
2027 Hyundai Santa Fe2027 record →
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe2026 record →
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe12025 record →
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe2024 record →
2022 Hyundai Santa Fe2022 record →
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe2020 record →
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe2016 record →

Background and safety record

What public sources say about the Hyundai Santa Fe.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a series of crossover SUVs produced across five generations by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai since 2000. It is named after the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and was introduced for the 2001 model year as Hyundai's first SUV. The Santa Fe was a milestone in the company's restructuring program of the late 1990s because the SUV was a hit with American buyers.

Marketing
Advertising Standards Bureau of Australia banned a Santa Fe TV commercial titled 'Restless' or 'Toddler' in 2007, which ASB argued that it promotes an illegal driving activity: an underaged person (a toddler) driving a car. He also picked up a hitchhiking toddler girl and both were wearing seatbelts instead of approved child restraints which also breached safety recommendations.
Powertrain
The long-wheelbase variant was released in South Korea as the Maxcruz on March 7, 2013. The longer Santa Fe receives a unique grille design, optional 19-inch alloy wheels, flush dual exhaust tips, and a body shape that accentuates the crossover's added passenger and cargo room hind-wise from the B-pillar.

Source: Hyundai Santa Fe (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.

Hyundai Santa Fe at a glance

Production
June 2000 – present
Model years
2001–present
Class
Compact SUV (2000–2006), Mid-size SUV (2005–present)
Body style
5-door crossover SUV
Layout
Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, Front-engine, all-wheel-drive
Chassis
Unibody
Also called
Hyundai Maxcruz (LWB, South Korea; 2013–2019)

NHTSA rated the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe overall 4 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.

Recent recalls (6 campaigns across the latest model years)

  • April 2026, 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. Consequence: A detached seat belt anchor will not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
  • January 2026, Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument… Consequence: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
  • November 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… Consequence: Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Owners filed 133 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, most often about electrical system (28), unknown or other (27), power train (21).

Year by year

The Hyundai Santa Fe across 13 model years.

Model yearCombined MPG/MPGeEPA annual fuel costEPA recordsNHTSA recallsNHTSA complaintsNHTSA overall rating
2027 Hyundai Santa Fe21–36$1,800–$3,1005
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe21–36$1,750–$2,950545 stars
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe22–36$1,750–$2,850551284 stars
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe22–36$1,750–$2,850571414 stars
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe24–34$1,850–$2,600712055 stars
2022 Hyundai Santa Fe24–34$1,850–$2,600751975 stars
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe24–34$1,850–$2,600671655 stars
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe22–25$2,500–$2,850422065 stars
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe19–25$2,500–$3,300821955 stars
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe19–24$2,600–$3,3001021085 stars
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe19–24$2,600–$3,300106959
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe19–23$2,700–$3,30093235
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe19–23$2,700–$3,30092254

Year-to-year changes

What changed in the Hyundai Santa Fe, one model year at a time.

EPA certification record, change from the previous model year
StepEPA recordsCombined MPG/MPGe, midpointElectric range, milesAddedNo longer listed
2025 to 202629.0 to 28.5Transmissions: Automatic (S8)Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S8)
2023 to 20247 to 5Labels: Santa Fe AWD XRT, Santa Fe Hybrid AWD, Santa Fe Hybrid FWDLabels: Santa Fe Hybrid, Santa Fe Hybrid Blue, Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl; Transmissions: Automatic (S8); Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity
2022 to 2023Engines: 1.6L 4-cylEngines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV
2021 to 20226 to 7first listed: 31Labels: Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity
2020 to 20214 to 623.5 to 29.0Labels: Santa Fe Hybrid, Santa Fe Hybrid Blue; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid, 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (AM-S8)Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI, 2L 4-cyl SIDI
2019 to 20208 to 422.0 to 23.5Labels: Santa Fe XL AWD, Santa Fe XL FWD, Santa Fe XL Ultimate AWD, Santa Fe XL Ultimate FWD; Engines: 3.3L 6-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (S6)
2018 to 201910 to 821.5 to 22.0Labels: Santa Fe XL AWD, Santa Fe XL FWD, Santa Fe XL Ultimate AWD, Santa Fe XL Ultimate FWD; Transmissions: Automatic (S8)Labels: Santa Fe Sport AWD, Santa Fe Sport FWD, Santa Fe Sport Ultimate AWD, Santa Fe Sport Ultimate FWD, and 2 more
2016 to 20179 to 1021.0 to 21.5Labels: Santa Fe Sport Ultimate AWD

Buying used

What the Hyundai Santa Fe recalls and complaints are about.

NHTSA recall campaigns by model year
Model yearCampaignsSystems recalledWarnings
20264engine and engine cooling (critical fasteners); air bags (side/window); electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); 1 moreNone
20255engine and engine cooling (critical fasteners); electrical system (starter assembly); back over prevention (display function); 2 moreNone
20247back over prevention (software); power train (automatic transmission); air bags; 4 more1 fixable over the air
20231trailer hitches1 stop-driving or park-outside
20225fuel system, gasoline (delivery); engine and engine cooling; power train (automatic transmission); 2 more1 stop-driving or park-outside
20217air bags (air bag/restraint control module); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); visibility (windshield); 3 more1 stop-driving or park-outside
20202visibility (windshield); trailer hitches1 stop-driving or park-outside
20192air bags (side/window); trailer hitches1 stop-driving or park-outside
20182steering (steering wheel/handle bar); service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip)1 stop-driving or park-outside
20176seat belts (front); electrical system (wiring); tires (pressure monitoring and regulating systems); 3 more1 stop-driving or park-outside
20163seat belts (front); latches/locks/linkages (hood); service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip)1 stop-driving or park-outside
20152latches/locks/linkages (hood); service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip)1 stop-driving or park-outside

Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside

  • 2015, campaign 23V-651 (Sep 2023): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
  • 2016, campaign 22V-056 (Feb 2022): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
  • 2017, campaign 22V-056 (Feb 2022): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
  • 2018, campaign 22V-056 (Feb 2022): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
  • 2019, campaign 23V-181 (Mar 2023): trailer hitches. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
  • 2020, campaign 23V-181 (Mar 2023): trailer hitches. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

3 more campaigns carry the same warning; each is on its model year's page.

What owners complain about most, all model years together
SystemComplaintsShare of all complaintsWorst model year
engine1,30446%2017 (643)
power train48717%2017 (161)
unknown or other43916%2017 (92)
electrical system31011%2017 (67)
service brakes1826%2017 (59)
fuel/propulsion system1435%2017 (59)
NHTSA crash-test stars by model year
Model yearOverallFrontalSideRollover
20265554
20254454
20244454
20235554
20225554
20215554
20205454
20195454
20185454

Trim by trim

Every 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe trim side by side.

2027 Hyundai Santa Fe trims: Kelley Blue Book specifications and base price
TrimDriveEngineHorsepowerTorque (lb-ft)Curb weight (lb)Max towing (lb)Combined mpgBase price
SEAWD2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)2773114,4863,50023$36,950
SELAWD2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)2773114,4863,50023$39,490
XRTAWD2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)2773114,4864,50021$43,940
LimitedAWD2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)2773114,4863,50023$46,500
CalligraphyAWD2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)2773114,4863,50023$49,500

Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.

Specifications by year

Power, weight and towing for every Hyundai Santa Fe model year.

Kelley Blue Book trim data by model year
Model yearTrimsEnginesHorsepowerCurb weight (lb)Max towing (lb)Fuel tank (gal)
202752.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)2774,4863,500–4,50017.7
202652.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)2774,4863,500–4,50017.7
202552.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)2774,4863,500–4,50017.7
202452.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)2774,343–4,4863,500–4,50017.7
202352.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)191–281–2,000–3,50017.7
202252.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI, Turbo)191–2773,649–3,9072,000–3,50018.8
202142.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI, Turbo)191–2773,649–4,0762,000–3,50018.8
202052.4-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)185–235–2,000–3,50018.8
201972.4-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI)185–235–2,000–3,50018.8
201833.3-liter V6 (GDI)2904,026–4,1985,00018.8
201743.3-liter V6 (GDI)2903,997–4,1985,00018.8
201623.3-liter V6 (GDI)2903,904–3,9335,00018.8
201523.3-liter V6 (GDI)2903,904–3,9335,00018.8

Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.

Owning it

Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Hyundai Santa Fe.

Maintenance figures from the owner's manual of each model year
Model yearEngine oilBrake fluidWheel-nut torqueA/C refrigerantKey-fob battery
20260W-30DOT 4–R-1234yf–
20250W-30DOT 4–R-1234yf–
20240W-30DOT 4–R-1234yf–
2023–DOT 4–––
2022–DOT 4–––
2020–––R-1234yf–
2019–––R-1234yf–
2016–––R-134a–

Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.

Model-year recall record

Hyundai Santa Fe: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.

Fewer recalls than this model’s own average

More recalls than this model’s own average

Model yearFederal recalls on fileComplaints on fileRecalls most commonly affected
20264not availableengine cooling, airbags, electrical system, seat belts
20255128engine cooling, electrical system, backup camera, airbags
20247141backup camera, electrical system, powertrain, airbags
20231205trailer hitch
20225197fuel system, engine cooling, powertrain, trailer hitch
20217165fuel system, visibility/wipers, airbags, powertrain
20202206visibility/wipers, trailer hitch
20192195airbags, trailer hitch
20182108steering, brakes
20176959tires, door latches, engine cooling, electrical system
20163235door latches, seat belts, brakes
20152254door latches, brakes

Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.

Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Hyundai Santa Fe model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.

Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.

Q01Is there a best year to buy a Hyundai Santa Fe?

Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2023 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2024, 2021 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.

Q02Which Hyundai Santa Fe model years should I watch for recalls?

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe has 7 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera, electrical system, powertrain; The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has 7 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting fuel system, visibility/wipers, airbags. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.

Q03Which Hyundai Santa Fe model years have the cleanest federal recall record?

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe has 1 recall on file: below this model's own average of 3.8. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.

Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Hyundai Santa Fe by model year?

2026: engine cooling, airbags, electrical system, seat belts. 2025: engine cooling, electrical system, backup camera, airbags. 2024: backup camera, electrical system, powertrain, airbags. 2023: trailer hitch. 2022: fuel system, engine cooling, powertrain, trailer hitch. 2021: fuel system, visibility/wipers, airbags, powertrain.

Q05Why do some Hyundai Santa Fe model years show "not available" for complaints?

The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Hyundai Santa Fe model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.

Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Brakes, tires and steering, Engine and cooling, Climate and electrical, Transmission and drivetrain.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Transmission and drivetrain and Buying, records and recalls.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe owners specifically: see Engine and cooling and Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls and Transmission and drivetrain.

Trim ladder

1 Hyundai Santa Fe trim, each with its own page.

Compared with

Models this Hyundai Santa Fe is most often compared with.

Nearest Hyundai models

Other Hyundai models.

Frequent questions

Answers with their conditions intact.

Browse the complete answer library
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Santa Fe come in?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe (three-row SUV) comes in 5 trims: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy.

Source: Hyundai
Q02What are the 2025 Santa Fe trims?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe trims are SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy, listed from the entry SE up to the top Calligraphy.

Source: Hyundai
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Santa Fe use?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is built around 2.5L turbo four-cylinder, rated at 277 horsepower across its three-row SUV body style.

Source: Hyundai specifications
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Santa Fe have?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is rated at 277 horsepower (2.5L turbo four-cylinder).

Source: Hyundai specifications
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Santa Fe?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is offered with FWD / AWD.

Source: Hyundai specifications