10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,353 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments

problem #15

Dec 282022

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On December 28, 2022, we were driving 70 miles per hour on Route 75 in the third lane of a four-lane highway from Michigan to Tennessee. In Ohio, the vehicle lost all drive power without warning. As it decelerated, we were able to maneuver the vehicle to the breakdown lane, narrowly avoiding other vehicles around us driving at 70 miles per hour. We do not know what caused this to happen. After several hours on the side of the highway, the vehicle was towed to Jeff Wyler Hyundai in Fairfield, Ohio. They have not been able to diagnose the problem as of today. The contact stated that the cause of the issue was due to an oil plug that was improperly tightened by the dealership during service maintenance. As a result of that, the oil was able to drain out and cause the engine to fail.

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #14

Dec 152022

Santa Fe

  • miles
The manufacturer has not issued a remedy for this recall #22V746000 since the initial filing of the recall on 10/6022.

- Bay Shore, NY, USA

problem #13

Oct 062022

Santa Fe

  • miles
I have been aware of this SAFETY DEFECT/RECALL for over 2 months now yet Hyundai has no remedy planned thus placing owners and others on the road in serious danger. This is unacceptable and I wish to file a formal complaint with the NHTSA. (NHTSA recall number 22V-746)

- Venice, FL, USA

problem #12

Oct 112022

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle will not move forward or reverse, when drive or reverse is selected. The car has been at the dealership since 10/11/2022. I was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. No one in the hyundai organization (including the dealership) can tell me when replacement will be.

- West Seneca, NY, USA

problem #11

Jun 142022

Santa Fe

  • miles
Refill inverter coolant comes up on my dash daily. I have taken the vehicle back to the dealership several times to get that serviced. After having the vehicle all day they tell me everything is running fine and they can-€™t find the problem or figure out why the message is coming up. This has been going on since I bought the vehicle in April. They assure me the vehicle is safe to drive and this won-€™t affect the vehicle in any way. This problem has not been resolved and I-€™m afraid serious damage will happen if this message keeps coming up and they don-€™t get it fixed.

- Calhoun Falls, SC, USA

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problem #10

Jul 262022

Santa Fe

  • miles
While on a high speed highway in New Jersey the transmission suddenly lost power and the car was unable to move. It had to finally be towed to the Hyundai dealer on 7/26/2022 where it remains awaiting a new transmission. Neither dealer or Hyundai Corporate has any information as to when new transmission will arrive and be installed.

- Nyack, NY, USA

problem #9

Jun 282022

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The passenger door has a sharp edge at the bottom exactly like the palasade hyundai recall. Both my daughter and my 82 year old mother have gashed their ankle on the door. In the case of my mother she was lucky we did not need stitches! I have a picture of the injury. I made a case submission to Hyundai.

- Henrico, VA, USA

problem #8

Jun 292022

Santa Fe

  • miles
I keep my vehicle backed into my single car garage. I have had 3 incidents in the last couple of months Beginning of mayish to now, where I start the vehicle, put it in drive and it does not drive. Twice it started to reverse and today it acted as though it were in neutral. I've taken video of the last 2 incidents showing that drive is selected, the dashboard and the Birdseye camera. My dealership is working to resolve but has stated to plan on my vehicle being there for awhile. This seems to be quite dangerous. When I turn the vehicle off and restart it, drive works.

- Hudson, FL, USA

problem #7

Jun 092022

Santa Fe

  • miles
I purchased my car in May 2021. Shortly after purchase, I noticed a "clicking" sound under the car when the car was operating between 15 and 20 MPH. I took the car to the dealer, who couldn't identify what was causing the sound. The dealer subsequently replaced the front axle, but the clicking sound continued, only audible when the car was moving at between 15 and 20 MPH. On June 9, I was driving at about 40 MPH on an interstate that had only a few cars on it. I didn't notice any debris or objects in the road, nor did I feel the car hit any debris or objects. Suddenly, I heard a loud "crunching" sound that I mistook for interference from the radio. I turned the radio off and realized the sound was coming from the rear passenger side of the car. I looked at the dashboard and saw the tire pressure light had illuminated. A few seconds later, the triangular danger sign also illuminated. I got off the highway at the next exit and stopped the car as soon as it was safe. The car made a lot of noise as I drove down the exit ramp, and it was difficult to steer, so I knew that the rear tire was flat. I got out of the car and found, to my surprise, that both tires on the passenger side were flat. The rear tire was cracked and ripped apart. The front tire was intact, but completely flat. The car has not been inspected yet, so I don't know what caused both tires to flatten at the same time. If I'd hit something hard enough to flatten both tires, I'd think I would have seen or felt it. My concern is that a defect in the tires related to the mysterious clicking sound that the mechanics could not diagnose caused the tires to blow out without warning at the same time.

- Riderwood, MD, USA

problem #6

Apr 272022

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • 18,500 miles
Problem #1 - At least 4 quarts of oil spewed from the oil tank and covered most of the engine for an unknown period time. There were no notifications, alerts, or any other indication concerning the oil tank having 1 or less quart of oil. Ultimately, there are at least three (3) questions that need to be addressed 1.In a 2021 Santa Fe, what would cause both the timing and valve covers to leak out at least four (4) quarts of oil out of the oil tank onto the engine. 2.Why was there no notification, alerts, or indication that the oil tank only had less than one (1) quart of oil. 3.What other damage could there have been to the engine beyond the several parts identified as needing to be replaced, that was not identified. A Chronological Order of Events is available.

- Williamsville, NY, USA

problem #5

Mar 092022

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving the car in cruse control the speedometer would jump up and down rapidly making the car accelerate and break. The warning lights come on saying the forward, side back sensors are off. At times stepping on the breaks a plastic bottle crunch sound will occur but the breaks were fine. I scheduled a repair but was still driving the car. Then I approached an intersection and the light was turning green to yellow so I stepped on the breaks only to have the pedal go to the floor without resistance and no breaks at all. I had to drive through a red light endangering myself and others at that intersection. I pulled into a parking lot and the breaks were working again. Car has been towed to the West Herr Hyundai Dealer on Transit Rd Williamsville, NY for repairs.

- Corfu, NY, USA

problem #4

Jul 282021

Santa Fe

  • miles
Vehicle stalled 5 times when finally got it to restart wouldn-€™t accelerate more than two mph. Broke down on a busy road was finally able to get the car into a parking lot but was almost hit from behind cause the vehicle was obstructing traffic. Towed to dealership where was told it would take them a week to look at it and they won-€™t provide any alternative transportation for me that I would have to pay out of pocket. My car is only 2 months and 2400 miles old

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #3

Jun 062021

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine shut off while driving 70mph in the middle of the mountains in PA during a road trip from VA to MI, 2 adults and one child. No Warning No Check Engine lights No alarms, just shut off. I tried to press the ignition start button but it would not function until the engine was in park, gave no warning or alarm when I pressed it, the engine start button wouldn't respond. At Shutoff, going ~70mph, I had: Zero acceleration Zero power No blinkers No Instrument Cluster (LED Cluster screen installed) The only way I could signal to merge onto the shoulder was to turn on the hazard lights and attempt to merge from the fast lane to the shoulder, completely crossing faster traffic with no blinkers to guide my merging and warn other drivers on the highway. Instrument cluster turned white as if it was being reset and music was still playing in the car Bluetooth connected to my phone. Conditions of the vehicle during shutoff: 1. Adaptive Cruise Control was on, set to 3 car lengths of distance. 2. Lane Keep Assist was on 3. Lane Departure Warning was on 4. Bluetooth was connected 5. Navigation was active and guiding Once I was able to merge to the shoulder, I shifted into park and sat there for about a minute while I tried to calm my family down from what had happened so unexpectedly. After a minute or so, I was able to start the vehicle back up and nervously proceeded back on the highway to continue on with the rest of the trip. I immediately contacted Hyundai when I returned to VA and explained the issue, they took the vehicle into the service department of the dealership that I purchased the vehicle from. Hyundai kept my vehicle for 2 days and drove it "120 miles" but were unable to recreate the problem. They stated that all the systems checked out and there was nothing more they could do. I have since created 2 cases with Hyundai Corporate office to rectify this issue to no avail. Without the issue being recreated, there is nothing they will do for my family.

- Burke, VA, USA

problem #2

Apr 292021

Santa Fe

  • 300 miles
Dark spot in low beam headlight field causes loss of view for driver as the dark spot passes from object to object. People or animals, even signs lose illumination as the dark spot covers them. Reflective barrels in construction areas lose their reflectivity at night as this spot covers them. This occurs on the low beam function. Hyundai dealer said it is factory created to prevent night blinding of oncoming vehicles. To me it is a serious problem for the driver of the Hyundai. When driving in a curve the dark spot moves with the shape of the road so the driver loses the ability to see everything in the light field.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #1

Feb 262021

Santa Fe

  • 1,500 miles
While in drive and stationary, my vehicle has continuously cad connections issues with my mobile phone. I have received the same error message stating 'phone not responding. Please reconnect it and try again.' This has happened while driving through areas I'm unfamiliar with and put myself and others at risk while trying to regain connection. I've left my vehicle at the dealership, but was told the problem was my cellphone and was advised to purchase a new phone. When I spoke to the woman at the corporate Hyundai number, she advised me that my phone was very much compatible and should not have any connection problems, we troubleshooted many time, but I still continue to have this issue.

- Houston, TX, USA

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