2019 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 200 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 17th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2019 reports, 16 involved a crash and 12 involved a fire. 10 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Trailer hitchesPark outsideMar 17, 2023
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.
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.
Campaign 23V181000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowOct 11, 2018
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. The Side Curtain Air Bag (SCAB) mounting bolts may interfere with and damage the air bags during deployment.
In the event of a crash, if the air bags become damaged during deployment they may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the SCAB installation bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 177.
Campaign 18V715000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: structure
14 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Apr 5, 2026
The door was completely shut - I was driving on the highway - no alarm on the instrument panel, fully stage 2 latched ( even if it is just stage 1 latched - the instrument panel gives an alarm - there was no alarms about door not fully closed) everything was normal. 15 minutes into the drive - I was exiting the highway, making a right hand turn - the door suddenly popped open, alarm went off on the instrument panel - thankfully did not swing open, I was able to hold onto the door. I shut the door again - drove for 200 Miles - no issue again. This was the first ever time I saw this issue at 90K miles
Structure, Other or unspecified, Mar 2, 2026
The trunk hatch is no longer functioning. The car beeps, but does not unlatch. Once the gate is manually open from a latch inside the trunk, it will not close by pushing the gate close button. It just stopped working. I went into the grocery store, and when I returned with groceries, it stopped working. Hyundai says it's out of warranty and will cost $1800 to repair.
Structure, Feb 26, 2026
Paint is significantly peeling on the hood of my car.
Structure, Sep 5, 2025
Paint peeling and chipping will cause rust.
Structure, Jul 24, 2025
Paint coming off of hood, no contact of any kind. Took to dealer and was told past its warranty sorry. Cost me over $1K to fix the problem.
Structure, May 7, 2025
White paint peeling off 2019 Santa Fe since 2023 ... Hyundai says they are aware of the defective paint issue but denied any recorse or responsibility. Paint comes off while driving and reduces visibility.
Structure, May 3, 2025
I am the owner of a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe in Pearl White (paint code SWP). The paint on my vehicle has begun peeling extensively on the hood, and other exterior panels. This appears to be the same paint defect that Hyundai previously acknowledged for the 2017–2018 Santa Fe Sport under a Customer Satisfaction Program (TXXW), but the 2019 model is not covered. The paint is bubbling and lifting without any impact or damage, suggesting a manufacturing defect. This significantly affects the vehicle’s appearance and may compromise corrosion protection. Numerous other owners of 2019 Hyundai models have reported similar problems. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue as a potential widespread defect and urge Hyundai to include affected model years in any extended warranty or recall efforts.
Structure, Feb 27, 2025
White body paint chipping.
Structure, Nov 8, 2024
The paint is failing, it is coming off in sheets, there is no damage to the car where the paint is coming off.
Structure, Dec 20, 2023
2019 Hyundai the white paint is peeling. It was not caused by road damage. I asked the dealership and was told I was past the warranty due to my mileage.
Structure, Visibility, Feb 15, 2023
I was at a traffic light (stopped) and all of a sudden my sunroof exploded with no rhyme or reason behind it and glass shattered everywhere on top of me. Nothing was thrown at it and no other vehicles were around me to have any debris thrown up onto it. I got out and inspected the sunroof and found that there was no object imbedded on, in, or near the sunroof that would lead me to believe anything hit it. I contacted the Hyundai dealership about this and they will not cover it under warranty. I believe this is a quality control issue with faulty engineering of the sunroof and upon looking at other Hyundai forums, I found that others have reported the same thing occurring to their vehicles of the same make and model and the pictures of their damage look identical to my damage.
Structure, Sep 28, 2022
Liftgate is unable to be opened from outside, on button press it just beeps three times
Structure, Aug 23, 2022
While driving at 70 mph the rear panel of the panoramic sunroof in my 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe exploded. We were not near other traffic or other sources of debris that could have impacted the glass. There was a very loud 'boom' sound, like a gunshot, and then the crackling sound of broken glass. Thankfully the sunshade was drawn and glass shards did not fall into the passenger compartment. Within a short amount of time large pieces of glass began to fall out creating a very heavy load on the fabric sunshade. We were able to collect enough of the large pieces by hand and remove them before the shade tore or otherwise failed creating an even larger hazard. Our 1 year old child was in his car seat directly below the failure -- had the shade been open, or had large pieces of glass fell before we could pull over and remove them he could have been seriously injured. Online research points that this is not an isolated incident and there is a pattern of this happening on recent model Hyundai/Kia products with panoramic sunroofs -- there is a class action lawsuit in Canada targeting Hyundai's lack of ownership of the problem. Hyundai dealerships and corporate were contacted to inspect and repair under warranty but were unwilling to do so in a reasonable timeframe (2+ month wait time). Vehicle was ultimately repaired by a body shop through our insurance company. There were no indications that this was a problem prior to the event.
Structure, Sep 3, 2019
WHILE DRIVING, THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED, LEAVING SHATTERED GLASS WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FOREIGN OBJECTS WHICH MAY HAVE STRUCK THE CAR CAUSING THE ROOF TO CRACK AS IT DID.