2021 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 166 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 21st highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 4 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 2 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraNov 21, 2024
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.
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.
Campaign 24V879000 on NHTSA.gov
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
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 6, 2022
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.
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.
Campaign 22V746000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, windshieldDec 28, 2021
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.
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.
Campaign 21V00M000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsJul 9, 2021
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.
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.
Campaign 21V524000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMay 3, 2021
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.
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.
Campaign 21V308000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleMar 17, 2021
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.
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.
Campaign 21V185000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
166 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 16, 2026
Horns assemblies are Failing repeatedly. Since ownership of the vehicle (2023 and a CPO Platinum Wrap), I have had to replace a single horn, or both horns three times with local Hyundai dealerships. mostly the right horn would fail, then the left. I am currently making efforts to have my vehicle’s horns serviced for the fourth time as they are not working. I have been to my dealership on Dec 16, 2025 & Jan 15, 2026, to have the horns repair to no avail. In December, a diagnosis was performed with no action. Yesterday, one part (horn) was not available, and I was quoted a fee of $400 to perform the task. This is extremely concerning as this is not a consumable part or fluid. This is a required vehicle safety item. There are TSB's for other models in the Hyundai line with similar failure of horns ( TSB's: 24-BE-018H & 25-BE-005H). These failures have not been covered under the Santa Fe line or the other remaining Hyundai models of similar years of production and experiencing like failures of horn assemblies as of this date.
Electrical system, Jan 15, 2026
Horn stopped working due to the same issue other Hyundai horns stopped working.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 14, 2026
Was coming off an exit on the interstate and started slowing down. My brakes act like they didn’t want to work. Grinding and the pedal was twitching under my foot. The car stopped thankfully, but then all Linda of lights came on the my dash and will not go off. And 3 warning come up!
Power train, Jan 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle experienced hard shifting while attempting to change gears, and the vehicle hesitated, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired; however, DTC: P1C2D03 was retrieved. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where the same diagnostic trouble code was confirmed. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 99,700.
Engine, Jan 6, 2026
Car misfiring symptoms like rough or shaky idle, hesitation and loss of power during acceleration, stumbling, unusual popping/backfiring noises, poor fuel economy, and a lit Check Engine Light. Felt vibrations / heard sputtering sounds, as if the engine skipped a beat, often becoming more noticeable under load or when accelerating. Sometimes, the issue goes away after restarting the engine.
Forward collision avoidance, Jan 2, 2026
On 1/1/26 while traveling on the highway with no traffic in front of or right of my vehicle the ADAS emergency brakes applied themselves and slowed the vehicle nearly causing my vehicle to be rear ended. Vehicle is available for inspection. Faulty assistance nearly caused a rear end collision along the highway. Not aware of ADAS being tested inspected although multi-point inspection was done 10/2025. No warnings prior to incident.
Power train, Oct 29, 2025
My transmission failed, even after the #236 recall in 2022. My car was recalled for Recall #236 in 2022. My car was updated and "fixed" and now in 2025 is showing the p1c2d03 code and requiring a new transmission. The same recall, without the fix.The car is in great health and never had issues until I was going 60 miles per hour on a busy highway and it reduced to 26 miles per hour during busy traffic. Causing me to almost get rear-ended multiple times and people swerving off the highway to miss me. My car was not going, even with the gas pedal down. I had no warnings, it happened out of nowhere.
Engine, Oct 22, 2025
While traveling Interstate 75in Florida en route to Venice Hyundai for routine oil change at 65 mph, vehicle rapidly slowed to 40mph, driver pressing on gas pedal but vehicle would not accelerate( while being tailgated by semi that was flashing warning headlights at me). There was burning smell while this was happening. Pulled onto shoulder and called Hyundai service for assistance tow truck brought me in. Vehicle inspected by Hyundai Venice technicians ran through computer tests all ok, tech drove vehicle not able to reproduce problem. Oil changed tired rotated. Instructions included not able to do any repair because cannot find anything wrong with vehicle please contact us if problem recurs. I have had several conversations with service advisor voicing serious safety concerns regarding driving this vehicle and informing him that what occurred was my car went into failsafe/limp home mode which is what happens when there is serious problems with vehicle and should not be driven till repaired. And cannot repair until computer finds a code signifying problem.
Power train, Oct 17, 2025
The transmission in my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has failed multiple times. The first failure occurred within the first two years of owning the vehicle. The car began jerking, hesitating, and struggling to accelerate, and the check engine light came on. The dealership confirmed a transmission issue and replaced the transmission under warranty. After that replacement, the same symptoms returned, and the transmission had to be replaced a second time, again under warranty. The most recent transmission replacement was only a few weeks ago, and the same symptoms are already returning — the vehicle hesitates, jerks, and occasionally loses power when trying to accelerate. These problems create serious safety concerns, especially when merging onto highways or crossing intersections. The hesitation and loss of power make it unpredictable and unsafe to drive. I have two young children who ride in car seats, and I no longer feel confident that this vehicle is safe for my family. Hyundai service employees have acknowledged that this is a known, recurring issue with this model’s transmission design. However, no permanent fix or recall has been issued, and I have been told to continue replacing the transmission under warranty until the coverage runs out. This approach does not address the underlying safety defect. The issue has been confirmed by Hyundai dealerships multiple times. The check engine light has come on before each failure. I am reporting this because repeated transmission failures that cause hesitation and power loss are a clear safety risk, and Hyundai has not provided a lasting solution.
Air bags, Oct 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the controls on the steering wheel became inoperable. In addition, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with clock spring failure. The contact was informed that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the Department of Motor Vehicles declined the registration renewal due to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and several cases were filed. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall nor special program. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Other or unspecified, Sep 19, 2025
The horn on my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has completely stopped working. This is a severe safety hazard. I recently attempted to warn another driver who was drifting into my lane but was unable to, forcing me to swerve and nearly resulting in a head-on collision. The horn failed without any warning. After researching online, I have found that this appears to be a known issue with the Santa Fe model and Hyundai vehicles in general. I am requesting a diagnostic and repair as this is a safety feature failure that could lead to a serious accident. Please let me know if this issue qualifies for a recall. Thank You
Visibility, Aug 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, a bystander noticed that the glass partition had shattered without impact. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the part replacement was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,677.
Forward collision avoidance, Aug 6, 2025
For a few month now the light of ABS have been turning on. At the beginning there was no diagnosis specific, cause kept turning off. Two or three months ago again turn on and gave code of back caliper on the left and was changed. An now yesterday August 5, 2025 the diagnosis its need of change of the SBS module whole.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 10, 2025
The car horn stopped working very suddenly, without any prior warning, while I was driving. The car has around 36000 miles on it, so the horn dying out was a surprise. Driving without a functioning horn has also become a safety issue. I have an upcoming appointment with the dealership to diagnose and fix the problem.
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 20, 2025
I am writing to formally report an issue with my vehicle that I believe may warrant a recall investigation. The issue involves the fuel door, which is failing to open after the car has been turned off. This has occurred repeatedly and is preventing me from refueling the vehicle, posing a significant inconvenience and potential safety concern. Despite ensuring that the vehicle is unlocked and powered down as instructed, the fuel door remains stuck and will not release. This malfunction requires manual intervention or technical assistance each time I need to access the fuel tank, which is not only frustrating but could also become hazardous in certain situations. I would appreciate it if this matter could be reviewed for possible recall consideration or guidance on next steps. Please let me know if additional documentation, including my VIN or service history, is needed.
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidance, May 27, 2025
I am writing to formally express my deep concern and dissatisfaction with the ongoing quality and safety issues I have experienced with my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, which I purchased new in March 2021. Despite regular maintenance and careful ownership, this vehicle has presented a persistent pattern of failure—most notably involving the electrical systems, onboard cameras, and overall build quality. Specifically, the following issues have occurred: •The rear backup camera has intermittently failed for an extended period, frequently displaying a black screen or static lines, rendering it unusable. •The front camera system has now failed entirely, disabling several advanced safety features. A warning alert is permanently displayed on the dashboard and cannot be dismissed. •I was recently informed that repairing this front camera will cost approximately $2,400, a significant expense for a system that should not fail this early in the vehicle's life cycle. •The overall quality of the interior materials has proven to be poor, with excessive wear and inconsistent performance of various controls and features. •In general, the engine power and performance fall well below expectations, especially given Hyundai's advertised standards. These recurring issues have not only affected our driving experience but have also introduced serious safety concerns, particularly as critical systems such as cameras and driver-assist features are now non-functional. We have never experienced this extent of problems with any vehicle in our ownership history. At this point, we are extremely disappointed and frustrated, and we feel that Hyundai has failed to uphold the level of quality and reliability expected from a modern, family-oriented SUV.
Latches/locks/linkages, May 27, 2025, crash
The contact filed the complaint on behalf of the contact's mother. The contact owned a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the contact's mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was crashed into by an oncoming vehicle. The other vehicle crashed into the front passenger's side close to the front bumper area. The driver's side door independently opened, although it was secured and locked prior to the crash. The contact stated the vehicle spun around and flipped onto the driver's side. In addition, the contact's mother's left leg and left foot were pinned underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. The paramedics and Police arrived on the scene. A Police report was filed. The contact's mother was transported to the local medical center. The contact's mother sustained compartment syndrome, the big toe bone was broken in two places, and the left foot was broken. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electrical system, May 24, 2025
Horn failure, confirmed by Hyundai dealership. No warning or indication of failure. Went to use horn in a safety situation when I needed it, and it was non-functional. A huge safety risk for myself and other drivers on the road. In doing research, this is a known manufacturer defect, with most owners having to replace low and high horns multiple times due to failure. The horn units apparently due to placement and design fill up with water, which leads to failure, again, without warning.
Tires, May 23, 2025
Ever since I have purchased these tires I have been experiencing extreme violent vibration between 60 to 75 Mi an hour on the highway at first I wondered if something was wrong with the balance on the tire so I had them checked at the dealership twice and then I went to another dealership because the problem continue and had them checked same results no issues the balance machine only goes to 55 mph then I took it to a private garage paid out of pocket for the diagnostic twice because the problem over time persisted I also had an alignment done out of pocket and the problem again persisted I did a little research yesterday and there's many threads and forms in which people have complained about the exact same problem with the exact same tires I have screenshots I have video of my car doing it this is a manufacturer's defect that I'm trying to get addressed before somebody gets killed I have spoken to Pirelli corporate itself about this they're going to be issuing me a warranty claim let's see how far I get with that but the problem still is out there for others
Power train, May 14, 2025
This vehicle has two instances of transmission disengagement. One at highway speed and the other while driving in a residential area. In both cases the vehicle suddenly started to slow down, and the rpms went up to 4-5 thousand. I was able to stop the car and turn it off and after a few minutes restarted the car and completed the journeys without any further issues. I have contacted the dealer and will be taking the car in for a diagnosis. I did not notice any warning lamps or other symptoms before each occurance.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 13, 2025
The horn has failed and been replaced 2 times after purchasing from brand-new. It has failed again but the vehicle is now out of warranty.
Other or unspecified, Apr 16, 2025
Horn stopped working on my 2021 Santa Fe. Reported to dealer and they confirmed that both horns (high and low?) were broken. There was no indication that the horn was malfunctioning. It worked and then it didn't.
Electrical system, Mar 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the horn had become inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was a common failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
Power train, Mar 1, 2025
Upon starting the vehicle and placing in drive, it drove like it was stuck in a low gear. A few seconds later the vehicle stopped moving while in drive and would not respond to drive or reverse despite turning off the ignition and restarting. I was stranded in an intersection and the car would not move. It had to be towed to the dealer.
Electrical system, Feb 19, 2025, crash, fire
12v connector for phone charger melted my phone cord. Reported to Centennial Hyundai Las Vegas and High Desert Hyundai Kingman Az. Both service departments said my vehicle cannot detect the problem because I purchased a substandard plug-in. I have worked as an operator of high voltage electrical systems. I understand in some circumstances that a system cannot detect a fault, however the company is still responsible for the fire it caused. This is unsafe and can cause serious consequences. It must be corrected.