2025 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 134 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 23rd highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2025 reports, 5 involved a crash. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Seat belts, front, anchorageApr 6, 2026
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.
A detached seat belt anchor will not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Dealers will inspect and reinforce or replace the seat belt anchors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 29, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 and Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 298 and 032G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov April 8, 2026.
Campaign 26V218000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/window, curtainNov 21, 2025
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 as intended.
Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
Campaign 25V809000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, display functionNov 21, 2025
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The rearview camera may not have been installed properly, which can damage the wiring harness and cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the camera wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning January 15, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 288. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
Campaign 25V808000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, starter assemblyOct 2, 2025
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Santa Fe vehicles. The B+ positive terminal cover on the starter motor assembly may be improperly installed, which can cause an electrical short during a crash.
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Dealers will inspect and reinstall the starter motor terminal cover, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 285. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 4, 2025.
Campaign 25V659000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, critical fastenersAug 26, 2025
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 281.
Campaign 25V549000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
13 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 28, 2026
While operating the vehicle, the vehicle suddenly began severely hesitating and stalling. During the incident, engine RPM surged to approximately 6,000 RPM and accelerator pedal response became abnormal. The vehicle was not responding normally to accelerator input, which significantly affected the ability to operate the vehicle safely. The vehicle subsequently recorded diagnostic trouble code P0304 – Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected. The abnormal operation of the vehicle during the incident was also captured on video. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Hyundai dealership for diagnosis. The dealership has advised that because the condition is not currently occurring and they have been unable to duplicate the problem, they may be unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The safety concern is not simply an illuminated check-engine light or a stored P0304 code. The concern is the combination of severe hesitation/stalling, abnormal accelerator response, and the engine surging to approximately 6,000 RPM while the vehicle was being driven. The cause of the condition has not been identified and, at the time of this complaint, the vehicle has not been repaired for the underlying problem. I am concerned that this condition could recur without warning while accelerating, entering or crossing traffic, or traveling at highway speeds. A recurrence could result in an inability to accelerate normally, unexpected vehicle behavior, loss of normal vehicle operation, or a collision. Hyundai has been notified of the issue and I have requested further technical investigation of the engine misfire as well as the transmission/TCU and electronic throttle/accelerator systems due to the high-RPM event and abnormal accelerator response. I am submitting this complaint because this appears to be a potentially serious safety-related defect and I want NHTSA to have a record of the incident and determine whether similar stalling, high-RPM, acceleration, transmission, or engine-misfire.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 5, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle suffers from an intermittent, total engine stalling and propulsion failure. Without warning, the engine completely shuts down while driving and automatically drops the vehicle into "Accessory (ACC) Mode". The vehicle is fully intact, operational when it restarts, and is available for immediate inspection upon request How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? This issue has occurred five total times in live traffic, severely risking the safety of the vehicle's occupants and surrounding drivers. The most recent and dangerous incident occurred on the freeway in heavy, stop-and-go traffic. A sudden, complete loss of power on a high-speed freeway leaves the vehicle entirely vulnerable to rear-end collisions, as it leaves no room or momentum to safely coast to the shoulder. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No. The vehicle has been brought to an authorized Hyundai dealership five separate times specifically to diagnose this exact stalling issue. Because the failure is intermittent, dealership service technicians have been unable to replicate the problem during their test drives or resolve the root cause. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been inspected five separate times by authorized Hyundai dealership technicians during the service appointments mentioned above. No police, insurance, or independent manufacturer representatives have inspected the vehicle yet, as the stalling has not yet resulted in a physical crash. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?There are absolutely no dashboard warning lights, check engine indicators, error messages, or mechanical symptoms prior to the failures. The engine shuts down instant
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 10, 2026
While driving on the on ramp to [XXX] the car completely stopped and all systems shut off. There were two dash lights that flashed quickly with one being the check engine light but I did not see the other long enough to identify it. The dealership could not reproduce the issue but has the car now and is doing a more thorough evaluation. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine stopped. Yes it is available How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Extremely dangerous as it came to a stop in the middle of the road. It was late at night so at that moment no one was behind me. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? no Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no, the warning lights flashed on as the car died but disappeared once off. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Engine, May 27, 2026
The engine has 1205 miles on it and seized up. Autofair hyundia of Manchester denied us. We did get a warning light a couple days before. But to late just the dealer inspected it.
Power train, Engine, May 3, 2026
Driving down the highway. Vehicle random alerts that there is a transmission error.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 6, 2026
Vehicle exhibits delayed deceleration after releasing accelerator. Engine RPM remains elevated for several seconds, causing the vehicle to continue applying power unexpectedly. Issue began after recent repair and was not present before. Condition is intermittent but reproducible and affects drivability.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 30, 2026
Traveling in a 55 zone on Rt 27 and my vehicle lost power and said pull over and charge vehicle with engine on. I did this once and the battery went up to half way charge then I could start to drive again. Less than a half a mile up the road climbing a good size hill by the town’s salt shed—the same issue occurred. I had to pull over again and allow battery to recharge. This is not a complete hybrid, it has a gas engine not sure why the hybrid and gas are not syncing up. Many users on the internet have reported the same issue that I have experienced. Someone needs to investigate this before major injury occurs.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 22, 2026
Car had an unintended acceleration. I had been stopped prior to entering my garage. I had started to slowly accelerate when the car accelerated hard. It took a lot of effort to stop the car.
Engine, Jan 21, 2026
Immediately following routine maintenance performed at an authorized Hyundai dealership, my 2025 Hyundai Hybrid Santa Fe Calligraphy experienced a complete loss of engine oil, which resulted in the engine shutting down while driving on a highway. While traveling at highway speed with my minor daughter, the oil pressure and engine warning lights illuminated, followed by multiple error messages. The vehicle rapidly lost power, and I struggled to safely maneuver it onto the shoulder while high-speed traffic was passing. This created an immediate and life-threatening safety situation, with a real risk of being struck by other vehicles. We were stranded on the roadside for over three hours awaiting a tow, exposed to ongoing traffic danger. The dealership later advised that the incident was caused by a faulty Hyundai-supplied part, not driver error, misuse, or lack of maintenance. The vehicle had only approximately 4,000 miles at the time of failure. A sudden engine shutdown due to oil loss at highway speeds presents a severe risk of collision, injury, or death, especially when it occurs without warning. Given that a Hyundai component is implicated, I am concerned this may represent a broader safety defect affecting other vehicles. This incident caused extreme distress and endangered both myself and my child. I am submitting this complaint so that NHTSA may evaluate whether this issue warrants regulatory review or further investigation.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 13, 2026
My 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has recurring powertrain communication failures starting at only 67 miles and continuing at 5,300 and 6,200 miles. Diagnostic trouble codes include U010100 (lost communication with engine control module) and multiple U100xxx codes related to transmission and CAN bus communication failures. These indicate loss of communication between critical control modules. The issue has happened multiple times and remains unresolved. I am concerned this could cause drivability problems, warning lights, or sudden loss of power. This appears to be a system-level defect in the vehicle’s communication network.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 22, 2025
Bought this brand new Santa Fe in July 2025 and on day 5 after purchasing this vehicle, car stopped accelerating while driving on highway, which is a serious safety concern. Took the vehicle back to the dealership and turned out the issue is with failed catalytic converter and they had to replace it. Since then, the acceleration has not been that great and had continuous issues with random engine noises etc
Engine, Oct 8, 2025
Yesterday while I was driving I almost was hit by another car in an intersection. My car did not respond fast enough, the engine did not have any stregth. I found today after I took it for service that it needs a replacement of the oil pump. My car is new it only has 4 months of usage and this type of repairs is done in vehicles with a high mileage. This is very uncommon.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Jul 8, 2025
I am reporting a critical safety defect involving my brand-new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving on the freeway, the vehicle experienced a complete brake system failure, nearly causing a serious accident. My boyfriend was driving at the time, and when he tried to brake, the vehicle did not stop. He had to take immediate evasive action to avoid crashing, which put both of us — and nearby drivers — in immediate danger. The vehicle was purchased about a month ago and had never been serviced or modified. After the failure, it was towed to Hanlees Auto Mall Hyundai in Richmond, California, where the service department inspected it and confirmed the problem was caused by a missing clamp, which is a critical component of the braking system. This appears to be a manufacturing or dealership oversight. They took photos, documented the issue, and made the repair — but they also told me they cannot guarantee this won’t happen again. There were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms before the failure — the brakes simply stopped working during operation on the freeway. As of now: •The issue has been confirmed by Hanlees Hyundai in Richmond. •I have not yet received a loaner vehicle. •The car is currently in my possession, but I do not feel safe driving it. •I have been in contact with Supervisor Steve at Hyundai of Vacaville, who has offered to pick up the vehicle and provide a loaner, but that has not yet occurred. This is an extremely dangerous failure that occurred on a brand-new vehicle. I am requesting a formal investigation into this issue to determine if it’s isolated or part of a broader manufacturing defect with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. A missing brake component that results in total failure at freeway speeds is a life-threatening safety hazard and should be taken seriously by the manufacturer and federal safety officials.