Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2021)

188 consumer complaints on file.

#11773705October 26, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rear-view camera displayed a distorted pixelated image on the screen. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and stated that there were no recalls associated with the VIN. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V879000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770668October 12, 2026
POWER TRAIN
On September 20, 2026, my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy suffered sluggish acceleration while operating on a public roadway due to an internal dual-clutch transmission (DCT) failure. The Malfunction indicator light illuminated, and a diagnostic scan revealed stored history code P1C2D03, indicating a total breakdown of the high-pressure electric pump assembly. As of September 21, 2026 the vehicle is currently grounded at an authorized Hyundai dealership under an approved factory warranty repair Prior Authorization (PA) request. However the dealership has issued a written admission of "NO ETA" because the replacement transmission components are on an indefinite national backordered and are no longer being manufactured . Because the vehicle cannot be repaired in a reasonable timeframe due to a severe factory design defect , it remains unresolved.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763201September 9, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owned a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 50 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly caught on fire. The contact's wife became aware that the radio was inoperable before the failure. Additionally, the contact’s wife’s eyes were irritated, and there was a hot, harsh odor which grew stronger very quickly. The odor was inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the smoke was black, and flames started shooting out from under the hood to consume the vehicle. The vehicle was a total loss. The fire was extinguished by the Murphysboro Fire Department. The Fire Department was unable to determine where the fire had started. There was a Police report filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11760005August 27, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The door to the gas tank is a push door which is temperamental. I can be at the pump and push the door to pop it open and it won't. I'm at the point where I have to pop my gas tank open before I even get to the gas station because to pull up to the pump and not be able to put gas in the tank is a waste of time. There is no lever to flip along side the driver seat because it is a push to open door.. it is available for inspection, however, it is temperamental. I will video it so I have proof as it works and it doesn't work. It has not been inspected by anyone only because if it is a defect in the motor for the door, I want Hyundai to recall it. I have gone on YouTube to see if there are remedies and yes, there are videos on how to open the door in case you cannot push it open. I cannot do this because I'm not ruining the back of my car as there is no compartment to open as shown in the YT video. I am not one to let my tank get down to less than 1/2 tank, especially not now. But why am I worrying about popping the door open when I'm not even at the gas station yet??
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756508August 12, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
My rear back up camera intermitting stops working. I can shift into reverse sometimes and the camera does not come on at all, other times the screen blinks and other times the screen has green lines and glitchy lines. The camera will also come on while I'm DRIVING forward
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751769July 21, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
When i select (R) reverse my camera does not come on. It started as just a flashing screen, but does not come on. It has come on momentarily while I am (D)driving. it has flashed a green screen before.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748829July 7, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Fuel door mechanism stops working leaving you unable to add fuel. Is a constant complaint in 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. My vehicle's door mechanism as stopped working 53,000 miles as well.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748720July 7, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The windshield wipers intermittently stop working. This has been occurring for 2 years and the 5dealership cannot find an issue because they always work when the car is in for service. They also now want to charge a diagnostic fee each time it's in since the car is no longer under warranty
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747209June 29, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5-30 MPH, the transmission failed to shift properly, and the vehicle lost motive power. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 (Power Train); however, the failure persisted. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746250June 24, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My check engine light came on, and my car was also feeling "sluggish" and slow to accelerate. I scheduled a service appointment at my local dealer 4 days later. At the appointment, the technician stated everything checked out okay and the check engine light was likely an "anomaly" or "outlier" but otherwise nothing to be concerned about since everything checked out "okay" and no problems were identified during their test drive. However, that very afternoon, I was driving down the interstate, where the posted speed limit is 70mph, when my check engine light came on again and suddenly lost power, drastically reducing my speed and could not accelerate faster than 39mph. Luckily, the interstate was not busy at the time (about 10:30-11:00 a.m. Saturday morning) and there were only less than 4 cars behind me that were able to easily switch lanes and pass me. I moved over to the shoulder to a complete stop and restarted my car. My check engine light remained illuminated and was still slow to accelerate and "sluggish" but was able to (slowly) reach interstate speed (60-70mph) until I reached an acceptable exit and safely made it to my destination. I have since used roadside assistance to tow the vehicle from my home to the the same dealership for inspection and service (again).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739483May 22, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On March 17, 2026, the sunroof of our Hyundai Sante Fe 2021 exploded. The driver and two passengers were not hurt because the sunroof was closed and the liner in place when the explosion took place. The incident occurred on an open country highway on a sunny afternoon with no other vehicles or flying objects sighted.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737002May 11, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN [XXX] ) is experiencing severe engine instability, including rough idling, hesitation upon acceleration, and intermittent stalling. These symptoms align with TSB 26-FL-001H regarding defective GDI fuel injectors. The vehicle has stalled in traffic, creating an immediate risk of a rear-end collision. Despite being within the 100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty, the manufacturer is refusing to perform the required diagnostic tests (GDS Fuel Pressure Drop Test) to identify the leaking injectors. This failure to diagnose a known fuel system defect poses a significant safety risk to the driver and other motorists. The primary safety risk is unexpected engine stalling while the vehicle is in motion or stopped at intersections. Additionally, the loss of power during acceleration prevents the vehicle from safely merging into high-speed traffic, significantly increasing the likelihood of a collision. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735795May 5, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Driving down the interstate to work at around 70 MPH at approximately 6:40 AM and the front sunroof exploded upwards. Nothing of impact, just a loud explosion and glass blew upwards. The broken glass is positioned upward. The cover of the sunroof was closed and it was not currently in use. Otherwise, glass could have shattered all over me, causing a wreck. I am an [XXX] veteran, the explosion itself set off my anxiety, but thankfully, I was able to pull the car over without incident. I took pictures of the sunroof and I was able to drive slowly down a smaller highway to the dealership, Mac Grubbs Hyundai in Hattiesburg, MS, where I dropped the car off for repairs. I contacted my insurance company and they picked me up in a rental care from the dealership. There was no warning light, not leaks, or cracks in the sunroof prior to the incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733955April 27, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
My 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN starting with 5NM) began experiencing a significant failure of the air conditioning system during its third year of ownership. The vehicle developed a persistent refrigerant leak that now requires annual recharges to remain functional. Multiple inspections suggest the failure is due to a porous evaporator core, a component defect that is increasingly reported by owners of this model year as they reach the 3-to-5-year mark. Despite being a documented manufacturing issue, there is currently no recall or warranty extension for this expensive and vital system. The failure of the AC system in a high-humidity environment like South Florida creates a severe safety hazard: Loss of Visibility: Without a functional AC compressor to dehumidify the cabin air, the interior of the windshield fogs over rapidly and completely during rain. This occurs even when the defroster is set to maximum, as the system cannot remove moisture from the air without refrigerant. Driver Impairment: In extreme Florida heat, the cabin temperatures reach levels that cause heat-related fatigue and stress, compromising the driver’s ability to remain alert and react safely to road conditions. On several occasions during heavy Florida rainstorms, the windshield fogged so severely that I had zero visibility of the road ahead. Because the AC system had leaked its refrigerant, the defroster was unable to clear the glass. I was forced to pull off the highway in dangerous conditions because I could not see other vehicles or lane markings. This defect prevents the vehicle’s primary visibility safety equipment (the defogger) from performing its required function.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731022April 14, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
First instance at 50-55 mph the transmission violently shook the car when downshifting to accelerate on multiple occasions. Dealership diagnosed the problem as a faulty transmission and replaced it at 44064 miles on March 18, 2025. Second time the car failed to accelerate when merging into traffic while the engine revved very high. Again it was taken to the dealership and the diagnosis was faulty transmission. A second transmission was in stalled at 51331 miles. Second transmission began downshifting hard upon accelerating at highway speeds. Retuned to dealership and diagnoses was faulty fuel injectors and all four were replaced on April 7 at 52960 miles. On April 10, 2026 the car displayed a check engine light after the car began shuttering at highway speeds and was immediately returned to dealership where it’s pending a diagnoses. Failure to safely accelerate when merging make this vehicle a safety risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730287April 9, 2026
ENGINE
My vehicle loses power on the highway intermittently. I had my car set on cruise control at 55 and with no other vehicle in front of me the speed decreased to 45. It frequently sputters going up hills. My car has had 4 oil leaks.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724716March 16, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V879000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION), but the failure occurred. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera displayed a distorted image or a black screen occasionally while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that there was no record that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer. The contact found the paperwork provided by the dealer when the recall repair was completed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for the most recent failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,667.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723881March 12, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
-shift lever in transmutation stopped working so car would go into auto shut off and then would not drive once I took my foot off the break. Would not switch gears or drive. Had to shut car off then turn back on to get it to switch gears. -safety was put at risk majorly. Car did that in 5 lanes of traffic with me and kids in car and couldn’t drive. We almost got hit. -dealership said no issues found until I took it in a second time for the same issue then they said it was the translation shift leaver. -Briggs Kia inspected it -no warnings at all -This happened MULTIPLE times. Put the most current date
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723216March 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My horn stopped working. Not under warranty but I believe it is a safety issue. A replacement horn is not available and not under warranty. Online search revealed this is a common issue
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11722454March 6, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The dealership I bought it from (Vineland Hyundai) I have had trouble with before where they say they fix things and they don’t. Last year there was a recall for the back camera not working. I took it in and supposedly they fixed it. Well, a few months later, the camera does not work at all and the problem issues with it is exactly what the recall says. I contacted the Better Business Bureau and the dealership and even though they have it in the system as completed clearly it was not done or it would not done correctly and right now I have no back camera. They refuse to help. I seriously doubt this was done at all being I’ve had issues with service said they did things before and did not. I even asked Hyundai if I could get this done at a different dealership that is more trustworthy and they refuse to help. I’m hoping you may be able to intervene and have them actually do this recall correctly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Hyundai Santa Fe