Complaint volume
162 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints
162 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, grouped by component category.
162 Total complaints
4 Crash reports
1 Fire reports
2 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are power train, unknown or other, engine. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 4 crash reports, 1 fire report, 2 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 30 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 28,889 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to power train, unknown or other, engine?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints?
4 Crash
1 Fire
2 Injury
0 Fatality
6 Towed
1 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe complaint categories?
POWER TRAIN 32
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 24
ENGINE 12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8
VISIBILITY/WIPER 7
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 6
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 6
VISIBILITY 6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4
BACK OVER PREVENTION 3
162 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2021 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Unnecessary emergency brake activation has occured 3 times. Vehicle lease new 3/31/2021. 1. First incident late April, early May at approximately 1,000 miles. Cruise control was not on and car abruptly stopped when there were no other vehicles in front of mine. Traveling at about 35 miles a hour on local two lane road. (Activation setting on normal) 2. Brakes activated at highway speed of about 60 mph. Car was passing on right side. No threat in front of vehicle. Cruise control was off. (Activation setting on normal) 3. Was following well behind the car in front of me at approximately 30-35 mph. Other vehicle turned right into parking lot and was completely off the road when brake warning appeared on dash. (Activation setting on "late" warning) We are concerned we will be unnecessarily rear ended and causing a multi car accident. Vehicle was in for service 8/2-8/3/2021. Dealer did all they could including 62 mi test drive. Per Hyundai, no parts were replaced due to the inability to dupicate the problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | OUR WINDSHIELD STARTED CRACKING FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING. ONLY HAD THIS CAR FORV A MONTH AND LESS THAN 1000 MILES. NOTHING HIT IT. THIS IS RIDCULOUS BEING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2021 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Message: I own a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe with the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist feature installed and activated. The Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist did not function properly to stop my car to avoid a low speed impact. I applied the brakes to stop. I could not avoid impacting another vehicle. The damage was minor. Hyundai did inspect my vehicle braking system on June 8 at Hyundai of Cool Springs. I was not provided full report on findings/corrective action. Hyundai America was supposed to provide a follow up report. I was called today and the Hyundai representative had no details on the brake inspection to share with me. I am suspicious. I think Hyundai is hiding a safety issue. I am reporting this event so the NTSB can contact Hyundai to determine if this is a safety defect needing corrective action. The Hyundai Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist is designed to help detect and monitor the vehicle ahead or help detect a pedestrian or cyclist in the roadway and warn the driver that a collision is imminent with a warning message and an audible warning, and if necessary, apply emergency braking. Ref: Hyundai owner's manual, chapter 7, page 7-2 On page 7-6 the system operation is described: System operation Basic function System warning and control The basic function for Forward Collision- Avoidance Assist is to help warn and control the vehicle depending on the collision level: ‘Collision Warning’, ‘Emergency Braking’ and ‘Stopping vehicle and ending brake control’. OTM070143N Collision Warning • To warn the driver of a collision, the ‘Collision Warning’ warning message will appear on the cluster and an audible warning will sound. • If a vehicle is detected in front, the system will operate when your vehicle speed is between approximately 6~112 mph (10~180 km/h). • If a pedestrian or cyclist is detected in front, the system will operate when your vehicle speed is between approximately 6~53 mph (10~85 k | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | NOTICE: THIS CONCERN IS NOT THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT, IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO BRING ATTENTION TO WHAT I FEEL IS POOR ENGINEERING/DESIGN OF THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS ON THE BACK END OF THE 2021 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. We recently purchased this vehicle and just noticed, after owning the vehicle for about a week, that the only turn signal indicators on the back of the vehicle are located down low in the bumper. No turn signal indicators on the tail light assemblies located just below the rear window of the SUV as found on EVERY OTHER recently built SUV currently driving on US highways. That includes the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe which we traded in to purchase this model. While I like this vehicle very much, I'm concerned for the safety of my family and anyone else who purchases a 2021 Santa Fe. I feel this is a grave oversight on the part of Hyundai and possibly the US Vehicle Safety Council (assuming the council approves car designs designated for US highways.) I sincerely hope that someone there will address this situation before people start getting hurt because the turn signal wasn't seen by following drivers. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Driving around 25 miles per hour small pebble hit the top part of the windshield cracking it instantly and creating a rupture line from top to bottom of the windshield. Windshield glass seems very unsafe to sustain any kind of stress. It looks like other Hyundai models are showing the same problems with these windshield. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ENGINE | It's only been less than a month, since I bought this car and I've driven ~500 miles. Now when I was driving the car yesterday it just stopped in the middle of the road all of a sudden for no reason. After getting the car towed to the service center, they are reporting that there is an issue with the car's transmission and they are going to replace it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | THE FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEM IS AUTOMATICALLY BEING ACTIVATED WITHOUT ANY CAR OR OBJECT NEAR THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND HIGHWAY. THE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY SLAMS ON THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SWERVES A LITTLE TO LEFT AND RIGHT DUE TO THE SUDDEN APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, AND A LARGE RED WARING INDICATOR APPEARS ON THE DASH. WE WERE NEARLY REAR ENDED WHILE TRAVELLING ABOUT 65 MILES/HR BECAUSE OF THIS. WE TURNED OFF THE SYSTEM, BUT EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED, IT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS THIS FEATURE ON!! SO YOU ALWAYS MUST REMEMBER TO TURN IT OFF. WE JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. IF THIS ISNT FIXED, WE FEAR WE WILL BE REAR ENDED ON THE FREEWAY, OR MAKE TAIL GATERS VERY ANGRY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,100 |
| May 2021 | STRUCTURE | I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE SUNROOF CLOSED WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG. I PULLED OFF TO CHECK THE EXTERIOR BUT SAW NOTHING. I DRIVE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR MORE WHEN IT STARTED SOUNDING LIKE THE SUNROOF WAS OPEN. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK IT, AND IT WAS DESTROYED..SHATTERED WITH A LARGE HOLE IN IT. CALLED HYUNDAI WHO SAID REPORT TO INSURANCE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS LESS THAN 1 MONTH OLD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| May 2021 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |
| Mar 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,500 |