2021 Hyundai Santa Fe

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls (7)

• FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

  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."

  Remedy: 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.

• FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• TRAILER HITCHES

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

  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."

  Remedy: 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.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe safety ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP ratings.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe owner complaints (15)

• 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.

• POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

  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).

• 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.

• 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)

• 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)

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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

• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  When I try to open the fuel cover it wont' open. I have to lock and unlock my car, sometimes up to 10 times, to get the fuel fill door to open. This eventually is going to leave me stranded somewhere stranded. Some of my same year and model are covered under recall for this issue by when I call Hyundai my VIN is not covered. I would like it to be covered and repaired.

• 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.

• POWER TRAIN

  I was about to turn into a 2 lane road and a warning came on my dash, "shifter system malfunction service immediately " my vehicle was in Drive I was unable to move my vehicle, unable to shift into any other gear. It was sudden with no warning or loss of power prior to the warning and loss of movement.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  The rearview backup camera system malfunctioned. The camera was replaced under a safety recall on my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. Within four days of the recall repair, the camera continued to fail intermittently, displaying a blank/black screen and not providing a rearview image when the vehicle was placed in reverse. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I also have video documentation clearly showing the malfunction occurring. The failure of the rearview camera puts me and others at risk because the system is required to provide visibility behind the vehicle when reversing. When the screen goes blank, I cannot see pedestrians, children, vehicles, or objects behind me. This creates a significant risk of a backing collision, especially in parking lots and residential areas. The vehicle was brought back to the dealership four days after the recall repair because the issue continued. The dealer stated they could not duplicate the issue at the time of inspection and are requesting a diagnostic fee to continue evaluation. However, I have video evidence clearly showing the malfunction occurring after the recall repair. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership that performed the recall repair. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. The manufacturer has not personally inspected it beyond the dealership performing the recall repair. There were no warning lamps. The issue presents intermittently when shifting into reverse, at which time the display screen fails to show the rearview camera image. The issue first appeared prior to the recall repair and continued within four days after the recall component was replaced.