Hyundai Santa Fe: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
7,709 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Hyundai Santa Fe, model years 2001 to 2026. 14 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2017 (engine 18×, transmission 7.9×); 2013 (engine 7.5×); 2014 (engine 7.5×); 2012 (engine 6.3×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2006, 2018, 2002. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Santa Fe | 209 | quiet: 6 of 19 | 4 | |
| 2002 Santa Fe | 165 | quiet: 3 of 19 | 4 | |
| 2003 Santa Fe | 308 | — | 4 | |
| 2004 Santa Fe | 303 | — | 3 | |
| 2005 Santa Fe | 216 | quiet: 7 of 19 | 3 | |
| 2006 Santa FeFEW REPORTS | 106 | quiet: 1 of 19 | 1 | |
| 2007 Santa Fe | 683 | — | 9 | |
| 2008 Santa Fe | 540 | — | 6 | |
| 2009 Santa Fe | 359 | — | 3 | |
| 2010 Santa Fe | 260 | transmission 5.2× | 3 | |
| 2011 Santa Fe | 181 | engine 1.9× | 3 | |
| 2012 Santa Fe | 355 | engine 6.3× | 1 | |
| 2013 Santa Fe | 605 | engine 7.5× | 3 | |
| 2014 Santa Fe | 491 | engine 7.5× | 3 | |
| 2015 Santa Fe | 255 | engine 4.4× | 2 | |
| 2016 Santa Fe | 238 | engine 4.1× | 3 | |
| 2017 Santa Fe | 974 | engine 18×, transmission 7.9× | 6 | |
| 2018 Santa FeFEW REPORTS | 110 | quiet: 2 of 19 | 2 | |
| 2019 Santa Fe | 206 | engine 2.1× | 2 | |
| 2020 Santa Fe | 218 | engine 2.3× | 2 | |
| 2021 Santa Fe | 170 | transmission 2.4× | 7 | |
| 2022 Santa Fe | 204 | transmission 2.7× | 5 | |
| 2023 Santa Fe | 215 | transmission 2.1× | 1 | |
| 2024 Santa Fe | 157 | transmission 2.1× | 7 | |
| 2025 Santa FeFEW REPORTS | 143 | — | 5 | |
| 2026 Santa FeFEW REPORTS | 38 | — | 4 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
Check your Santa Fe at your mileage
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Other Hyundai models
Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 2001200220032004200520072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201920202021202220232024