Is the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
683 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Santa Fe years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe are in line with other Santa Fe years. Fuel system, electrical system, visibility and wipers and 2 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2007 Santa Fe owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 87,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 156 (23%) | 68k–109k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 97 (14%) | 58k–107k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 79 (12%) | 53k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 68 (10%) | 58k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 43 (6%) | 57k–106k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 66 (10%) | 68k–134k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 38 (6%) | 12k–102k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 31 (5%) | 52k–105k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Suspension | 30 (4%) | 46k–101k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Body structure | 18 (3%) | 50k–106k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 102 (15%) | 13k–80k miles · mostly behind | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 85 (12%) | 29k–82k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 58 (8%) | 40k–84k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 18 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 87,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 683 complaints: 30 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 16 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
5 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Symptoms: "Check engine" Light illuminated. "Low fuel" Warning light illuminated. Fuel gauge indicated nearly empty even though tank was close to half full.
I had a new battery installed two days earlier and car was running fine. Driving on the freeway, my battery light came on and the ESC and brake warning lights.
On a june 3, 2017, we were exiting the highway. During the turn in traffic, the car slowly lost all power. All of the lights lit up and the speedometer, gas gauge and RPM indicators were moving back and forth.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 87,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe: 9
Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short. An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
The occupant classification system (OCS) may need recalibration to accurately detect small statured adults. Improper classification or detection may cause the front passenger airbag not to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger.
The clock spring contact assembly for the driver's air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) may become damaged through usage over time. The driver's air bag electrical circuit will experience a high resistance condition, potentially causing the driver's air bag to not deploy. If the clock spring develops high resistance, in the event of a crash, the drivers air bag will not deploy and will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.
The stop lamp switch in the affected vehicles may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause the brake lights to remain illuminated when the brake pedal is released. Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash.
The accessory trailer hitch wiring harness converter module is mounted to the top surface of the rear bumper reinforcement. Some circuit board components may not have been thoroughly sealed to prevent moisture contact. The moisture may result in circuit board corrosion possibly causing a short circuit. A short circuit can cause overheating and damage to the converter module, possibly resulting in a fire.
These vehicles fail to comply with the labeling requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110 "Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles." The black certification label affixed to the driver's side center pillar, incorrectly lists the gross axle weight ratings (Gawr). Overloading your vehicle may adversely affect handling and braking and may cause tire damage, resulting in tire failure and a crash without warning.
The accessory trailer hitch wiring harness converter module is mounted to the top surface of the rear bumper reinforcement. High current leakage or a short circuit of capacitor C1 could cause heat related damage to the wiring harness converter module. Excessive heat may cause damage to the rear bumper area and may potentially result in a fire.
On certain sport utility vehicles, the wall thickness of the right forward baffle of the fuel tank may be below specifications. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 53
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may have an engine that potentially leaks oil from the front cylinder bank's valve cover onto the alternator
Diagnose and repair a transaxle for the following Incorrect Ratio DTC (transaxle clutch slipping more than 200 rpm in gear)
DTC P2135/P0638 or cold engine RPM fluctuation; tps replacement and ECM update
Ata solenoid diagnostic trouble codes P0740, P0741, P0742, P0743, P0746, P0748, P0750, P0755, P0760, P0765, P0770
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Stop lamp switch failure
Neighbouring years
2006 Santa Fe: 106 complaints, keep it · 2008 Santa Fe: 540 complaints, keep it.
Every Hyundai Santa Fe year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Santa Fe years side by side
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.
Questions
Is the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
683 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Santa Fe years. At 87,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: fuel system (156), electrical system (97), visibility and wipers (79), stability control (68), exterior lighting (43).
How many recalls does the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 20V-061), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 13V-113), Air bags (NHTSA 12V-354), Air bags (NHTSA 11V-472) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.