Is the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
206 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 77, 2.1× a quiet Santa Fe year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 2.1× the complaints of a quiet Santa Fe year, spread over 5k–78k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2019 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 25,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 77 (37%) | 5k–78k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 37 (18%) | 5k–45k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 27 (13%) | 1k–22k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 14 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 13 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 13 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 12 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 5 (2%) | 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 25,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 206 complaints: 16 mention a crash · 13 mention a fire · 10 report an injury · 16 say the car was towed.
41 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe: 2
Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The Side Curtain Air Bag (SCAB) mounting bolts may interfere with and damage the air bags during deployment. In the event of a crash, if the air bags become damaged during deployment they may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
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: 162
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Following completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain vehicles may exhibit a brief hesitation or rough shifting condition…
Certain 2013 - 2019 model year Santa Fe/Santa Fe XL vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may experience abnormal engine noise or engine damage
Update the TCU to revise the logic for P0741 (Torque converter clutch circuit)
Applicable vehicles with 2.0L T-GDI and 2.4L GDI engines may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326 and/or engine may exhibit…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Loss of Motive Power
Neighbouring years
2018 Santa Fe: 110 complaints, keep it · 2020 Santa Fe: 218 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
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 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
206 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 77, 2.1× a quiet Santa Fe year. At 25,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 2.1× the complaints of a quiet Santa Fe year, spread over 5k–78k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (77), transmission and drivetrain (37), electrical system (27), body structure (14), collision avoidance (13). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 5k–78k miles.
How many recalls does the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Trailer hitch (NHTSA 23V-181), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-715). 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.