Is the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
170 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 51, 2.4× a quiet Santa Fe year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 9k–64k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 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 20,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 51 (30%) | 9k–64k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 38 (22%) | 13k–67k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 29 (17%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 18 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 14 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 12 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 6 (4%) | 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 20,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 170 complaints: 4 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 2 report an injury · 7 say the car was towed.
35 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 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe: 7
Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
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 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. Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail. A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
The fuel pipe connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not have been tightened properly. An insufficiently tightened fuel pipe may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
The Occupant Detection System (ODS) module may not deactivate the air bag upon detection of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
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: 93
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT)
Some vehicles may require replacement of the 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT) when the vehicle sets one of the high pressure electric oil pump…
Some Santa Fe (TMA) and Tucson (NX4A) vehicles equipped with a 2.5L GDI engine and 8 speed automatic transmission may have DTC U028700…
Some vehicles may have DTCs P218100, P2181F0, and/or P2181F1 (Cooling System Performance) set in the Electronic Control Unit (ECU)…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Loss of Motive Power
Neighbouring years
2020 Santa Fe: 218 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2022 Santa Fe: 204 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
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 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
170 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 51, 2.4× a quiet Santa Fe year. At 20,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 9k–64k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (51), engine (38), electrical system (29), collision avoidance (18), visibility and wipers (14). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 9k–64k miles.
How many recalls does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Backup camera (NHTSA 24V-879), Trailer hitch (NHTSA 23V-181), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 22V-746), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 21V00M000) 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.