VehicleVerdict

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Among the better years

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 5 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 170 owner complaints run below the Santa Fe median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across driver assistance (29), other (26), and electrical system (25), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

170

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

0

Investigations

6

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2025 compare to other Santa Fe years?

Santa Fe NHTSA complaints by model year, 2025 highlighted1,231 complaints2001: 293 complaints2002: 219 complaints2003: 390 complaints2004: 386 complaints2005: 300 complaints2006: 143 complaints2007: 981 complaints2008: 718 complaints2009: 506 complaints2010: 331 complaints2011: 268 complaints2012: 474 complaints2013: 806 complaints2014: 679 complaints2015: 331 complaints2016: 288 complaints2017: 1,231 complaints2018: 143 complaints2019: 268 complaints2020: 270 complaints2021: 236 complaints2022: 292 complaints2023: 307 complaints2024: 186 complaints2025: 170 complaints2026: 39 complaints
Santa Fe NHTSA complaints by model year, 2025 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Santa Fe years to avoid →

What are the most common 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Driver Assistance2917%
Other2615%
Electrical System2515%
Tires & Wheels159%
Transmission159%
Visibility & Wipers127%
Engine106%
Seat Belts74%
Speed Control74%
Seats53%
Steering42%
Brakes42%
Body & Structure32%
Suspension32%
Fuel System32%
Airbags21%

Does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V218000Seat BeltsApril 6, 2026 · 294,448 units

Defect

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6, 2023-2026 Genesis G90, 2024-2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The driver and passenger seat belt anchors may detach.

Consequence

A detached seat belt anchor will not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and reinforce or replace the seat belt anchors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 29, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 and Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 298 and 032G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov April 8, 2026.

25V808000Driver AssistanceNovember 20, 2025 · 143,472 units

Defect

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The rearview camera may not have been installed properly, which can damage the wiring harness and cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence

A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the camera wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning January 15, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 288. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.

25V809000AirbagsNovember 20, 2025 · 258 units

Defect

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.

Consequence

Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.

25V659000Electrical SystemOctober 2, 2025 · 135,386 units

Defect

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Santa Fe vehicles. The B+ positive terminal cover on the starter motor assembly may be improperly installed, which can cause an electrical short during a crash.

Consequence

An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and reinstall the starter motor terminal cover, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 285. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 4, 2025.

25V549000EngineAugust 25, 2025 · 29 units

Defect

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.

Consequence

A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 281.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“All normal sounds completely stop working, no audio or volume at all: no turn signal, no collision warning, no GPS audio, no radio; no hands-free phone volume. Hyundai Service department advised they have never heard of this type of incident. All warning systems are completely silent.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · February 25, 2026

“I was driving on a 5 Lane Highway when suddenly what sounded like a gunshot or grenade going off in my right ear turned out to be my sunroof shattering. I thought someone shot at me since there were traffic on my right, but when I looked to my right I saw no evidence until I looked up, then…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · February 14, 2026

“All normal sounds completely stop working, no audio or volume at all: no turn signal, no collision warning, no GPS audio, no radio; no hands-free phone volume. Hyundai Service department advised they have never heard of this type of incident. All warning systems are completely silent.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · February 25, 2026

“Have had two sidewall bubbles appear, one was right front tire with approximately 7000 miles, second was left front tire with 11,500 miles. Both were OEM equipment on 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid limited fwd. Tire size 255/45/R20. No blowouts. Replaced tires at great expense and inconvenience…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · March 2, 2026

“Vehicle exhibits delayed deceleration after releasing accelerator. Engine RPM remains elevated for several seconds, causing the vehicle to continue applying power unexpectedly. Issue began after recent repair and was not present before. Condition is intermittent but reproducible and affects…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · April 2, 2026

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe — common questions

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 170 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Santa Fe year, with 5 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2025 Santa Fe problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are driver assistance (29 complaints), other (26 complaints), electrical system (25 complaints).

Does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Hyundai Santa Fe years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Santa Fe years to avoid are 2017, 2007, 2013, 2008, 2014, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018. The cleanest record among Santa Fe years belongs to 2026.

How safe is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.