VehicleVerdict

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Among the better years

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is among the quieter years of the Santa Fe on NHTSA's books: 39 complaints (87% below the model's median year), 4 recalls, and no open investigations.

Driver Assistance leads the complaint categories with 11 reports (28% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

39

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

0

Investigations

0

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2026 compare to other Santa Fe years?

Santa Fe NHTSA complaints by model year, 2026 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, 2026 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Santa Fe years to avoid →

What are the most common 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Driver Assistance1128%
Other615%
Seats513%
Visibility & Wipers410%
Tires & Wheels38%
Electrical System38%
Steering25%
Transmission25%
Speed Control13%
Seat Belts13%
Engine13%

Does the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?

4 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.

26V047000Electrical SystemJanuary 26, 2026 · 41,651 units

Defect

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."

Consequence

An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.

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.

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.

“I engaged the adaptive cruise control at 50 MPH. This enabled the driver attention system which I had turned off at the start of my drive. The driver attention system is unable to see my eyes through my prescription corrective lenses. This caused the Hyundai to throw multiple 'failure to control…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · December 31, 2025

“The back windshield of my 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe just exploded outwards. The vehicle hasn't been moved or driven today. The glass exploded out the back and shot over 18 ft away. There has been no change in temperature it is 70°. It was terrifying and came out of nowhere there were no cracks or…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · May 8, 2026

“vehicle unable to determine when a passenger is seated with seatbelt fastened in 2nd row captains chairs and the ‘one-touch’ tilt-and-slide button is pressed. The seat will keep folding and crushing the passenger. This is a known issue with the Hyundai Palisade at this time and is affecting my…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seats · March 20, 2026

“The car was brought to the dealership where it was purchased. The right rear passenger window exploded while on the highway; the pieces then shattered and fell into the child safety seat installed. There were no other vehicles around as I was driving and the temperature inside the car and outside…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · January 9, 2026

“I had a flat tire. When I recently bought the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, I did not think to ask about a spare tire, they have been standard on every car I bought in the past. However, this car did not have one and I had a flat tire. They provide a sealant which is supposed to get you to a tire repair…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · June 16, 2026

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe — common questions

Is the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 39 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Santa Fe year, with 4 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2026 Santa Fe problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are driver assistance (11 complaints), other (6 complaints), seats (5 complaints).

Does the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2026 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 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe earned an overall rating of 5 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.