2021 Hyundai Santa Fe reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 232
- 229 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- POWER TRAIN
- 48 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 7
- see below
- Reported harm
- 4 reported crashes · 2 injuries · 1 fire
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,267
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Hyundai median
-36
median 268 across 168 Hyundai records
Vs 2019-2023
-7
median 240 complaints in 444 records
Top component share
21%
Power Train: 48 complaints
What owners report fails — 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
- POWER TRAIN 48
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 40
- ENGINE 35
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING 15
7 recalls on record for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
- NHTSA 24V879000 · 2025 · BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CA A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 22V746000 · 2023 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 23V181000 · 2023 · TRAILER HITCHES A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 21V00M000 · 2022 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 21V185000 · 2021 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
NHTSA has 232 consumer complaints on record for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe and 7 recalls. The most-reported problem area is power train (48 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Owners most often report problems with: power train (48), unknown or other (40), engine (35), electrical system (28). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.