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2021 Hyundai Santa Fe reliability record

NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.

NHTSA source snapshot · 2026Consumer reports are not verified defects Official source
NHTSA complaints
232
Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
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 rates

Counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.

Complaint 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
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe

Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.

Open TCO calculator

These 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. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. 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?

This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.

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