Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Hyundai Santa FE
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Hyundai Santa FE has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 170 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #24V879000 Rearview Image May Not Display/ FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V181000 Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V746000 Loss of Drive Power NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V00M000 Inadequate Windshield Bonding NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V524000 Fuel Leak at Pipe Connection NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V308000 Fuel Pipe Not Tightened Properly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V185000 Occupant Detection System Malfunction/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 51 complaints
- Unknown or Other 41 complaints
- Engine 38 complaints
- Electrical System 29 complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 18 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 11 complaints
Of the 170 complaints on file, 4 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 170 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe shows frequent recalls related to critical systems such as the power train, fuel system, and safety features. These concerns, combined with a significant number of complaints, suggest reliability challenges that may affect ownership satisfaction.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 20,000–40,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | very common |
| fuel system | 30,000–50,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| electrical system | 40,000–60,000 miles | $200–$600 | common |
| windshield | 10,000–30,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 7,500 miles
- Tire rotation every 7,500 miles
- Replace brake fluid every 30,000 miles
- Replace air filter every 15,000 miles
- Replace spark plugs every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual transmission noises
- Fuel odor in engine bay
- Erratic dashboard electrical issues
- Windshield detachment
- Camera display failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.