2021 Hyundai Santa Fe: problems, recalls and what it’s worth

Known problems on the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe

No generation-wide weak spot is flagged in GarageIntel’s research for this year and model. A specific car can still have its own problems, so get it inspected.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. Repairs are free at a dealer for the brand, and a dealer can confirm by VIN which were already done.

• Trailer HitchesFire risk

  A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

  Details 23V181000

  Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

  Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.

• Fuel systemFire risk

  An insufficiently tightened fuel pipe may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

  Details 21V308000

  Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 2.5-litre Turbo engines. The fuel pipe connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not have been tightened properly.

  Fix: Dealers inspected and tightened the fuel pipe connection, free of charge. The affected vehicles have been repaired and therefore no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 206.

• Fuel systemFire risk

  A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

  Details 21V524000

  Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.

  Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.

• Driver-assist systems

  A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.

  Details 24V879000

  Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles. Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

  Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 271.

• Transmission & drivetrain

  Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

  Details 22V746000

  Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.

  Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.

• Visibility & wipers

  A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

  Details 21V00M000

  Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.

  Fix: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe safety investigations and free repairs

No open safety investigations.

Free repairs to ask about (warranty extensions):

• Warranty extension: Certain 2021 – 2023 model year Santa Fe, 2021 – 2023 model year Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2022 – 2023 model year Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid vehicles may experience an inoperable horn that may be caused by foreign substances causing internal parts to oxidize.
• Warranty extension: Some vehicles may have an inoperable horn that may be caused by foreign substances causing internal parts to oxidize.
• Warranty extension: Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service functions.
• Engine: A class settlement against Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) that had alleged that certain 2011 – 2022 model year Hyundai vehicles that were not equipped…

A dealer for the brand can check these by VIN.

Source: NHTSA, Sep 24, 2026.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe safety and fuel

From NHTSA’s crash tests and the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov.

What owners complain about

166 complaints filed with NHTSA for this year and model, about average.

Other Hyundai Santa Fe years

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 2023 2024