Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe HybridRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 112 owner complaints for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. Most complaints involve electrical system (35) and engine (34). The EPA rates it 34–36 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Combined MPG
34–36mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Apr 2026
Owner complaints
112
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$1,650est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Seat belts: anchorage

Free remedy

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.

Seat beltsReported Apr 7, 2026NHTSA 26V218000

Back over prevention: display function

Free remedy

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The rearview camera may not have been installed properly, which can damage the wiring harness and cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Back over preventionReported Nov 21, 2025NHTSA 25V808000

Air bags: side

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Nov 21, 2025NHTSA 25V809000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

112 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 2024 – Nov 2026
  1. Electrical system35
  2. Engine34
  3. Fuel/propulsion system31
  4. Power train27
  5. Vehicle speed control22
  6. Forward collision avoidance16
  7. Lane departure5
  8. Back over prevention4
  9. Service brakes3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Santa Fe Hybrid model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
202120
202237
202359
202437
2025112
202621
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
8
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

35 reports
“Vehicle is 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. Component that failed was the electrical system, specifically, the 12 V battery drained leaving the vehicle's electrical systems completely dead. Happened on two occasions: first in XXX, and second in XXX. Vehicle had to be towed in both instances. Our safety was put at risk in that my wife and I, who are both senior citizens, were essentially stranded in dark parking garages at night and left to arrange towing services under very difficult circumstances. In both instances, the electrical system was examined by Hyundai service technicians. The first time I was without the vehicle for 11 days. The second time I was without the vehicle for 22 days. Both service calls identified and confirmed that an unknown power drain was the source of the problem, and in both instances replacing the 12V battery was "the solution". The dealerships that serviced the vehicle ran all diagnostics and could not pinpoint the source of power drain; neither could assure me that it would not happen again, more or less at random. There were no warning lamps, messages or other indications of the problem prior to failure and the dealerships that…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 8, 2026Electrical systemODI 11776545

Engine

34 reports1 crash
“Vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate, usually happens after vehicle has been sitting 10 hours or longer. Had back to dealership 4 times, 3 times dealer was unable to reproduce concern. 4th visit dealer installed injectors, concern seemed to be gone for about 2 months but is back again.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2026Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11770365

Fuel/propulsion system

31 reports
“While driving at freeway speeds in normal traffic conditions, the vehicle experienced a sudden, complete loss of motive power and rapid deceleration. The accelerator pedal became entirely unresponsive. No warning messages, check engine lights, or diagnostic indicators appeared on the dashboard during or immediately after the failure leaving me blind to the vehicle's state. This loss of propulsion on a high-speed live freeway created an immediate, extreme safety hazard, forcing an emergency maneuver across active lanes of traffic without predictable vehicle control. Component or System: Engine / Powertrain / Fuel System (High-Pressure Fuel Pump / Fuel Rail Sensor) Recurring / Prior History: This is a severe, recurring safety defect. The exact same highway power loss and deceleration event occurred last month. The vehicle was brought to an authorized Hyundai dealership where a repair was allegedly completed on 9/11/2026. However, that repair failed to address the root cause, and the dangerous failure has now repeated itself. The lack of a dashboard warning light masks a systemic component failure (strongly suspected to be the high-pressure fuel pump or associated…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2026Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11773143
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl turbo hybrid
Transmissions
Automatic (AM-S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Santa Fe Hybrid FWD
Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
363536$1,650249
Santa Fe Hybrid AWD
Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
353434$1,750258
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID SUV AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
17.4%
Overall
4 / 5
HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID SUV FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
18.5%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 12, 2026Vehicle 20572Vehicle 20571
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2025 Santa Fe Hybrid questions

How many recalls does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 12, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid problems?

Owners filed 112 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (35), engine (34), fuel/propulsion system (31). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid at 34–36 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 12, 2026