NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 21 owner complaints for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. Most complaints involve electrical system (6) and forward collision avoidance (5). The EPA rates it 34–36 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“This is the SECOND occurrence in the past two weeks. I was traveling on a HEAVILY trafficked 10 lane divided interstate, doing the speed limit on cruise control when the vehicle suddenly and inexplicably lost power. It went into "limp mode" (will not go over 30 mph). Thankfully i was able to negotiate to the shoulder but the maneuver was EXTREMLY dangerous as the rest of traffic was moving between 60 and 80 mph. It was harrowing and extremely frightening. Warning lights that were displayed- First, a "Check hybrid system" message appears. Accompanied by SEVERAL other warning lights. Eventually, a "stop vehicle and check power supply" message appeared and would not even move in "limp mode". This appears to be either a bent connection plug or fuel injector issue. The first time this happened ([XXX]) it was towed to Southern States in Raleigh, NC (I purchased it from Johnson in Apex) where they concluded nothing was wrong. They claimed no codes were available other than some low battery codes. This was a lie. The vehicle app showed two codes-POC7300 and P193700. They did nothing but recharge the battery by running the engine. I feel this dealership put me in danger…”
“Traveling the PA Turnpike with the cruise control on and traveling 73 mph. I was in the far left lane and just passed a slower car. There was nothing in front of me in the far left lane or the lane next for at least a half a mile. After just passing the slower car the forward collision avoidance came on and tried to stop the car. I put my foot on the brake as an instinctive action which I believe disengaged the Forward Collision Avoidance system. The dash board lit up saying it was the Forward Collision system. If there was another car/truck following me closely they would have hit our car and at that speed I am sure I would not be here writing this. Calling today the dealer to have this checked out. No one else has inspected or checked this problem yet.”
“Vehicle lost power and went into "limp mode" at highway speed on a busy interstate. I was able to get to the shoulder and "limp" to the next exit (would not exceed 30 mph) but I was lucky to be able to safely get there. The dealership said it was a battery issue? They acted like it was no big deal. To unexpectedly lose power at highway speed on a busy interstate was very frightening. (I had to negotiate several lanes to get on the shoulder). I also feel Hyundai is not taking it seriously. The dealership (Southern States) said no incidents came up in the computer scan and they just ran the engine for an hour to recharge the battery. Nothing makes sense here. About 15 minutes before the incident a warning came on the screen reading "there may be a problem with the engine management system". After trying to "limp" home, it completely died, requiring a tow to the dealership. Another warning "stop vehicle and check power supply" came on the screen followed by the dash lights going crazy like a pinball machine. This could have ended a lot worse.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Hybrid FWD Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 37 | 36 | 36 | $1,800 | 244 |
| Santa Fe Hybrid AWD Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 35 | 34 | 34 | $1,900 | 258 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
3 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 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.
Owners filed 21 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (6), forward collision avoidance (5), engine (5). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid at 34–36 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid 5 out of 5 stars overall.