Problems · NHTSA complaints
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe problems
Owners filed 156 complaints about the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe with NHTSA between Apr 2024 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is power train (45).
Complaints
156
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train45
- Electrical system30
- Forward collision avoidance16
- Engine13
- Service brakes11
- Seat belts10
- Seats9
- Vehicle speed control8
- Visibility/wiper7
- Back over prevention6
- Tires6
- Structure5
- Wheels4
- Lane departure4
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
37
39
80
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 39 |
| 2026 | 80 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
45 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, after the light turned to green, the vehicle stalled and became inoperable. The contact waited for several seconds and depressed the accelerator pedal before the vehicle returned to normal operation. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V529000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was contacted but was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.”
Electrical system
30 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“Multiple warnings flashing across dashboard regarding lane assist and emergency stopping. The Auto Hold came on by itself and turned orange. The emergency parking brake came on and stayed on. The warnings kept dinging every 30 seconds while driving and lit up every icon on the dashboard. Once parked I turned off lane assist, but it continued to trigger warnings. Lights flickered in park and with engine turned off. There is a clear malfunction going on somewhere.”
Forward collision avoidance
16 reports2 crashes
“I have had the vehicle in 4 times for check forward attendition warning system light keeps coming on. The first time they replaced the front camera. The situation came back after I was using the cruise control on a express way. Did not do it do it on the road but as soon as you stopped and turned the vehicle off the vehicle check forward attention warning system would come on and off and the only way to shut it off was to stop from more than 20 minutes and it would reset. Took the vehicle back 3 times and they could replicate so there was nothing they could do. The issue came back today. The check forward attention warning system light keeps going on and off. We stopped and let the vehicle sit and upon restarting the check forward attention did not reset . This time the vehicle lost all volume from the dash board. You could recieve phone but no volume. No radio volume. All the safety features that Bing are not working. Check the set up and the volume had a red ️ next to the volume. 4 times into the shop for the same issur”
Engine
13 reports
“I am reporting an intermittent transmission/shifting issue that has not been resolved despite multiple visits to the dealership. On several occasions, when shifting my vehicle from Park into Drive or Reverse, the vehicle will not engage the selected gear and remains in Park. When this happens, the vehicle is not drivable until I place it back in Park, shut the engine off, and restart it. After restarting, the transmission will usually engage normally. I have reported this issue to the dealership multiple times. The dealership has connected diagnostic equipment to the vehicle; however, no diagnostic trouble codes have been stored, and they have been unable to identify the cause. Despite the lack of codes, the problem continues to occur intermittently. My concern is that this issue could create a safety hazard if the vehicle fails to engage a gear when needed, such as when entering traffic, leaving a parking area, or attempting to move the vehicle out of a dangerous situation. The fact that the vehicle only operates properly after being shut off and restarted suggests a possible defect within the shifting, transmission, or electronic control system. I am…”
Service brakes
11 reports1 crash
“Despite having the DCT software recall repaired, today the parking brake disengaged after the car was idling for a few minutes at my son’s school. It lurched forward, startling me, and then I was alerted that the emergency parking brake deployed. The rollaway could have injured a child in the parking lot. No alerts or lights have been on prior. Additionally, after the rollaway incident, I was stopped at a red light, and my brakes depressed halfway. The last few weeks the acceleration from stop is difficult, and the brakes shudder and partially depress, especially when driving over a bump - feeling every minor flaw in the road rattling beneath my foot on the pedal. To also be mentioned - I have retained an attorney to pursue a Magnusson Moss cash & keep settlement on the car. From June - August 2026 the car was out of service, 4 repair orders, 2 dealerships, and a FSE I demanded finally found & diagnosed faulty O-rings causing the freon to leak and the AC to fail. The car also smelled strongly of fuel one full day, and the dash & steering wheel felt hot to the touch - but no defect was found or diagnosed.”
Seat belts
10 reports1 crash1 related recall
“I got recall notice, called and scheduled appointment for July 10. I brought my car in and told them I was having issues with the seatbelt sticking sometimes. When I went to pick it up, they said the part had been ordered and would be in a few days. I never heard from them and contacted them to check on 7/21, 7/27, 8/5, 8/20, 8/28, and today. They have never reached out to me once. Today my seatbelt got stuck and I couldn’t get out of my car. I have been patient and I need the seatbelt fixed before something happens and I can’t get out or my children can’t get out.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.