2021 Hyundai Santa Fe: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe: 7 recalls, 166 owner complaints and up to 26 mpg combined.
Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #21V185000 · 2021 · 10 vehicles
What's wrong: The occupant detection system (ods) module May not deactivate the air bag upon detection of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ods module, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied as of May 12, 2021.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #21V308000 · 2021 · 2 vehicles
What's wrong: 5-litre turbo engines. The fuel pipe connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail May not have been tightened properly.
Why it matters: An insufficiently tightened fuel pipe May leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 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.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #21V524000 · 2021 · 15,752 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l turbocharged engines. Fuel May leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Why it matters: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
The 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.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #21V00M000 · 2021 · 26,413 vehicles
What's wrong: During manufacturing, the windshield May not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
Why it matters: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #22V746000 · 2022 · 56,148 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Trailer hitch Vehicle recall #23V181000 · 2023 · 584,784 vehicles
What's wrong: Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (pcb) May cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Why it matters: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The 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.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #24V879000 · 2024 · 226,118 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2025.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (50): the most common themes are warning light on (21), hard / delayed shifting (16), stalls / loses power (14).
- Other / unknown (41): the most common themes are warning light on (6), stalls / loses power (4).
- Engine (37): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (15), warning light on (12).
- Electrical (29): the most common themes are electrical failure (5), stalls / loses power (5), warning light on (4).
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has 166 owner complaints, ranking #20 of 26 Santa Fe model years for complaints (well below the 295 average). Complaints peaked in 2022 (43 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 2 years old, at a median of 20,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2020 (214 complaints, 2 recalls), 2022 (200 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 28 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 28 | 25 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 25 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (50), other / unknown (41), engine (37).
What gas mileage does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA ratings run up to 26 mpg combined (2.5 L, Automatic (S8)), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.