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2017 Hyundai Santa Fe

Gas Compact SUV

202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
F
Safety Signal
37 / 100
FSafety Signal · 37 / 100
7Recalls · 1 critical
1,307Complaints · owner reports
5★Crash rating · NHTSA overall
24 mpgFuel economy · best combined
⚠️
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Santa Fe Sport FWD, is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 1307 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Santa Fe Sport FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl212724$2,600
Santa Fe Sport FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202823$2,700
Santa Fe Sport Ultimate FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202723$2,700
Santa Fe Sport AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo192622$2,850
Santa Fe Sport AWDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl202622$2,850
Santa Fe FWDGasFWD3.3L 6-cyl182521$2,950
Santa Fe Sport Ultimate AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo192421$2,950
Santa Fe AWDGasAWD3.3L 6-cyl182420$3,100
Santa Fe Ultimate FWDGasFWD3.3L 6-cyl172320$3,100
Santa Fe Ultimate AWDGasAWD3.3L 6-cyl172219$3,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

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Recalls (7)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

critical
Park outside357,348 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.

Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.

NHTSA campaign 22V056000 · reported Feb 3, 2022 · Hyundai Motor America

Engine And Engine Cooling

high
420 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The crankshaft assemblies may have been produced with surface irregularities in the crankshaft pin, causing engine bearing wear.

Risk: The engine bearing wear may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Hyundai will notify all owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 168.

NHTSA campaign 17V578000 · reported Sep 20, 2017 · Hyundai Motor America

Latches/Locks/Linkages

high
437,400 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

Risk: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.

NHTSA campaign 17V358000 · reported Jun 5, 2017 · Hyundai Motor America

Seat Belts

high
17,160 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolt for the driver's seat belt anchor might not have been sufficiently tightened during assembly.

Risk: If the bolt was not sufficiently tightened, driver's seat belt may come unanchored in a collision, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners and dealers will verify that the driver's seatbelt anchor is properly secured, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for the recall is 165.

NHTSA campaign 17V365000 · reported Jun 5, 2017 · Hyundai Motor America

Tires

high
190 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that may not have been set in the correct mode during vehicle assembly, and therefore will not provide an appropriate warning in the event of an underinflated tire. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

Risk: An underinflated inflated tire can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the TPMS sensors, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for the recall is 159.

NHTSA campaign 17V142000 · reported Mar 6, 2017 · Hyundai Motor America

Electrical System

high
6,172 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.

NHTSA campaign 16V842000 · reported Nov 21, 2016 · Hyundai Motor America

Seat Belts

high
34,200 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015 to February 12, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses may be damaged by the seat's height adjuster mechanism, resulting in a failure to provide an audible warning when front seat occupants do not fasten their seat belts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: Without a warning to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reroute the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses to their proper locations, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 141.

NHTSA campaign 16V145000 · reported Mar 10, 2016 · Hyundai Motor America

NHTSA investigations

Engine — 3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP) (closed)

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on February 2, 2024, requesting a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the "engine" on the following vehicle model: 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles equipped with the 3.3L V-Shaped GDI Lambda-II engines. The petition cites allegations of a loss of motive power, often resulting in an engine seizure. The stall is preceded by a knocking sound, decreased performance and no warning lights. An analysis of the subject vehicle population was undertaken using complaints submitted to ODI along with manufacturer data.  It was determined that the frequency of events is low for the subject population, while those that specifically rep

Opened Feb 8, 2024 · closed May 16, 2024 · action DP24001

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module — Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (open)

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · action AQ23002

Engine — Loss of Motive Power (closed)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003

Owner complaints

1307 complaints filed

19 involved a crash, 30 a fire, 26 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2016: 47 · 2017: 99 · 2018: 58 · 2019: 56 · 2020: 38 · 2021: 59 · 2022: 222 · 2023: 270 · 2024: 196 · 2025: 145 · 2026: 117

Most-cited components

  • Engine — 840
  • Power Train — 199
  • Unknown Or Other — 127
  • Fuel/Propulsion System — 84
  • Vehicle Speed Control — 79
“I PURCHASED A NEW 2017 SANTA FE SPORT ON 5-26-17. ON 7-19-17 AT AROUND 7100 MILES I RECEIVED A MESSAGE WARNING ME OF THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. I PUT A PHONE CALL IN THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT INTO THE SHOP 7-20-17 (THUR). THAT AFTERNOON I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY SERVICE ADVISER STATIN…”Aug 10, 2017 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED OR SLOW SPEED, SUCH AS PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR A SECOND OR MORE BEFORE ACCELERATING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION FROM A STOP, YOU HIT THE GAS & NO RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE. HAVE TO KEEP PRESSING G…”Jul 31, 2017 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA owner report
“VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE DRIVER LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER OR OTHERWISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THE SHOP, THE CYLINDER NUMBER 1 FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED AND THERE WAS EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF FUEL IN THE OIL.”Jul 29, 2017 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆14%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Santa Fe model years

A

2027 Santa Fe

0 recalls · 0 complaints

D

2026 Santa Fe

4 recalls · 46 complaints

F

2025 Santa Fe

5 recalls · 215 complaints

F

2024 Santa Fe

7 recalls · 176 complaints

C

2023 Santa Fe

2 recalls · 284 complaints

F

2022 Santa Fe

8 recalls · 262 complaints

F

2021 Santa Fe

8 recalls · 185 complaints

C

2020 Santa Fe

2 recalls · 207 complaints

D

2019 Santa Fe

3 recalls · 221 complaints

F

2018 Santa Fe

5 recalls · 427 complaints

D

2016 Santa Fe

3 recalls · 303 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 37243, 37217, 37218, 37219, 37244, 37228, 37220, 37230, 37229, 37231). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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