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2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

HybridGas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
61 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA46
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA36 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Santa Fe Hybrid FWD, is EPA-rated at 36 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 46 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Santa Fe Hybrid FWDHybridFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo373636$1,750
Santa Fe Hybrid AWDHybridAWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo + 270V Li-Ion353434$1,850
Santa Fe FWDGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl turbo202924$2,600
Santa Fe AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl turbo202823$2,700
Santa Fe AWD XRTGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl turbo192521$2,950

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49447, 49490, 49451, 49496, 49495.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Seat Belts

298-032G
294,448 vehicles
ProblemHyundai 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.RiskA detached seat belt anchor will not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers will inspect and reinforce or replace the seat belt anchors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 29, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 and Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 298 and 032G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov April 8, 2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V218000reported Apr 6, 2026Hyundai Motor America
▲high

Electrical System

293
41,651 vehicles
ProblemHyundai 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."RiskAn instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.FixThe instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V047000reported Jan 26, 2026Hyundai Motor America
▲high

Air Bags

289 (H); 029G (G)
258 vehicles
ProblemHyundai 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.RiskSide curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
NHTSA campaign 25V809000reported Nov 20, 2025Hyundai Motor America
!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

281
29 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.RiskA loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.FixDealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 281.
NHTSA campaign 25V549000reported Aug 25, 2025Hyundai Motor America

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
46complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2025: 2 · 2026: 44

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance12
Unspecified12
Seats5
Electrical System4
Tires4
Lane Departure4

What owners describe

“"take a coffee break" warning goes on an inappropriate amount of time. When I drive straight down the highway it alarms. However, if i cross the white lines it does not alarm. Also when this alarm turns on all other sounds systems in the car go silent including the GPS/Apple Carplay. I have missed exits and turns due t…”Sep 7, 2026 · Lane Departure · NHTSA owner report
“Please keep in mind that I am not a mechanic and only a consumer so my specific knowledge of vehicle systems is limited. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. On July 9, 2026 while reversing out of my sloped driveway my Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid conducted a sudden, uncommanded emergency brake …”Aug 24, 2026 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“Driving through a green light going 45 mph and my car had an episode of “phantom brakingâ€� and decided to automatically brake out of NO WHERE. Slinging me forward and scaring me. No warning signs or chimes came on before, during or after the incident. It made no sense. I’m scared to drive this car with my baby in …”Aug 21, 2026 · Service Brakes · 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

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Santa Fe model years

A

2027 Hyundai Santa Fe

0 recalls · 0 complaints

F

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

5 recalls · 215 complaints

F

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

7 recalls · 176 complaints

C

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

2 recalls · 284 complaints

F

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe

8 recalls · 262 complaints

F

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe

8 recalls · 185 complaints

C

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

2 recalls · 207 complaints

D

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

3 recalls · 221 complaints

F

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

5 recalls · 427 complaints

F

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe

7 recalls · 1,307 complaints

D

2016 Hyundai 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. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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