Short answer
Among Hyundai Santa FE model years through 2024, 2006 and 2012 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2021 and 2022 have the most (8). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Hyundai Santa FE: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 26 (2001–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 57
- Fewest recalls
- 2006 and 2012 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2021 and 2022 (8)
- Most recalled system
- Service brakes, hydraulic (18)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2013, 2014, 2015 and 9 more years
Hyundai Santa FE Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 5 | 4 stars | Air bags, Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2024 | 7 | 4 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Air bags |
| 2023 | 2 | 5 stars | Seat belts, Trailer hitches |
| 2022 | 8 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2021 | 8 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Air bags, Back over prevention |
| 2020 | 2 | 5 stars | Trailer hitches, Visibility |
| 2019 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Service brakes, hydraulic, Trailer hitches |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags, Steering |
| 2017 | 7 | 5 stars | Seat belts, Engine and engine cooling, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2016 | 3 | 5 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Seat belts, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2015 | 4 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2014 | 7 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2013 | 7 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2012 | 1 | 3 stars | Engine |
| 2011 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2010 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Power train |
| 2009 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting |
| 2008 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Exterior lighting |
| 2007 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Equipment |
| 2006 | 1 | Not rated | Suspension |
| 2005 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Suspension |
| 2004 | 3 | Not rated | Equipment, Service brakes, hydraulic, Suspension |
| 2003 | 4 | Not rated | Suspension, Equipment, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2002 | 4 | Not rated | Suspension, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2001 | 4 | Not rated | Suspension, Electrical system, Equipment |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20264 recalls
- 20255 recalls
- 20247 recalls
- 20232 recalls
- 20228 recalls
- 20218 recalls
- 20202 recalls
- 20193 recalls
- 20185 recalls
- 20177 recalls
- 20163 recalls
- 20154 recalls
- 20147 recalls
- 20137 recalls
- 20121 recall
- 20112 recalls
- 20102 recalls
- 20092 recalls
- 20084 recalls
- 20077 recalls
- 20061 recall
- 20053 recalls
- 20043 recalls
- 20034 recalls
- 20024 recalls
- 20014 recalls
Hyundai Santa FE: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Hyundai Santa FE recalls are service brakes, hydraulic (18), air bags (13), suspension (10), seat belts (9) and electrical system (7). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 26 model years, and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 9 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Hyundai Santa FE Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Hyundai Santa FE?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2006 and 2012 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Hyundai Santa FE model years have the most recalls?
2021 and 2022 have the most, with 8 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Santa FE", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy