Last updated: 2026-10-10
Chevrolet Blazer vs Hyundai Santa Fe: Reliability Compared
Chevrolet Blazer
Hyundai Santa Fe
On reliability, the Chevrolet Blazer beats the Hyundai Santa-FE by a clear margin. The deciding fact is the complaint rate: owners report far fewer problems per car sold on the Blazer, while Santa-FE owners describe heavy oil burning and engine failures.
How Do the Chevrolet Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Chevrolet Blazer is more reliable than the Hyundai Santa Fe, scoring 76/100 vs 70/100.
Owners and federal records both favor the Blazer, and the edge is clear. Owners filed 2.1 complaints per 10,000 sold against 8 for the Santa-FE, and the Santa-FE carries 60 recalls to the Blazer's 19. Repair costs are nearly identical, so the gap comes from how often things go wrong and how bad they get. The Santa-FE's heavy oil burning and engine failures weigh most. The Blazer's worst reports, transmission failures and a coolant temperature fault, are costly but less common.
Key Differences
- 1Chevrolet Blazer has 41 fewer total recalls
- 2Chevrolet Blazer scores 6 points higher in reliability
- 3Hyundai Santa Fe costs $6 less per year to repair
Category Scoreboard
Chevrolet Blazer vs Hyundai Santa Fe: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Chevrolet Blazer | Hyundai Santa Fe |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 76/100 | 70/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 19 | 60 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 2.1 | 8 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $521/yr | $515/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.2/yr |
| Year Wins | 6 (1 tied) | 1 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe?
Oil use defines the Santa-FE. Engines run several quarts low with no visible leak, often around 78,788 to 110,000 miles, and can end in knocking, stalling at highway speed, or engine failure. Its crash-linked reports also include sudden acceleration while parking and brakes that did not stop the car. The Blazer's trouble centers on cooling and the transmission: a stuck temperature gauge, a fan that runs after shutdown, cracked radiators, and transmission failures near 82,000 to 84,000 miles. Its brake complaints include a pedal that turns rock hard at freeway speed. Sudden acceleration is not among its main problem areas.
| Component | Chevrolet Blazer | Hyundai Santa Fe |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 0.4Very Low | 1.3Low |
| ENGINE | 0.2Very Low | 1.5Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.3Very Low | 1.2Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.4Very Low | 0.9Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.3Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| PARKING BRAKE | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | —None |
| TRAILER HITCHES | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Blazer or Hyundai Santa Fe?
How Does Chevrolet Blazer vs Hyundai Santa Fe Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Chevrolet Blazer | Hyundai Santa Fe | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 88/1000R / 0C | 75/1005R / 5C | Chevrolet Blazer |
| 2025 | 77/1004R / 26C | 75/1006R / 109C | Chevrolet Blazer |
| 2024 | 70/1006R / 99C | 73/1009R / 109C | Hyundai Santa Fe |
| 2023 | 78/1002R / 29C | 70/1004R / 244C | Chevrolet Blazer |
| 2022 | 79/1001R / 33C | 66/10014R / 223C | Chevrolet Blazer |
| 2021 | 74/1001R / 104C | 69/10010R / 165C | Chevrolet Blazer |
| 2020 | 71/1003R / 178C | 70/1002R / 165C | Chevrolet Blazer |
| 2019 | 69/1002R / 170C | 69/1003R / 201C | Tie |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer scored 79/100 and the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe scored 73/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Blazer vs the Hyundai Santa Fe?
Chevrolet Blazer vs Hyundai Santa Fe: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Santa-FE more reliable than the Chevrolet Blazer?
- No. The Blazer has a clear edge. It draws 2.1 owner complaints per 10,000 sold against 8 for the Santa-FE, and it has 19 recalls to the Santa-FE's 60. The Santa-FE is slightly cheaper to repair each year, but that does not offset its higher problem rate.
- Which has more recalls, the Santa-FE or the Blazer?
- The Santa-FE has far more. Federal recall records show 60 recalls across 9 model years for the Santa-FE and 19 across 8 model years for the Blazer. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy, whichever model you choose.
- Which costs less to repair, the Santa-FE or the Blazer?
- The Santa-FE costs slightly less. Independent repair-cost data puts it near $515 a year against $521 for the Blazer, about $30 over five years. It also averages 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year, compared with 0.3 for the Blazer.
- What is the biggest Santa-FE problem to watch for?
- Heavy oil burning. Owners find the engine several quarts low with no visible leak, often around 78,788 to 110,000 miles. Unchecked, it can bring shuddering, misfires, stalling at highway speed, or engine failure. Ask for oil-change records and have a shop check oil loss.
- What goes wrong on the Chevrolet Blazer?
- Cooling faults and transmission failures lead. Owners report a stuck temperature gauge, a fan running after shutdown, and a Steering Assist Reduced warning. Cracked radiators are common. Transmissions have failed around 82,000 to 84,000 miles, sometimes after shuddering from a stop.
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Decided between Chevrolet Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Chevrolet Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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