Last updated: 2026-10-10
Ford Edge vs Hyundai Santa Fe: Reliability Compared
Ford Edge
Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa-FE edges out the Ford Edge on reliability. Owners filed fewer complaints per vehicle sold, and the Edge's 2.0L EcoBoost has a common coolant-in-cylinder failure. The Santa-FE carries more recalls and some serious brake reports, so the lead is slight.
How Do the Ford Edge and Hyundai Santa Fe Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Hyundai Santa Fe is more reliable than the Ford Edge, scoring 70/100 vs 67/100.
A slight edge goes to the Hyundai Santa-FE. Owners filed fewer complaints per vehicle sold, and its profile has nothing like the Ford Edge's dominant failure: coolant leaking into the cylinders of the 2.0L EcoBoost, which dealers often fix with a long-block replacement. The gap is small, though. The Santa-FE has far more federal recalls, and its crash-linked brake and sudden acceleration reports are serious. Each model earns a good standing, so the choice comes down to which risk you would rather carry.
Key Differences
- 1Ford Edge has 28 fewer total recalls
- 2Hyundai Santa Fe scores 3 points higher in reliability
- 3Hyundai Santa Fe has 1.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Ford Edge vs Hyundai Santa Fe: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Ford Edge | Hyundai Santa Fe |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 67/100 | 70/100 |
| Years Tracked | 7 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 32 | 60 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 9.4 | 8 |
| Year Wins | 3 (1 tied) | 3 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Edge and Hyundai Santa Fe?
Concentrated trouble defines the Edge. Coolant entering cylinders shows up as misfires, white smoke, milky oil, and dealer calls for a new engine, mostly between about 50,000 and 100,000 miles. The Santa-FE's engine trouble is heavy oil burning, with a flickering low oil light and engines several quarts low, then knocking, stalling, or failure. It also has crash-linked brake and speed control complaints: pedals that do not stop the car, and surges while parking. The Edge has no such areas. Its crash-linked items are a failed rearview camera awaiting recall parts and a harsh-shifting complaint with injuries.
| Component | Ford Edge | Hyundai Santa Fe |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 3.3Average | 1.3Low |
| ENGINE | 2Low | 1.5Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.6Very Low | 1.2Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.5Very Low | 0.9Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.9Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 0.3Very Low | —None |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| WHEELS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| STEERING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| TRAILER HITCHES | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Ford Edge vs Hyundai Santa Fe Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Ford Edge | Hyundai Santa Fe | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 76/1002R / 38C | 73/1009R / 109C | Ford Edge |
| 2023 | 74/1004R / 16C | 70/1004R / 244C | Ford Edge |
| 2022 | 69/1005R / 113C | 66/10014R / 223C | Ford Edge |
| 2021 | 69/1007R / 92C | 69/10010R / 165C | Tie |
| 2020 | 64/1004R / 272C | 70/1002R / 165C | Hyundai Santa Fe |
| 2019 | 60/1003R / 687C | 69/1003R / 201C | Hyundai Santa Fe |
| 2018 | 57/1007R / 746C | 63/1007R / 489C | Hyundai Santa Fe |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Edge scored 76/100 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 Ford Edge vs the Hyundai Santa Fe?
Ford Edge vs Hyundai Santa Fe: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Santa-FE more reliable than the Ford Edge?
- Slightly, yes. Both have a good standing, but the Santa-FE draws fewer owner complaints per vehicle sold, at 8 per 10,000 versus 9.4 for the Edge. The Edge's coolant-in-cylinder engine failure is the biggest single risk. The Santa-FE's oil burning and brake complaints keep the gap small.
- Which has more recalls, the Santa-FE or the Edge?
- The Santa-FE has more. Federal recall records show 60 recalls across 9 model years for the Santa-FE, against 32 across 7 model years for the Edge. Recall counts do not show how severe the problems were, so check any specific vehicle's VIN for open recalls before buying.
- What is the biggest problem with the Ford Edge?
- Coolant leaking into the cylinders of the 2.0L EcoBoost. Owners first see a check engine light with a misfire, a rough start, or coolant dropping with no puddle. Dealers usually call for a full long-block replacement, with quotes as high as $12,000. Failures cluster between about 50,000 and 100,000 miles.
- Does the Hyundai Santa-FE burn oil?
- Owner complaints say it can. The usual pattern is a flickering low oil light and an engine several quarts low between changes, with no visible leak, often around 78,788 to 110,000 miles. Left unchecked, it can lead to knocking, stalling, or engine failure, so check the oil level often.
- Which model has more crash-linked complaints in brakes or acceleration?
- The Santa-FE. Its service brake complaints include 11 crash-linked reports, and its speed control complaints include 8, mostly sudden acceleration while parking. The Edge's problem areas list no brake or speed control category. Its crash-linked reports involve the powertrain, electrical system, and rearview camera.
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Decided between Ford Edge and Hyundai Santa Fe? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Ford Edge 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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