2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Reliability Report

Stalling is the main complaint. The engine cuts out while driving or when braking to a stop, sometimes with a flashing check engine light, and some owners link it to the Idle Stop and Go system. Others describe misfires, rough idle, hesitation, and power loss on the highway. Repairs named in these reports include fuel injectors, an intake valve, and full engine replacement, yet dealers sometimes find nothing wrong. Several failures occur in the first months of ownership, and one engine failure is reported near 67,000 miles.

Glass shatters or cracks with nothing striking it. Most reports involve the panoramic sunroof, including the small "eyebrow" glass above the windshield, breaking while parked, backing out, or driving on the interstate. A rear window also shattered in a driveway. Dealers often refuse warranty coverage and send owners to their insurer. Failures appear between about 10,000 and 46,677 miles. One complaint concerns a visibility recall delayed by unavailable parts rather than an actual failure.

False automatic braking is the main pattern. The system slams on the brakes at highway speed with nothing ahead, flashing a red warning and nearly causing rear-end collisions. One owner saw it start at about 1,000 miles. Smart Cruise Control also shuts off partway through drives with a master warning light and brakes abruptly near trucks. One crash report says the system failed to stop the car before a low-speed impact. A separate complaint describes an ABS light leading to caliper and module replacement.

Windshields crack easily, either with no impact at all or after a small pebble strike. Chips can spread across the driver's view within days. Several of these failures happen on nearly new cars, one under 1000 miles. Other complaints cite wavy windshield glass that blurs parts of the view and a gap between the sun visor and the A pillar that lets glare reach the driver.

Two problems appear. Automatic emergency braking engages with nothing ahead at highway speed, or with nothing behind while reversing, in one case 6 times. More serious, the brake pedal sinks to the floor with little or no braking, at least once forcing a driver through a red light. No warning light accompanies the soft pedal. One owner ties it to a technical service bulletin, with failure at about 58,800 miles.

Belts retract slowly or stick, sometimes needing extra force to pull out or a hand to help them retract. One complaint involves a seat belt recall whose repair part was unavailable, leaving the owner waiting, with sticking at about 26,000 miles. Other reports describe the driver's belt crossing at the neck even at its lowest adjustment and a front passenger belt that does not work properly.

The air bag warning light comes on alongside related faults. Reports include a failed clock spring that also disabled the steering wheel controls and blocked a registration renewal, and a passenger air bag off message that returned after a software update and a module replacement. Another owner traced multiple air bag codes to a replacement cowl cross bar that blocked the ground connection. With 3 reports, no mileage pattern is visible.