Last updated: 2026-03-04
Ford Explorer vs Hyundai Santa-FE: Reliability Compared
Ford Explorer
Hyundai Santa-FE
Choosing between the Ford Explorer and the Hyundai Santa-FE? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Hyundai Santa-FE currently leads with an average score of 69/100 compared to 66/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Ford Explorer and Hyundai Santa-FE Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Hyundai Santa-FE is more reliable than the Ford Explorer, scoring 69/100 vs 66/100.
The Hyundai Santa Fe demonstrates superior reliability compared to the Ford Explorer, evidenced by its higher average reliability score of 79/100 versus the Explorer's 68/100. While both vehicles have a similar rate of owner complaints, with the Santa Fe at 8 per 10,000 sold and the Explorer at 6.8, the Santa Fe has a significantly lower number of recalls—60 in contrast to the Explorer's 117. Additionally, the Santa Fe offers a lower estimated annual repair cost of $515 compared to the Explorer's $732, making it a more cost-effective choice for maintenance. Overall, the Santa Fe edges out the Explorer in terms of reliability and ownership costs.
Key Differences
- 1Hyundai Santa-FE costs $217 less per year to repair
- 2Hyundai Santa-FE has 57 fewer total recalls
- 3Hyundai Santa-FE has 4% lower major repair risk
Category Scoreboard
Ford Explorer vs Hyundai Santa-FE: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Ford Explorer | Hyundai Santa-FE |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 66/100 | 69/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 117 | 60 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 6.8 | 8 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $732/yr | $515/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.2/yr | 0.2/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 14% | 10% |
| Year Wins | 2 (2 tied) | 4 (2 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Explorer and Hyundai Santa-FE?
The Ford Explorer exhibits a higher incidence of power train complaints with 618 total issues, including 12 crash-linked, significantly more than the Hyundai Santa-Fe's 269 complaints with 9 crash-related. The Explorer also faces notable concerns in the "Unknown or Other" category with 417 complaints, whereas the Santa-Fe records 243 complaints in the same category but with a slightly higher crash linkage of 12. Conversely, the Santa-Fe experiences more engine-related issues, tallying 321 complaints compared to the Explorer's 144, though crash links are not specified for the Santa-Fe. Both models show vulnerability in service brakes, with the Santa-Fe having a marginally higher number of complaints (105) and equal crash linkages (11) compared to the Explorer (73 complaints, 11 crash-linked).
| Component | Ford Explorer | Hyundai Santa-FE |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1.6Low | 1.3Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.1Low | 1.1Low |
| ENGINE | 0.4Very Low | 1.5Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.7Very Low | 0.9Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 1Very Low | —None |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.2Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SEATS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Ford Explorer or Hyundai Santa-FE?
How Does Ford Explorer vs Hyundai Santa-FE Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Ford Explorer | Hyundai Santa-FE | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 72/10014R / 65C | 75/1006R / 109C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2024 | 73/1006R / 14C | 73/1009R / 109C | Tie |
| 2023 | 71/10012R / 84C | 70/1004R / 244C | Ford Explorer |
| 2022 | 65/10021R / 208C | 66/10014R / 223C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2021 | 62/10022R / 354C | 69/10010R / 165C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2020 | 54/10029R / 1066C | 70/1002R / 165C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2019 | 69/1004R / 252C | 69/1003R / 201C | Tie |
| 2018 | 64/1005R / 651C | 63/1007R / 489C | Ford Explorer |
| 2026(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | 73/100(predicted) | Hyundai Santa-FE |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Explorer scored 73/100 and the 2025 Hyundai Santa-FE scored 75/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Ford Explorer vs the Hyundai Santa-FE?
Ford Explorer vs Hyundai Santa-FE: Common Questions
- Is the Ford Explorer more reliable than the Hyundai Santa-FE?
- Based on our data, the Hyundai Santa-FE is more reliable with an average score of 69/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Ford Explorer or the Hyundai Santa-FE?
- The Ford Explorer has more recalls (117) compared to the Hyundai Santa-FE (60). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Ford Explorer or the Hyundai Santa-FE?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Ford Explorer has a lower complaint rate at 6.8 per 10,000 sold versus 8 for the Hyundai Santa-FE. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Ford Explorer or the Hyundai Santa-FE?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Hyundai Santa-FE is cheaper to maintain at $515/year versus $732/year for the Ford Explorer.
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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