Last updated: 2026-03-04
Hyundai Santa-FE vs Kia Telluride: Reliability Compared
Hyundai Santa-FE
Kia Telluride
Choosing between the Hyundai Santa-FE and the Kia Telluride? 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 Hyundai Santa-FE and Kia Telluride Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Hyundai Santa-FE is more reliable than the Kia Telluride, scoring 69/100 vs 66/100.
The Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Telluride both fall within the midsize SUV segment, yet their reliability profiles differ. The Santa Fe boasts a higher average reliability score of 79/100 compared to the Telluride's 71/100. Despite having a higher total recall count of 60 over nine years, the Santa Fe has fewer owner complaints per 10,000 sold at 8, compared to the Telluride's 23.3. Additionally, the Santa Fe presents a lower estimated annual repair cost of $515, making it the more reliable choice based on these metrics.
Key Differences
- 1Hyundai Santa-FE costs $58 less per year to repair
- 2Kia Telluride has 33 fewer total recalls
- 3Hyundai Santa-FE has 15.3 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Hyundai Santa-FE vs Kia Telluride: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Hyundai Santa-FE | Kia Telluride |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 69/100 | 66/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 6 |
| Total Recalls | 60 | 27 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 8 | 23.3 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $515/yr | $573/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.2/yr | 0.4/yr |
| Year Wins | 5 | 1 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Santa-FE and Kia Telluride?
The Hyundai Santa-FE exhibits a higher number of complaints related to the engine and power train, with 321 and 269 complaints respectively, compared to the Kia Telluride's 127 engine and 114 power train complaints. Notably, the Santa-FE has more crash-linked issues in the power train (9) and service brakes (11) than the Telluride, which has 5 power train and 6 service brake crash-linked complaints. The Telluride, however, faces significant concerns with visibility/wiper problems, totaling 288 complaints, a category where the Santa-FE is not prominently affected. Both models show a similar level of electrical system complaints, but the Santa-FE's issues are more crash-linked, indicating a potential area for safety improvements.
| Component | Hyundai Santa-FE | Kia Telluride |
|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.1Low | 4.4Average |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 0.1Very Low | 4.2Average |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.9Very Low | 2.8Low |
| ENGINE | 1.5Low | 1.9Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.3Low | 1.7Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | 2.5Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.5Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.9Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.3Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.3Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Hyundai Santa-FE or Kia Telluride?
How Does Hyundai Santa-FE vs Kia Telluride Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Hyundai Santa-FE | Kia Telluride | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75/1006R / 109C | 78/1002R / 32C | Kia Telluride |
| 2024 | 73/1009R / 109C | 69/1004R / 180C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2023 | 70/1004R / 244C | 68/1005R / 161C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2022 | 66/10014R / 223C | 63/1006R / 280C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2021 | 69/10010R / 165C | 63/1004R / 280C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
| 2020 | 70/1002R / 165C | 55/1006R / 667C | Hyundai Santa-FE |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Hyundai Santa-FE scored 75/100 and the 2025 Kia Telluride scored 78/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Hyundai Santa-FE vs the Kia Telluride?
Hyundai Santa-FE vs Kia Telluride: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Santa-FE more reliable than the Kia Telluride?
- 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 Hyundai Santa-FE or the Kia Telluride?
- The Hyundai Santa-FE has more recalls (60) compared to the Kia Telluride (27). 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 Hyundai Santa-FE or the Kia Telluride?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Hyundai Santa-FE has a lower complaint rate at 8 per 10,000 sold versus 23.3 for the Kia Telluride. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Hyundai Santa-FE or the Kia Telluride?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Hyundai Santa-FE is cheaper to maintain at $515/year versus $573/year for the Kia Telluride.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Hyundai Santa-FE comparisons
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.
See incorrect data? Report an issue