Last updated: 2026-10-10

Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota 4Runner: Reliability Compared

Hyundai Santa Fe reliability comparison

Hyundai Santa Fe

70
GoodReliability score: 70 out of 100, rated Good
VS
More ReliableToyota 4Runner reliability comparison

Toyota 4Runner

80
ExcellentReliability score: 80 out of 100, rated Excellent

On reliability, the Toyota 4RUNNER beats the Hyundai Santa-FE by a wide margin. Owners filed far fewer complaints per vehicle sold. Repair costs are nearly identical, so complaint rates and recalls decide it.

How Do the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota 4Runner Generations Compare?

Most 4Runners a shopper will see from 2018 to 2024 belong to one long-running design, the fifth generation (N280), which ran from 2010 with a facelift in 2013. The sixth generation (N500) arrived with the 2025 model year, so those vehicles have had little time to collect complaints. The Santa Fe has had more design changes in the same window. The third generation ended with 2018, the fourth (TM) covered 2019 through 2023 with a 2021 refresh, and the fifth (MX5) began with 2024. A 2018 is the last of the older design.

Verdict

The Toyota 4Runner is more reliable than the Hyundai Santa Fe, scoring 80/100 vs 70/100.

Reliability favors the Toyota 4Runner, and the gap is large. Owners filed far fewer complaints per vehicle sold, and federal recall records show far fewer recalls. The Santa Fe holds a good standing, but heavy oil burning and brake and acceleration failures pull it down. Repair bills are about the same for both, so the edge comes from how often and how badly the Santa Fe goes wrong, not from what a shop charges.

Key Differences

  1. 1Toyota 4Runner has 43 fewer total recalls
  2. 2Toyota 4Runner scores 10 points higher in reliability
  3. 3Toyota 4Runner has 6.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Hyundai Santa Fe
—
4Toyota 4Runner
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair Risk

Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota 4Runner: Which Is More Reliable?

Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota 4Runner at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricHyundai Santa FeToyota 4Runner
Reliability Score70/10080/100
Years Tracked99
Total Recalls6017
Complaints per 10k Sold81.5
Annual Repair Cost$515/yr$514/yr
Repair Frequency0.2/yr0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk10%13%
Year Wins09

What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota 4Runner?

Oil burning is the Santa Fe's biggest pattern. Owners find the engine several quarts low with no leak, then report shuddering, knocking, stalling and some engine failures. The 4Runner's top complaint is a shake through the steering wheel at 50 to 70 mph that shops often cannot cure. Crash links differ sharply. The Santa Fe has them in brakes that fail to stop the car, sudden acceleration while parking, and power train failures. The 4Runner's main crash-linked cluster is airbags that did not deploy in serious collisions.

Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota 4Runner common problem areas comparison
ComponentHyundai Santa FeToyota 4Runner
ENGINE1.5Low—None
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1.2Low0.2Very Low
POWER TRAIN1.3Low—None
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM0.9Very Low0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES0.5Very Low0.2Very Low
STEERING0.1Very Low0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL0.3Very Low—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE0.2Very Low—None
AIR BAGS0.1Very Low0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE0.1Very Low0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER0.1Very Low—None
VISIBILITY0.1Very Low—None
SEAT BELTS0.1Very Low—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM0.1Very Low—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING0.1Very Low—None
SUSPENSION—None0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM—None0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING—None—None
TIRES—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: Hyundai Santa Fe or Toyota 4Runner?

Annual repair cost is nearly identical: $514 for the 4Runner and $515 for the Santa Fe. Over five years that is a $5 difference, which is not worth weighing. The gap shows up elsewhere. The 4Runner needs unscheduled shop visits about 0.4 times a year, against 0.2 for the Santa Fe. A 4Runner repair has a 13% chance of being major, versus 10% for the Santa Fe. On those measures the Santa Fe is the lighter ownership burden.

How Does Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota 4Runner Reliability Compare by Year?

Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota 4Runner year-by-year reliability scores
YearHyundai Santa FeToyota 4RunnerEdge
202675/1005R / 5C84/1000R / 0CToyota 4Runner
202575/1006R / 109C81/1001R / 36CToyota 4Runner
202473/1009R / 109C79/1001R / 8CToyota 4Runner
202370/1004R / 244C82/1001R / 28CToyota 4Runner
202266/10014R / 223C79/1003R / 36CToyota 4Runner
202169/10010R / 165C82/1001R / 31CToyota 4Runner
202070/1002R / 165C82/1001R / 30CToyota 4Runner
201969/1003R / 201C77/1004R / 61CToyota 4Runner
201863/1007R / 489C77/1005R / 56CToyota 4Runner

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe scored 73/100 and the 2023 Toyota 4Runner scored 82/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Hyundai Santa Fe vs the Toyota 4Runner?

Pick the 4Runner if you want fewer surprises over years of ownership. It has far fewer complaints and recalls, and its common problems tend to be irritating, like the highway steering shake or a brake squeak that dealers cannot reproduce. Target the 2021 model year, one of its strongest. Avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. Check the underbody for rust, since owners reported it on a frame and on suspension parts. Pick the Santa Fe if fewer shop visits and a lower chance of a major repair matter more to you. Ask for oil change records and watch for signs of oil burning, which owners report around 78,788 to 110,000 miles. Test the brakes and low-speed acceleration carefully. Avoid 2018 and 2022, its weakest years. Run the VIN to confirm every open recall has been done before you buy.

Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota 4Runner: Common Questions

Is the Toyota 4RUNNER more reliable than the Hyundai Santa-FE?
Yes, by a large gap. The 4Runner has an excellent standing and the Santa Fe a good one. Owners filed 286 complaints on the 4Runner and 1,710 on the Santa Fe, and the rate per vehicle sold is much lower for the Toyota.
Which has more recalls, the 4Runner or the Santa Fe?
The Santa Fe has far more. Federal recall records show 60 recalls across nine model years for the Santa Fe and 17 for the 4Runner. Check any used example by VIN to confirm recall work was completed.
Which costs less to repair?
They cost about the same. Estimated annual repair cost is $514 for the 4Runner and $515 for the Santa Fe. The Santa Fe has fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.2 a year against 0.4, and a lower 10% chance of a major repair versus 13%.
Do Hyundai Santa Fe engines burn oil?
Many owner complaints say so. The engine is the Santa Fe's top problem area, with owners finding the engine several quarts low and no leak, often around 78,788 to 110,000 miles. Left alone, it can lead to knocking, stalling and engine failure.
What is the most common 4Runner problem?
Steering shake is the most common. Drivers feel shaking through the wheel at highway speed, usually between 50 and 70 mph. Balancing, new tires and alignment checks often do not fix it. Brake squeak on cold mornings is the next most reported issue.

Related Reliability Comparisons

Decided between Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota 4Runner? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota 4Runner

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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