CSR

Hyundai · NHTSA safety record

2025 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 92 safety complaints about the 2025 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 7 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 31 complaints, 34% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 7,450 miles, the median across the 6 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers November 2024 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

92 complaints on file

92

Complaints

4

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

7

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 31 · 34%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28 · 30%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 23 · 25%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 21 · 23%
POWER TRAIN 19 · 21%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 15 · 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13 · 14%
LANE DEPARTURE 5 · 5%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 4 · 4%
AIR BAGS 3 · 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 2%
TIRES 2 · 2%
0 15 31

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 92.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 53.

56 42 28 14
24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2024 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2025 Hyundai SANTA FE HYBRID, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 17.4% 18.5%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

26V218000 · April 6, 2026

The defect
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6, 2023-2026 Genesis G90, 2024-2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The driver and passenger seat belt anchors may detach.
The risk
A detached seat belt anchor will not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and reinforce or replace the seat belt anchors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 29, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 and Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 298 and 032G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov April 8, 2026.

Hyundai Motor America · up to 294,448 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN

25V809000 · November 21, 2025

The defect
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
The risk
Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.

Hyundai Motor America · up to 258 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

25V808000 · November 21, 2025

The defect
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The rearview camera may not have been installed properly, which can damage the wiring harness and cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the camera wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning January 15, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 288. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.

Hyundai Motor America · up to 143,472 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · towed

Any of the airbags failed to deploy during a significant crash. It is not available for inspection due to it being investigated by insurance. The driver and passengers' safety were affected in that more bodily damage could have occurred if they had hit the steering wheel or any other part of the car. I do not know if the problem has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer, as i have tried to reach out to the dealer and they have not contacted me back. The vehicle is still being determined as if it can be repaired or it needs to be totaled. There were no indications of warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to failure.

NHTSA complaint 11731387. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · towed

On 08/22/26 at approximately 11:45 AM I was stopped at a traffic light and struck by a Ford Pickup truck whose approximate speed was 45 mph as described in the police officer who witness the accident totaling my Hyundai 2025 Santa Fe. No airbags were deployed. According to the police officer the frame was bent as well. Please see attached vehicles pictures

NHTSA complaint 11758892. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 injured · crash · towed

I was stopped at a red light. When the light turned green, I proceeded to apply the gas and accelerate. I quickly noticed that the vehicle began accelerating at a faster rate than I was intending. The vehicle continued to accelerate without me applying my foot to the gas pedal. Nothing would stop the continued acceleration (application of brake). I crashed into the rear of a vehicle in my lane going approximately 50-60mph (estimate). I am unsure what the issue was that resulted in this crash. In doing some internet searching, it seems it could have something to do with the transition from electric to gas when I was stopped temporarily at the intersection. It could have been a faulty sensor

NHTSA complaint 11707043, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

crash · towed

My wife was parking our vehicle near the front of our home, simply rolling forward toward the car in front of her to complete parking on the left side of the street when the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated on its own. The vehicle turned hard to the right, struck the bumper of the parked car she was pulling up behind, continued right across the traffic lane where it hit two parked cars on the other side of the street with significant impact, lifting and turning one onto the sidewalk, at which point our vehicle went across the sidewalk and stopped after hitting a fence. The forward collision avoidance that we have experienced engaging previously, never engaged, despite hitting multiple

NHTSA complaint 11686958, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I purchased my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid September 1, 2025. On June 24, 2026, I was driving on the interstate to work when my acceleration quickly dropped out and I wasn't able to go more than 30 MPH. This was terrifying to happen! I wasn't able to make it to an exit and had to pull off on the side of the interstate and await a tow. I took it to the dealership I purchased it from. Documentation stated that a fault code DTC P019100 (fuel rail pressure sensor) was identified. However, this sensor was not replaced. Instead, my paperwork indicates that the "air box was installed incorrectly at manufacturing and they fixed it." On August 13, 2026, I experienced a similar issue on

NHTSA complaint 11767373, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have written and escalated to Hyundai Corporate about the same issue happening twice to me already and I just got the car in April. May, July, and now September 25th the car loses acceleration while on the interstate at high speeds. attaching letter sent to them in which they denied any assistance.

NHTSA complaint 11767018. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The primary component failure is within the hybrid powertrain control architecture, specifically involving the transmission control system or internal transmission clutches/modules (TCM/HEV control module). The vehicle utilizes a 6-speed automatic transmission integrated with an electric motor. During highway cruising, the transmission locks into a single gear ratio or a protective "limp mode," resulting in a total loss of normal acceleration despite high engine RPMs. The vehicle and its components are fully intact and available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at severe risk because the sudden, unexpected loss of acceleration occurred while traveling

NHTSA complaint 11766539, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving on a highway at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle abruptly suffered a catastrophic loss of power and entered "Limp Mode," creating a severe safety hazard on the roadway. The vehicle was safely maneuvered and pulled over to the side of the road. Upon shutting the vehicle down and attempting to restart it after a few minutes, the powertrain completely failed to engage, refusing to shift into either Drive or Reverse. The vehicle became entirely disabled and required a flatbed tow to the dealership. ​Dashboard Warning Messages: - ​"Transmission Control System" - ​"Check Hybrid System" ​Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): - ​P177700 (Transmission / Hybrid Powertrain Control

NHTSA complaint 11765583, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
**What component or system failed, and is it available for inspection?** The vehicle's electrical/power system failed, causing a complete loss of power while driving. This is the fourth occurrence of this failure. The vehicle is currently at the Hyundai dealership and available for inspection. **How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** The power failure occurred while driving on a busy road. The driver struggled to safely maneuver the vehicle (executing a U-turn) to get out of traffic and reach a safe location. The vehicle had to be towed as a result. **Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?** The vehicle has been brought to

NHTSA complaint 11764110, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The car suddenly loses acceleration; the engine still runs and revs to ~3,000 RPM. The car can't drive over 35mph; no check engine light at all. The dealer said a high-pressure fuel pump caused it and replaced it under warranty; after 3 days, the same problem happened again. This is extremely dangerous if the vehicle is on a highway and suddenly loses acceleration. This could be fatal for the driver and other vehicles around it.

NHTSA complaint 11763033. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 13 3 —
2024 34 4 —
2023 57 1 —
2022 37 3 —
2021 20 3 —

Other 2025 Hyundai models

Every Hyundai on this site — 205 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst