2021 Hyundai Santa FE recalls

8 safety recalls, 188 owner complaints and a 5-star NHTSA crash rating. Official NHTSA data.

8Recalls
188Complaints
6Crashes & fires reported
5/5NHTSA overall rating

Not every 2021 Hyundai Santa FE is affected by every recall. Check your VIN to see open recalls on your exact vehicle.

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2021 Hyundai Santa FE recall list

Back Over Prevention recall

24V-879
November 21, 2024 · Hyundai Motor America
Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles. Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Safety risk
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 271.

Trailer Hitches recall

Park outside23V-181
March 17, 2023 · Hyundai Motor America
Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Safety risk
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.

Seat Belts recall

22V-816
October 31, 2022 · Hyundai Motor America
Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023 Genesis G80 Electric, 2021-2022 Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
Safety risk
An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
Remedy
Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioners with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 238/011G. This recall is an expansion of recall numbers 22V-354 and 22V-458.

Power Train recall

22V-746
October 6, 2022 · Hyundai Motor America
Problem
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Safety risk
Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.

Visibility recall

21V-00M
December 28, 2021 · Hyundai Motor America
Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
Safety risk
A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.

Fuel System, Gasoline recall

21V-524
July 9, 2021 · Hyundai Motor America
Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Safety risk
A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.

Fuel System, Gasoline recall

21V-308
May 3, 2021 · Hyundai Motor America
Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 2.5-litre Turbo engines. The fuel pipe connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not have been tightened properly.
Safety risk
An insufficiently tightened fuel pipe may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers inspected and tightened the fuel pipe connection, free of charge. The affected vehicles have been repaired and therefore no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 206.

Air Bags recall

21V-185
March 17, 2021 · Hyundai Motor America
Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles. The Occupant Detection System (ODS) module may not deactivate the air bag upon detection of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Safety risk
In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ODS module, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied as of May 12, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 202.

2021 Hyundai Santa FE owner complaints

188 complaints filed with NHTSA, including 4 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries and 0 deaths.

Problems by component

Power Train58
Unknown or Other46
Engine45
Electrical System32
Forward Collision Avoidance19
Fuel/Propulsion System13
Back Over Prevention9
Vehicle Speed Control8
Visibility/Wiper7
Visibility7

Recent complaints

October 26, 2026Back Over Prevention

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rear-view camera displayed a distorted pixelated image on the screen. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and stated that there were no recalls associated with the VIN. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V879000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

October 12, 2026Power Train

On September 20, 2026, my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy suffered sluggish acceleration while operating on a public roadway due to an internal dual-clutch transmission (DCT) failure. The Malfunction indicator light illuminated, and a diagnostic scan revealed stored history code P1C2D03, indicating a total breakdown of the high-pressure electric pump assembly. As of September 21, 2026 the vehicle is currently grounded at an authorized Hyundai dealership under an approved factory warranty repair Prior Authorization (PA) request. However the dealership has issued a written admission of "NO ETA" because the replacement transmission components are on an indefinite national backordered and are

September 9, 2026EngineFire

The contact owned a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 50 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly caught on fire. The contact's wife became aware that the radio was inoperable before the failure. Additionally, the contact’s wife’s eyes were irritated, and there was a hot, harsh odor which grew stronger very quickly. The odor was inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the smoke was black, and flames started shooting out from under the hood to consume the vehicle. The vehicle was a total loss. The fire was extinguished by the Murphysboro Fire Department. The Fire Department was unable to determine where the fire had started. There was a Police report filed. Th

August 27, 2026Fuel/Propulsion System

The door to the gas tank is a push door which is temperamental. I can be at the pump and push the door to pop it open and it won't. I'm at the point where I have to pop my gas tank open before I even get to the gas station because to pull up to the pump and not be able to put gas in the tank is a waste of time. There is no lever to flip along side the driver seat because it is a push to open door.. it is available for inspection, however, it is temperamental. I will video it so I have proof as it works and it doesn't work. It has not been inspected by anyone only because if it is a defect in the motor for the door, I want Hyundai to recall it. I have gone on YouTube to see if there are remed

August 12, 2026Back Over Prevention

My rear back up camera intermitting stops working. I can shift into reverse sometimes and the camera does not come on at all, other times the screen blinks and other times the screen has green lines and glitchy lines. The camera will also come on while I'm DRIVING forward

2021 Hyundai Santa FE crash test ratings

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Driver aids on the tested 2021 Hyundai Santa FE: electronic stability control standard, forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning standard. Rollover risk: 14.7%.

2021 Hyundai Santa FE recall FAQ

Does the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls for the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE. The most recent, filed November 21, 2024, concerns the back over prevention.

What are the most common 2021 Hyundai Santa FE problems?

Owners have filed 188 complaints with NHTSA. The most reported area is power train (58 reports), followed by unknown or other.

Is the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE safe?

The 2021 Hyundai Santa FE earned up to a 5-star overall safety rating in NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program crash tests.

How do I get a recall fixed on my 2021 Hyundai Santa FE?

Contact any authorized Hyundai dealer. Recall repairs are free, even if you are not the original owner or the warranty has expired.

This page combines NHTSA records for: Santa FE, Santa FE Hybrid.