Platform Heritage
The Hyundai Santa Fe (Korean: 현대 싼타페) is a series of crossover SUVs produced across five generations by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai since 2000. It is named after the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and was introduced for the 2001 model year as Hyundai's first SUV. The Santa Fe was a milestone in the company's restructuring program of the late 1990s because the SUV was a hit with American buyers.
The Santa Fe was initially marketed as a compact crossover SUV in its first-generation. After the Tucson was introduced in 2004, marketed under that same class, the Santa Fe was later repositioned into the mid-size crossover SUV class since its second-generation launched in 2005. Through all generations, the Santa Fe has been offered in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
The third-generation Santa Fe introduced in 2012 was available in two versions, which are regular (short) and extended long-wheelbase version. The short model was sold as the Santa Fe Sport in North America (three-row seating was not available) and simply Santa Fe in global markets (three-row seating was standard or optional), while the extended long-wheelbase model is called the Santa Fe in the U.S., Santa Fe XL in Canada and called the Hyundai Maxcruz in South Korea. The fourth-generation model, which was launched in 2018, introduced hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain (since 2020), and the fifth-generation model, which was launched in 2023, discontinued diesel engines.
Source: Wikipedia intro extract · as of Jun 19, 2026
Key facts for this model year
108NHTSA owner complaints
2Safety recalls on file
36Top issue reports · Engine
$0Typical OEM recall remedy cost to you
Verify the data — open primary sources · as of Jun 19, 2026
System Defect Summaries & Field Data
Active safety recalls on file: 2 (source: NHTSA Recalls API · as of Jun 19, 2026)
Top NHTSA complaint categories
Recent recall summaries
Campaign 18V118000 · STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR · API record
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The steering wheel assembly may break, possibly resulting in the steering wheel separating from the steering column while driving.
Campaign 22V056000 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE · API record
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
YouTube voice themes below are research hints only — verify against NHTSA data before citing.
Search demand cross-check: ~2,813 avg monthly intent searches (source: google ads data · as of Jun 19, 2026)
On-Site Hyundai Santa Fe Pre-Purchase Checklist
- Verify OBD-II readiness monitors are complete (not recently cleared) using a full protocol scan.
- Compare dashboard mileage to ECU-stored odometer modules where accessible.
- Pull permanent and pending DTCs — not only stored codes visible on the dash.
- Inspect systems related to ENGINE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to UNKNOWN OR OTHER (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to STEERING (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to AIR BAGS (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Confirm recall remedy completed for STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR (campaign 18V118000).
- Confirm recall remedy completed for SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE (campaign 22V056000).
- Run a MotoMetrics on-site scan for Hyundai Santa Fe before signing the bill of sale.