Model year guide

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe at a glance

Safety recalls7
Owner complaints158
Combined28 mpg

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls 7

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings NHTSA Campaign #21V524000 · 09/07/2021

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.

Fix: 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.

Visibility:windshield NHTSA Campaign #21V00M000 · 28/12/2021

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.

Fix: 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.

Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module NHTSA Campaign #21V185000 · 17/03/2021

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."

Fix: 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings NHTSA Campaign #21V308000 · 03/05/2021

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.

Fix: 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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission NHTSA Campaign #22V746000 · 06/10/2022

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.

Fix: 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.…

Trailer Hitches NHTSA Campaign #23V181000 · 17/03/2023

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 i…

Fix: 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…

Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera NHTSA Campaign #24V879000 · 21/11/2024

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."

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 158 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Visibility/wiper
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Back Over Prevention
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe MPG & running costs

Combined28 mpg
City27 mpg
Highway28 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,267

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$11,335
Fuel only$11,335
Per mile$0.15

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe trims & engines on record

Trims
SEL · SEL w/ Convenience Pkg · SE
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl 191 hp

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles on record

Other Hyundai Santa Fe model years

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe — frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Based on 158 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, power train, fuel/propulsion system.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe at about 28 mpg combined (27 city / 28 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.