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2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 212.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

65 reports with mileage · 132 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports12 fire reports10 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

26 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceLane Departure

Adaptive Cruise Control Automatic Emergency Braking Blind Spot Warning Forward Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning Lane Keeping Assistance Parking Collision Warning Rear Cross Traffic Warning Every one of these lights are going off in the car. I’ve taken it twice to the Hyundai dealership. Both times…

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Adaptive Cruise Control Automatic Emergency Braking Blind Spot Warning Forward Collision Warning Lane Departure Warning Lane Keeping Assistance Parking Collision Warning Rear Cross Traffic Warning Every one of these lights are going off in the car. I’ve taken it twice to the Hyundai dealership. Both times they have not been able to figure out what is wrong with it even with the OPD it’s not showing any issues or fault codes a technician has even had the car for one week went through every single sensor, cable, battery, alternator fuses and didn’t come up with any results. He returned the car back to me completely baffled and unable to fix the issue. Please email at[ XXX] For photos and video which I cannot add here on this website through mobile. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11529005

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceVehicle Speed Control

The forward collision avoidance system is malfunctioning and shuts down the traction and stability control systems making the vehicle more vulnerable to collisions. Multiple attempts to repair this system have been unsuccessful

NHTSA ODI #11521245

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2023
Electrical System

These Hyundai's & Kia's are being stolen left & right across the nation....Hyundai needs to fix our vehicle with an alarm system. We haven't heard anything!!! We owe on the car and if it gets stolen or ruined, we still will have to pay on this vehicle. Also, on top of it all, it will be ruined; and from what we see on TV, they…

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These Hyundai's & Kia's are being stolen left & right across the nation....Hyundai needs to fix our vehicle with an alarm system. We haven't heard anything!!! We owe on the car and if it gets stolen or ruined, we still will have to pay on this vehicle. Also, on top of it all, it will be ruined; and from what we see on TV, they can't even get the parts to fix them. Our SUV is not worth anything now due to those stealing these vehicles because of the Tic Toc videos. Those videos should be banned anyway and taken off so no one else can learn to do this horrible theft. If we can ever get another vehicle, it won't be a Hyundai. This has made us very upset that we haven't heard anything from Hyundai nor there seems to be nothing happening regarding this issue. Why isn't the government pressuring this company? We don't see anything being done.

NHTSA ODI #11513700

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2022
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

2019 Hyundai Santa fe first owner after each use of the Auto Stop/ Start feature is guaranteed that in 24-48 hrs the car will stall at stop lights and take anywhere from 15-20 min to restart. The power to the electronics continues but the engine can't restart from the stop. It appears as of the feature takes the power from the a…

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2019 Hyundai Santa fe first owner after each use of the Auto Stop/ Start feature is guaranteed that in 24-48 hrs the car will stall at stop lights and take anywhere from 15-20 min to restart. The power to the electronics continues but the engine can't restart from the stop. It appears as of the feature takes the power from the alternator, starter and battery and drains it until the car can be restarted. Once it starts it drives well until the system is engaged again. I have chosen to not use the system and the car has not stall however once the use of the Auto/ Start Stop system is engaged for a day or two it will stall the vehicle from a stop mostly at stop lights after so much time on standby mode while using the Auto Start / Stop system. Dealer can not recreate the issue.

NHTSA ODI #11490525

42,000 miles · Dec 2, 2021
Electrical System

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle there were multiple warning messages displayed on the instrument panel and the vehicle would not accelerate to exceed 10 MPH. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who disconnected the battery and reset the computer and the f…

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The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle there were multiple warning messages displayed on the instrument panel and the vehicle would not accelerate to exceed 10 MPH. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who disconnected the battery and reset the computer and the failure was remedied. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #11442388

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

The dome lighting, lights do not go off when the doors are closed. I check repeatedly to make sure that all doors are closed. The dome gets extremely extremely hot. I believe this could very easily be a fire hazard. This has happened 3 times this year 2021.

NHTSA ODI #11439605

16,177 miles · Feb 15, 2021
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

WE WERE SITTING AT RED LIGHT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AT NIGHT AND THE VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING AND CUT OFF. WE TRIED PRESSING THE AUTOMATIC START AND IT KEPT HESITATING AND EVERYTHING WENT BLACK ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.AFTER 3RD TIME IT STARTED AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET HOME. IT STARTED HAVING MORE HESITATION WHILE TO GO UP HILL…

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WE WERE SITTING AT RED LIGHT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AT NIGHT AND THE VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING AND CUT OFF. WE TRIED PRESSING THE AUTOMATIC START AND IT KEPT HESITATING AND EVERYTHING WENT BLACK ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.AFTER 3RD TIME IT STARTED AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET HOME. IT STARTED HAVING MORE HESITATION WHILE TO GO UP HILLS AND LOW SPEEDS. THE AUTOMATIC START /STOP ALSO STOPPED WORKING IN THE VEHICLE. I ALSO WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE BLUE LINK SYSTEM, THEY WERE HAVING TO RESET IT EACH MONTH UNTIL THEY DECIDED TO MAKE A TICKET FOR REPAIR IN WHICH TOOK A MONTH OR SO IN ORDER FOR THE ENGINEERS TO SEE IF IT WAS DEFAULT ON THERE END. THEN THEY DECIDED TO SET ME UP FOR A APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT THROUGH HYUNDAI, WHICH NOW THEY SAW I HAVE TO HAVE WHOLE NEW HEAD RADIO HEAD UNIT WITH BLUE LINK AND ALSO A NEW TRANSMISSION. PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND IT HAS LOW MILEAGE AND NEED TRANSMISSION. I'M LOOSING FAITH IN HYUNDAI!

NHTSA ODI #11396372

39,800 miles · Aug 28, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

STOPPED THE CAR AT A RED LIGHT AND THE IDLE STOP AND GO (ISG) FEATURE HAS TURNED OFF THE ENGINE... ONCE THE GREEN LIGHT TURNED ON, I PRESSED GAS AND THE ENGINE DID NOT START AND AFTER COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS ALL WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO USE THE KEY TO START THE ENGINE ASWELL. AND SO I HAD TO TURN OFF THE KEY COM…

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STOPPED THE CAR AT A RED LIGHT AND THE IDLE STOP AND GO (ISG) FEATURE HAS TURNED OFF THE ENGINE... ONCE THE GREEN LIGHT TURNED ON, I PRESSED GAS AND THE ENGINE DID NOT START AND AFTER COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS ALL WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO USE THE KEY TO START THE ENGINE ASWELL. AND SO I HAD TO TURN OFF THE KEY COMPLETELY AND THEN START THE ENGINE... BOUGHT THE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED CAR AT 38000 MILES IN FEB 2020 AND THIS HAPPENED ONLY ONCE IN AUGUST 2020 AND THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 39800 DURING THAT TIME. LUCKILY I HAD ONLY ONE CAR AT MY BACK WHO HONKED ON ME CONTINUOUSLY... I WAS NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE AFTERWARDS BUT TO BE HONEST I KEPT ONLY ABOUT 50 MILES SINCE THEN. I AM AFRAID IF I WOULD GET STALLED ONE FINE DAY... AND ALSO AFRAID HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER WOULD JUST SAY NOT REPRODUCIBLE AND MAY JUST SAY TO TURN OFF THE FEATURE MAY BE?

NHTSA ODI #11351730

11,300 miles · Apr 7, 2020
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE VERY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IN JUNE 2019. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE THREE TIMES DUE TO SERVICE/WARRANTY RELATED ISSUES - TWICE IN A RENTAL, AND NOW THE THIRD TIME I AM USING A FRIEND'S VEHICLE. MY COMPLAINTS BEGAN WITH A "HARD START" AND A DELAYED TURNOVER OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE…

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I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE VERY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IN JUNE 2019. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE THREE TIMES DUE TO SERVICE/WARRANTY RELATED ISSUES - TWICE IN A RENTAL, AND NOW THE THIRD TIME I AM USING A FRIEND'S VEHICLE. MY COMPLAINTS BEGAN WITH A "HARD START" AND A DELAYED TURNOVER OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BEHAVES AS THOUGH IT WANTS TO STALL OUT. HYUNDAI TOLD ME FOR MONTHS THAT THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM TO FIX IT EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES MINIMUM PER WEEK. THEN THE OTHER THINGS STARTED GOING WRONG...HERE IS A SHORT LIST FOR YOU OVER MULTIPLE VISITS AND PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALERSHIP: -HARD START - VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD UPON ENGINE START -DELAYED TURNOVER - FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL -VEHICLE ENGINE TICKING UPON START -MOST RECENTLY, VEHICLE ENGINE LOUDLY KNOCKING UPON START -VEHICLE AUTO COLLISION SENSORS MALFUNCTIONED AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON A BUSY 4 LANE HIGHWAY BY CAUSING MY BRAKES TO SLAM TO AN ALMOST STOP BECAUSE THE CAR IN A LANE NEXT TO ME WAS TURNING (I WAS GOING 60MPH AT THE TIME WITH NO RISK OF COLLISION). -APPLE CAR PLAY MALFUNCTIONS - SOUNDS LIKE WIRES ARE CROSSED (USING APPLE CHARGER AND GENERIC CHARGER) -REAR VIEW CAMERA STAYS ON FOR 10-15 MINUTES AT A TIME TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE -WHILE GOING 25-40 MPH, AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WILL CREATE A NOTICEABLE FRONT END JERKING MOTION -WHILE THE FLIGHT RECORDER WAS IN ME VEHICLE, IT WENT OFF ON AN EMERGENCY ALARM FOR OVER 3 HOURS AND HYUNDAI'S SERVICE TEAM COULDN'T DETERMINE A PROBLEM -THE GAS CAP DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY -VEHICLE, ON 5 OCCASSIONS, WOULD NOT RESPOND TO DEPRESSION OF GAS PEDAL THERE ARE OTHER SMALLER ISSUES THAT I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERN OVER, AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN HAVE NOW BEEN WITHOUT VEHICLE FOR 30+ CUMULATIVE DAYS

NHTSA ODI #11320404

5,014 miles · Sep 17, 2019
Electrical System

AFTER DRIVING MY SANTE FE FOR LITTLE OVER 1000 MILES, I WAS WAITING BEHIND SEVERAL VEHICLES AT A STOP LIGHT IN HYATTSVILLE AND MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULDN'T START. AFTER TRYING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES, IT FINALLY STARTED. I DROVE TO THE NEXT STOP LIGHT AND HAD TO STOP AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART.…

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AFTER DRIVING MY SANTE FE FOR LITTLE OVER 1000 MILES, I WAS WAITING BEHIND SEVERAL VEHICLES AT A STOP LIGHT IN HYATTSVILLE AND MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULDN'T START. AFTER TRYING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES, IT FINALLY STARTED. I DROVE TO THE NEXT STOP LIGHT AND HAD TO STOP AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THIS HAPPEN TWO MORE TIMES AND THEN FINALLY IT STARTED AND I DROVE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN GAITHERSBURG (FITZGERALD AUTO MALL). I REPORTED THE INCIDENT AND THEY CLAIM TO BE UNABLE TO RECAPITULATE THE INCIDENCE. AT AROUND 5014 MILES, WHEN I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT IN DC, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AGAIN AND WOULD RESTART. THE COPS CAME AND PUSH ME OUT OF THE ROAD AND I WAS THEN ABLE TO RESTART. I DROVE TO THE NEXT STOP LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AGAIN AND WOULD START. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE STARTED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. I DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PERFORMANCE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICE AND GIVEN BACK TO ME. THE FOLLOWING DAY DRIVING ON GERMANTOWN ROAD THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AGAIN AT A STOP LIGHT. I CALL THE DEALER AND THEY ASKED THAT I TAKE IT BACK THE NEXT DAY. ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AGAIN. I TOOK BACK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THAT I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE ANYMORE AND THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT. THE MATTER WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFUSE TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE AND OFFER $500 COMPENSATION FOR MY INCONVENIENCE WHICH I REFUSE TO ACCEPT. I AM SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE TO THIS ISSUE. P.S. I DO HAVE PICTURE OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENCE AND MY NIECE WAS WITH ME ON TWO OF THOSE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11256225

Official recalls

2

23V181000 · Trailer Hitches

Mar 17, 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 in a fire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

18V715000 · Air Bags:side/window

Oct 11, 2018

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. The Side Curtain Air Bag (SCAB) mounting bolts may interfere with and damage the air bags during deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the air bags become damaged during deployment they may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the SCAB installation bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 177.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing.  There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.