2024 Hyundai Santa Fe: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
140 NHTSA owner complaints · 7 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Santa Fe carries the Theta II 2.4 and 2.0 turbo engines and the same recall history as the Sonata, but its complaint counts are lower because its volumes are lower. The 2017 model year is the outlier, with 951 complaints, almost all engine failure and fire. Read the full note on the model page. 2024 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 140 complaints on record, verdict CAUTION.
Read the guide
Used Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe and Elantra: beyond the engine recall, including 2024 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 140 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 70.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe VIN [XXX], June 2024 build, 62k miles. Vehicle experienced total loss of power and drive, matching NHTSA recall 24V-529 / 263 for DCT failure. Dealer is refusing to perform recall, refusing to provide diagnostic codes via email, and demanding title and all service records before any work. Dealer claims new engine needed but won’t provide proof. This is a safety defect and dealer is violating rec…
On multiple occasions the error “transmission system error check transmission oil immediately” Have taken vehicle to dealership 3 separate times. Believe entire unit to be faulty
The 2024 Caligraphy trim line, has a unique illumination for all dash controls that control; AC, seat heat, seat AC, fan AC, steering wheel heat, ect. Each of these controls are illuminated with a dull Amber color that is impossible to see in bright sunshine, and difficult in all daylight situations. This force the driver to take their eyes off the road to insure proper calibration of each. I confirmed with the sale…
Recalls: 7 campaigns (4 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 24V246000 | Back Over Prevention:Software | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Santa Fe vehicles. The rearview camera image may be obstructed by a trailer parking assist message. |
| 25V659000 | Electrical System:Starter Assembly | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Santa Fe vehicles. The B+ positive terminal cover on the starter motor assembly may be improperly installed, which can cause an electrical short during a crash. |
| 26V218000 | Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 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. |
| 24V843000 | Electrical System:Wiring:Switches/Knobs/Buttons | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The overhead console rear sunshade switch knob may not be fully recessed, which can result in unintentional closing of the sunshade. |
| 24V529000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module:Software | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Santa Fe vehicles. A software error in the transmission control unit may result in a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in PARK. |
| 25V808000 | Back Over Prevention:Display Function | 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. |
| 24V561000 | Air Bags | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Santa Fe and Santa Fe HEV vehicles. The main floor wiring harness may chafe against the passenger-side second-row bench seat assembly and become damaged, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally or prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 23 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,650
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Power Train40 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System28 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other27 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Forward Collision Avoidance14 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Engine12 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Service Brakes12 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other Hyundai Santa Fe years
Hyundai Santa Fe years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (40 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 56/100, computed from 140 NHTSA complaints and 7 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's most common problem?
40 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is transmission service or clutch-pack repair: about 7.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,290–$4,040 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe cost to run per year?
About $4,930 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $24,650 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, 4 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 02/04/2024. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 140 complaints, 7 recalls on record
- 140 NHTSA complaints on record (70.0/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (46.5/yr)
- 7 recall campaigns, 4 touching safety-critical systems