2025 Hyundai Santa Fe: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
127 NHTSA owner complaints · 5 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. 2025 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 127 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe and Elantra: beyond the engine recall, including 2025 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 127 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 127.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Auto had a very strong gas smell after arriving at work. Check the engine and underneath the car for leaks but no fluids on the ground or my garage. Smell persisted while out of town and made appointment for inspection. The dealer service man said it was suffering numerous leaks and we’re awaiting parts. Latest info was still leaks present and would advise after making certain no leaks persist.
Gas needle not going down took and dropped off at Lee Hyundai of Fayetteville North Carolina 28309 8/15/2026 picked it up 08/17/2026 They claim they drove it six miles but they didn’t told it was supposed to be that way sold we filled up when we left the dealer ship drove 78 miles needle still not moving
After waiting a month (called in june car went in 7/28/26)for an appointment with my dealer for 2 recalls and a broken rear seatbelt the dealership has deemed my vehicle unsafe to drive and has impounded my vehicle for almost a week. They have to replace not only 1 rear seatbelts but ALL rear seatbelts. The original recall is for the front seatbelt.
Recalls: 5 campaigns (3 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 25V809000 | Air Bags:Side/Window:Curtain | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended. |
| 25V549000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Critical Fasteners | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak. |
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.
- Electrical System27 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other26 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Forward Collision Avoidance20 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Power Train19 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Tires15 complaints · typical job: Tyre replacement and TPMS service, per axle (1.0 h labour + parts)$340–$1,020
- Engine13 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
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 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (27 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 35/100, computed from 127 NHTSA complaints and 5 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe's most common problem?
27 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 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 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe cost to run per year?
About $5,873 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $29,365 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 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, 3 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 02/10/2025. 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 2025 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 — 127 complaints, 5 recalls on record
- 127 NHTSA complaints on record (127.0/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (46.5/yr)
- 5 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems