2007 Hyundai Santa Fe problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (101) · Vehicle Speed Control (54) · Air Bags (50)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Santa Fe model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
563 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2020-02-04 · campaign 20V061000 · 476,111 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
Risk: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2013-04-01 · campaign 13V113000 · 1,712,336 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, m
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2012-07-25 · campaign 12V354000 · 199,118 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from April 19, 2006, through July 7, 2008. The occupant classification system (OCS) may need recalibration to accurately detect small statured adults.
Risk: Improper classification or detection may cause the front passenger airbag not to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the classification software free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Air Bags:frontal 2011-09-09 · campaign 11V472000 · 205,233 vehicles
Defect: HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 26, 2006, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2008, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 19, 2006 THROUGH MARCH 20, 2008. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) MAY BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIV
Risk: IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
Fix: HYUNDAI DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CONNECT CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Service bulletins (81)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2026-10-15 · 26-GI-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (pdw) sensor(s) that may trigger various dtcs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the pdw sensor(s) failing to detect nearby objects or triggering multiple false alarms. this condition may be a res
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DCS · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn), that have been identified in u.s. vehicles following prior
Exterior Lighting 2025-11-06 · 25-BD-012H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (drl), or fog lamp. this tsb illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. lamp assembly replacement is not necessary
Showing the 6 most recent of 81 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-06 · Engine“valve cover leaking oil onto my alternator causing my original and one i bought to replace to both stop working …”
2026-08-12 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 96,538 mi“the contact owns a 2007 hyundai santa fe. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal odor coming from the engine compartment. the contact pulled over to the side of the road and discovered that there was oil leaking from the valve cover onto the alternator. no warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle wa…”
2026-07-26 · Service Brakes“break pedal switch getting hot and disables the gear shifter…”
2026-02-17 · Engine“engine valve cover gaskets leaking oil, causing oil drip on pavement. could cause fire and alternator failure. my mechanic pin-pointed the leak location. the google search indicated that other hundai vehicle owners also had this problem. mechanic estimated cost to repair the problem was quoted at $700.00 dollars. thx, [xxx] information redacted p…”
2026-01-15 · Suspension“i am writing to formally report an incident involving the service department at lakeland hyundai (1500 w memorial blvd, lakeland, fl 33815). my 2007 hyundai santa fe was brought in on 12/31/25 for an active engine recall involving the cylinder head cover oil leak repair (recall code 976 / campaign 24-01-026h). the vehicle was driven into the dealer…”
2025-09-17 · Unknown Or Other“unknown went to the grocery store and vehicle was working fine. upon leaving the store, started the car, esc off light was on and when i went to press the brake to put the vehicle in reverse, the gearshift was locked and i couldn't move the gear. long story short, i had to get my vehicle towed to the house as the vehicle is non-drivable at this ti…”
2025-04-23 · Structure · 190,000 mi“the contact owns a 2007 hyundai santa fe. the contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, the mechanic informed the contact that the underbody of the vehicle was corroded. the vehicle was not repaired. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the undercarriage was corroded. the vehicle was not yet repaired. the…”
2025-03-06 · Engine“my vehicle had an oil leak from the front cylinder bank valve cover onto the alternator. the oil damaged the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. on 11/09/2021, the engine light came on and my car turned off. i had it towed to my mechanic and on 11/10/2021 he replaced the …”
2024-12-20 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch · 158,000 mi“the contact owns a 2007 hyundai santa fe. the contact stated while coming to a stop, the contact was informed by another driver that while coming to a stop the brake lights were inoperable. the contact was informed that the brake lights failed to function properly. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the b…”
2024-12-16 · Tires:tread/Belt“all 4 tires had the belts seperate within a year. less than 15k miles on each. the car started riding rough and pulling hard. size: 235 /65 r16 103t sl bsw…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.