2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (22) · Power Train (20) · Fuel/Propulsion System (14)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
Seat Belts:front:anchorage 2026-04-06 · campaign 26V218000 · 294,448 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A detached seat belt anchor will not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and reinforce or replace the seat belt anchors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 29, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 and Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 298 and 032G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov April 8, 2026.
Back Over Prevention:display Function 2025-11-20 · campaign 25V808000 · 143,472 vehicles
Defect: 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the camera wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning January 15, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 288. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
Air Bags:side/Window:curtain 2025-11-20 · campaign 25V809000 · 258 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
Service bulletins (31)
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.
Electrical System 2026-10-27 · 26-GI-003H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 2nd navigation map and software update. the changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. refer to the 2026 2nd navigation map and software update key improv
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
Seats 2026-08-28 · 26-BD-005H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some santa fe hybrid (mx5a hev) vehicles may have walk-in switches that are not fully secured. this bulletin provides instructions to trim the seat cover and replace the walk-in switch with improved parts.
Electrical System 2026-08-22 · 26-BE-026H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some santa fe (mx5a) and santa fe hybrid (mx5a hev) vehicles may exhibit a 12-volt battery drain due to the passive entry feature of the digital key 2 premium causing repeated wakeup of the vehicle. this bulletin provides instructions to perform software updates for the ultra-wide band (uwb) and bod
Seats 2026-08-18 · 26-BD-008H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some santa fe (mx5a) and santa fe hybrid (mx5a hev) vehicles equipped with natural leather or nappa leather seating surfaces may exhibit wrinkling on the first or second row seat cushions or seat backs, or tearing along the perforation holes due to the stiffness of the leather material. this bulleti
Showing the 6 most recent of 31 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-23 · Fuel/Propulsion System“while driving at freeway speeds in normal traffic conditions, the vehicle experienced a sudden, complete loss of motive power and rapid deceleration. the accelerator pedal became entirely unresponsive. no warning messages, check engine lights, or diagnostic indicators appeared on the dashboard during or immediately after the failure leaving me blin…”
2026-10-22 · Unknown Or Other“beginning in early october 2026, my 2025 hyundai santa fe hybrid calligraphy has repeatedly experienced a sudden and complete loss of propulsion while driving. during these incidents, dashboard warnings appear stating "check driver assistance system" and "check hybrid system. stop safely." the vehicle indicates ev mode and completely loses the abi…”
2026-10-17 · Fuel/Propulsion System“on september 28, 2026, my 2025 hyundai santa fe hybrid (49,682 miles) experienced a second sudden loss of propulsion while driving on the highway. the vehicle would not accelerate normally, the hybrid battery gauge dropped to a very low level, and the dashboard displayed a warning instructing me to stop the vehicle and leave the engine running to r…”
2026-10-17 · Structure:body“i initially reported a rattling noise near the b-pillar to an authorized hyundai dealership. a repair order was created documenting my complaint. following further investigation, i was informed that spot welds in the b-pillar area had separated, requiring structural body repairs.…”
2026-10-14 · Seats“while driving on the interstate at highway speed, the power driver's seat began moving forward on its own without any switch being pressed. it didn't stop and kept moving toward the steering wheel. i am 6'3" and normally sit far back, so the seat was pushing me into the steering wheel and i could no longer sit safely or control the vehicle normally…”
2026-10-14 · Power Train“vehicle went into “ limp mode” it is a hybrid and the electric motor was in operative and top speed is around 35 mph unsafe to drive…”
2026-10-14 · Power Train“on 2 seperate instances while driving down the highway the car suddenly loses power and goes into limp mode. the battery and the engine are not communicating to power the vehicle. it will no go over 30 mph and then says to pull over and charge the battery.…”
2026-10-12 · Power Train · 💥 crash“vehicle was turned on and in park. i placed my child in the back seat, opened the driver door and was able to enter the vehicle. the car began to roll down the driveway, while in park, and ran me over. it continued to roll backwards into a tree and was stopped by rolling into my neighbors home. …”
2026-10-12 · Power Train“the vehicle has a recurring intermittent failure that can leave it completely undriveable. when starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster displays “check hybrid system,” “check emergency stopping function,” the check-engine light, and multiple warning indicators. the vehicle remains in park and will not shift into drive. this has happened multip…”
2026-10-10 · Power Train“vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate, usually happens after vehicle has been sitting 10 hours or longer. had back to dealership 4 times, 3 times dealer was unable to reproduce concern. 4th visit dealer installed injectors, concern seemed to be gone for about 2 months but is back again. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.