2021 Hyundai Santa Fe: Recalls and Reported Problems
Every NHTSA safety recall recorded for this model year, what owners report most often, and how to check whether one specific vehicle still has open work.
Two identical Santa Fes can differ entirely: one may have had every recall repaired, the other none.
NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, alongside 186 owner complaints filed with the agency, most often about power train. Eligible recall remedies are generally free through the manufacturer's approved repair process, even after the warranty ends; some software remedies are delivered remotely. Federal no-charge coverage has an age limit for vehicles first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. Check the specific VIN — a previous owner may already have had the work done.
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe at a glance
Buying a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe? Enter its VIN.
Confirm this car’s identity free, then review the optional history report for returned title, mileage and auction records. Check open recalls separately through NHTSA’s free VIN lookup.
Title brands · Odometer records · Auction history, where reported
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See what the paid report includes →What owners report most
These are the vehicle systems named most often in complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. A complaint is an unverified owner report: it does not establish a defect, and a high count can simply reflect a popular model. Use it to decide where an inspection should look hardest.
| Vehicle system | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 57 |
| Unknown Or Other | 46 |
| Engine | 45 |
| Electrical System | 32 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 19 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 |
Recall campaigns for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
Each campaign below is an official NHTSA record. An eligible remedy is generally free through the manufacturer’s approved process, which may be an authorized service visit or remote software update. Federal no-charge coverage has a 15-year first-sale limit measured at the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. A campaign covers a production range, so only a VIN lookup confirms whether a particular vehicle is included and whether the work is still outstanding.
| Campaign | Component | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| 24V879000 | BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles. Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the require… |
| 23V181000 | TRAILER HITCHES | 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 ac… |
| 22V816000 | SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023 Genesis G80 Electric, 2021-2022 Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment. |
| 22V746000 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete … |
| 21V00M000 | VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. |
| 21V524000 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail. |
| 21V308000 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 2.5-litre Turbo engines. The fuel pipe connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not have been tightened properly. |
| 21V185000 | AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles. The Occupant Detection System (ODS) module may not deactivate the air bag upon detection of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Mo… |
How to check one specific Santa Fe
- Copy the 17-character VIN from the windshield or driver-door label — not from the listing.
- Run it through NHTSA’s free recall lookup to see open campaigns for that exact vehicle.
- Ask the seller for repair documentation on any campaign that shows as completed.
- Check title, odometer, and total-loss history separately; recalls say nothing about a vehicle’s past.
- Book an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the systems owners report most.
What this data cannot tell you
- Whether a specific vehicle is included in a campaign, or whether its recall work was completed — only a VIN lookup answers that.
- Whether a complaint is accurate. NHTSA publishes owner reports without verifying them.
- How reliable the model is overall: complaint volume tracks how many vehicles were sold as much as how they hold up.
- Anything about title brands, accident history, odometer records, or liens on an individual vehicle.
Primary sources behind this page
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
- Recalls Lookup by VINNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Vehicle recall remedy age limitNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA Recalls APINational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA Complaints DatabaseNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC)National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls covering the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe as of 2026-09-15. Whether a specific vehicle is affected — and whether the repair was already done — depends on its VIN.
What are the most common 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
Owners most often report power train, unknown or other, engine issues to NHTSA. These are unverified owner reports and do not establish a defect, but they show where to focus an inspection.
Are Hyundai recall repairs free?
Generally, yes for eligible vehicles, even after the warranty ends. Federal law limits the required no-charge remedy when a vehicle was first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; a manufacturer may still cover an older vehicle voluntarily. Check the VIN with the manufacturer for the approved remedy, which may be a dealer visit or a remote software update.
Can I check recalls on a specific 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe VIN?
Yes. NHTSA's free VIN lookup reports open recalls for an individual vehicle, including whether the repair is still outstanding. Model-level lists like this page cannot tell you that.