One of the worst Santa Fe years
Owners filed about 2.0 times as many complaints as a typical Santa Fe year. The main thing to watch is the engine and cooling, which half of owners reported by about 85,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2018 and 2021.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Santa Fe years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 493 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most reported problem area is the engine and cooling (277, 56% of complaints), followed by the brakes and stability control and the steering. That ranks 3rd of 13 Santa Fe years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 3 recalls.
6 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe before you buy.
Engine and cooling
277 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 85,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
We are the original owner of a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The vehicle is experiencing issues from internal engine oil consumption caused by a manufacturing defect in the GDI powertrain. In 2023, while driving under normal operating conditions, the vehicle began severely jerking, shuddering and hesitating during acceleration. This hesitation…Owner complaint, filed 2026
My car was in shop for Smog inspection and failed. Mechanic told me that the most likely reason was that the engine has issues related to failing crankshaft position sensor which triggered the check engine light. He further explained that the engine with this condition will have abnormal oil consumption. My experience is that is exactly…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Brakes and stability control
67 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 70,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
My insurance company said I have an urgent Recall on my vehicle. Recall # 251 ABS fuse replacement. NHTSA# 23V651000. I would like this replaced.Owner complaint, filed 2026
The start of this journey to Wesley Chapel Hyundai service department were 4 or 5 lights on the dashboard. I can’t remember what day I called to make the appointment-probably a week before the appointment as followed. I made appointment to take my Sante Fe Sport to Wesley Chapel for Monday 02/17/2025. The vehicle was not driven after the…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Steering
52 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
The vehicle is making a loud clunking noise in the steering column when driving down the road. It is veering all over the road and when I hit a bump it’s very bad. It’s difficult to keep in the lane. I brought it to my mechanic who said it was most likely the electronic steering motor assembly. He said he would not drive it in its…Owner complaint, filed 2025
This model of Santa Fe has a defective steering column. The car rattles at the base of the steering column at the base of the steering wheel in the floor by your feet. When you go over 70 it rattles.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Electrical system
49 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the brake warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuse needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but additional…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 148,000 miles
I have a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. I was notified the ABS module may leak hydraulic fluid on electronics that can cause a fire while driving or parked. This SAFETY issue was found in September 2023. After 7 months a remedy still has not been found. How long is a suitable amount of time to wait for a solution? How long should I need to wait…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Transmission and drivetrain
36 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 40,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
While driving on a busy highway on December 26th, 2021 the vehicles check engine light suddenly illuminated and began flashing. There was a sudden loss of power and unable to accelerate. No warning lamps or indications that a catastrophic failure was impending. This was an extremely dangerous situation that almost ended in a fatal…Owner complaint, filed 2022
When at highway speeds car will suddenly lose gears [go from 6th to 4th] and not be able to reach speeds above 60mph or get out of 4th gear. This has happened now 3 times in the last 3 weeksOwner complaint, filed 2020, at 99,000 miles
Fuel system
32 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 42,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
Twice in the last year the high pressure fuel line has cracked while I was driving and started spraying gas all over the engine bay.Owner complaint, filed 2024
There was a recall on my vehicle for the Knock Sensor. In 04/2019 this was fixed at the Stockton, Ca. Dealership. My car only has 69,654 miles on it. On 01/14/2023 my check engine light came on and my car started sputtering and cutting out. I took it back to the dealership first thing today, 01/16/2023. They said the Knock Sensor is out…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Cruise control and acceleration
27 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 47,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
Check engine light came on and was blinking. Had to get it towed. There is an engine recall on my vehicle. Full diagnostics test was run showing faulty engine due to the engine recall.Owner complaint, filed 2024
2014 hyundia santa fe sport will not accelerate, when taking off, or going up hill. Almost seem like losing power when trying to increase speed. Very dangerous when trying to merge into traffic or on highway.Owner complaint, filed 2020
Lights, wipers and visibility
24 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 29,000 miles. Parts named most: Sun / moon roof assembly (9).
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
The low beams on the 2014 and many other year Hyundai Sant fe models do not work properly. While you are driving at night the low beams do not light up enough or shine bright enough on the roadway so you can see and drive safely ... I even installed brand new bulbs , and nothing changed as far as the brightness . The headlight housings…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The low-beam headlights are terrible, almost useless. I replaced both low-beam bulbs with high-quality bulbs and it did not help, at least not noticeably. The high beams work fine. The low beams are so bad that it is actually hard to see the road right in front of the car at night and the glare from oncoming headlights renders the low…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Body, doors and structure
20 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 59,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (20).
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
Locked the doors normally with the remote. Went into the doctor's office. Returned to the car the driver's door would not unlock. All other doors worked normally. Could not unlock the door with either handle, the switch or the remote. The Dealer says that the door latch mechanism failed in the locked position with the door closed. This…Owner complaint, filed 2024
I have a white 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. About 5 years after having the car, my cars paint started to peel and now rust. I talked to the dealer and they said the warranty for paint on my car is up. Recently I have discovered new articles, multiple facebook groups and forums discussing the same issue. When I drive around, almost all…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Air bags
13 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 70,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
I request that NHTSA review what I believe is a misleading Hyundai warranty extension involving the Occupant Classification System (OCS/ODS), part of the air bag system. Around Mid May 2026, my air bag warning light began illuminating intermittently. I waited because I needed to save up the cash. Around June 2026, Hyundai mailed me a…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owned a 2013 volkswagen passat. While driving 20 MPH on a four way lane going north, the contact's vehicle was struck on the passenger side by another vehicle. The impact caused the contact's vehicle to cross into the south bound lane where it crashed into another vehicle from the driver side front end to the driver's side.…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 112,000 miles
Seats and seat belts
12 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 31,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
Front seat passenger seat belt retractor is locked. Dealer says seat belt and retractor needs to be replaced at a cost of $900. How many owners are going to spend that much money to replace the most important safety device in the vehicle? Soon after I purchased the vehicle in 2014, the same thing happened to a rear passenger seat belt.Owner complaint, filed 2022
The contact owned a 2014 hyundai santa fe. While driving 72 MPH, the contact struck a deer. All of the air bags deployed and the passenger side seat belt came out of the floor. The police were called and a police report was filed. The driver and the passenger were injured and transported to the hospital by ambulance. The driver sustained…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 49,800 miles
Driver assist systems
8 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 62,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
Recently, three different lights went on in my car. When looking it up online I found recall number 251 from Hyundai and it matches the lights and issues my car is facing. However, when looking it up via my VIN there are no open recalls.Owner complaint, filed 2024
The contact owns a 2014 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera malfunctioned while the vehicle was in reverse. The vehicle was taken to circle hyundai (641 shrewsbury ave., shrewsbury, nj 07702, (732) 758-0111) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the back over prevention camera needed to be…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 50,000 miles
Wheels and tires
7 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 40,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2014 hyundai santa fe equipped with continental crosscontact lx tires, size: 235/65r17. While driving 60 MPH, there was a loud explosive noise and the vehicle jerked. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed that the rear driver side tire blew out. The contact replaced the tire with a spare.…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 31,000 miles
Returning home on a highway, when I veer towards the left, the front-right tire and rim started separating so I stopped then looked at the car and saw the tires were ripped apart! It occurred to me I smelled around a half hour before this incident. The dealer and the 24 hour towing truck said it was my fault but later, the mechanic saw…Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 4,769 miles
Suspension
6 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 18,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2014 hyundai santa fe. While driving 75 MPH, the contact noted a strong vibration throughout the vehicle. The vehicle also began independently pulling to the side. The dealer stated that the tires were properly aligned and the vehicle was functioning as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The [VIN] was not made…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 30,000 miles
While driving up a steep winding road my car began making a fluttering noise like a paddleboat. There was a lot of play in the steering wheel with a small squeak to only the left, in the play of the steering wheel. The dealership has let me know I need to replace the steering shaft. What actually makes the steering shaft go out, isn't…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 98,000 miles
Hyundai Santa Fe complaints by year
Compare the 2014 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2014 midsize SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe | Among the worst years | 3 |
| 2014 Toyota Highlander | One of the better years | 5 |
| 2014 Honda Pilot | One of the better years | 3 |
| 2014 Ford Explorer | About average | 7 |
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls
Brakes Control unit / modulePark outside until fixed
- Risk
- An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.
Full recall summary
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Doors, hood and latches
- Risk
- If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Fix
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Tires Sidewall
- Risk
- The damaged sidewall may result in a separation between the belt edges which could cause tread detachment or rapid air loss, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Hyundai notified dealers to suspend sales of affected Santa Fe Sport vehicles equipped with the P235/65R17 103T tires, and replace them with alternative tires.
Full recall summary
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2014 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 5, 2013, through November 15, 2013, and equipped with P235/65R17 103T Continental Crosscontact LX tires. The tires may have a damaged sidewall.
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe questions
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The most reported problem areas on the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe are the engine and cooling (277 complaints), the brakes and stability control (67 complaints) and the steering (52 complaints).
Is the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe a good year to buy?
One of the worst Santa Fe years. Owners filed about 2.0 times as many complaints as a typical Santa Fe year. The main thing to watch is the engine and cooling, which half of owners reported by about 85,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2018 and 2021. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Santa Fe years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most recent, from Sep 2023, covers the control unit / module. One of them tells owners to park outside or not drive the car until it is fixed. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 85,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the brakes and stability control gave a mileage of about 70,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Hyundai Santa Fe years should I avoid?
The Santa Fe years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2013, 2014 and 2017. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2018 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
Looking at a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe?
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