2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems

What owners reported to NHTSA about the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, its recalls, and what to check before you buy one.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe
Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0
How the 2024 compares

Too new to judge fully

It has been on the road 2 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Santa Fe year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 15,000 miles.

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 157 complaints with NHTSA about the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most reported problem area is the transmission and drivetrain (45, 29% of complaints), followed by the electrical system and the driver assist systems. That ranks 12th of 13 Santa Fe years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 7 recalls. Newer cars have had less time to build up complaints, so expect this number to grow.

Complaints157filed with NHTSA
Recalls7for this model year
Crashes129 injuries reported
Fires1reported in complaints

2 of these complaints came from Utah owners.

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Most 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 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe before you buy.

Transmission and drivetrain

45 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 15,000 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

The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, after the light turned to green, the vehicle stalled and became inoperable. The contact waited for several seconds and depressed the accelerator pedal before the vehicle returned to normal operation. The contact associated the failure with…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 12,000 miles
The vehicle has been having ongoing issues with loosing power and lagging when accelerating. It is most predominate on hot days, although still happens at other times. The dealer can not reproduce the issue nor see there is a problem in the computer scan. They say the "lagging" they see is within normal limits. This has been in numerous…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Electrical system

31 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy

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

It seems like the computer or electrical system is failing in the main ECU and the entertainment console. The car's entertainment console will blink when driving over a bump or while braking. It will disconnect from apple carplay and won't reconnect. More importantly, it will turn the car completely off while braking sometimes. This…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Recall for Rearvirw camera and been waiting for over 2 months for the part to become available. Everytime I call they say we only get 1 once in a while sorry. This is not safe if anything happens for visibility.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Driver assist systems

24 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy

Parts named most: Warnings (13), Automatic emergency braking (8), Adaptive cruise control (6).

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

Hyundai - DAW - Driver Attention Warning / Forward Attention Warning System This issue warrants immediate consideration for a recall. Despite wearing glasses, sunglasses, or no glasses, the problem persists. I occasional do remove my glasses while driving, and the warning continues to sound. This occurs regardless of the time of day…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the camera had become inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V808000 (Back Over Prevention). The dealer was recently contacted and informed that the parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was not…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 16,000 miles

Seats and seat belts

18 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy

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

I got recall notice, called and scheduled appointment for July 10. I brought my car in and told them I was having issues with the seatbelt sticking sometimes. When I went to pick it up, they said the part had been ordered and would be in a few days. I never heard from them and contacted them to check on 7/21, 7/27, 8/5, 8/20, 8/28, and…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Passenger front seat belt. If the seat belt would have been used , due to the area that is coming apart and there would be an accident, the belt could come apart. The dealer refused to even take pictures or call the manufacturer. I called the manufacturer myself and basically all they have done is put the issue on a back burner. I’ve ask…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Engine and cooling

14 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy

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

I am reporting an intermittent transmission/shifting issue that has not been resolved despite multiple visits to the dealership. On several occasions, when shifting my vehicle from Park into Drive or Reverse, the vehicle will not engage the selected gear and remains in Park. When this happens, the vehicle is not drivable until I place it…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Vehicle was not driven for 2 days. The check engine light is one and says "active airflap issue" the flaps appear to be open when a/c is on and closed when vehicle is off. There is no debri or anything arount the air flaps. This could cause potential overheating and should not happen in a years time. We travel for my husband's job and…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Brakes and stability control

13 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy

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

Despite having the DCT software recall repaired, today the parking brake disengaged after the car was idling for a few minutes at my son’s school. It lurched forward, startling me, and then I was alerted that the emergency parking brake deployed. The rollaway could have injured a child in the parking lot. No alerts or lights have been on…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Bought in Sept 2026 with 30,000 miles. Would not stop when breaking at low speed but would jerk and accelerate, causing me to drive through red lights and stop signs. How to swerve to avoid collisionHappened about 6 times. Returned to dealer. States could not duplicate. Traded car inOwner complaint, filed 2025

Lights, wipers and visibility

10 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy

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

I purchased my new vehicle in June or July of 2024. I had to replace my windshield on September 26, 2024, then again on December 13, 2025 due to a crack. I recently have received another chip in my windshield on or about March 18, 2026. I am unsure whether all of these were due to rocks, but it seems unbelievable that a windshield would…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Auto dimming headlights. The headlights have stopped auto dimming. I feel like this is a safety issue because if you have them on you have to push the switch forward and then pull backward to change them back to dim. It is not something that happens occasionally it is every time they are on. Not only is it dangerous for me but also on…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Wheels and tires

10 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy

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

We bought 2024 Hyundai Sante Fe with 5,000 miles on it in 2025 . The car's factory tires are Pirelli Scorpion 245/45 r21. After about 7,000 miles of driving it an air bubble appeared on the side wall of my back tire. Since the car was bought with 5,000 on it the dealer said it didn't fall under factory warranty and we would have to pay…Owner complaint, filed 2026
pirelli tire has less than 13k miles on it. car was parked outside. came back and the tire was deflated in minutes. found the leak to be on the inside outer wall. just blew out on its own. had the same problem with the passenger front. same tire same issue 3 weeks later. will ber making a separate complaint. they are both a pirelli…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Cruise control and acceleration

8 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy

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

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Unsure, but likely transmission. I no longer own the vehicle, it is at Tom Ahl Hyundai in Lima, Ohio. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the vehicle was put in reverse, without pressing the gas the car would…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving behind a trailer at 61 MPH with the cruise control activated, the indicator was activated to switch to the left lane, and the vehicle independently accelerated to the set speed of 68 MPH. The contact immediately depressed the brake pedal to slow down. There…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 26,434 miles

Body, doors and structure

5 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy

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

The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle's liftgate would independently open while idle without warning. The contact stated that while washing her vehicle on an inclined driveway, the liftgate opened without warning. In an effort to avoid being hit by the liftgate, the contact fell to her left side on…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently swerved from side to side. The message “Consider Taking A Break” was displayed and the Driver Attention Warning (DAW) warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the Automatic Emergency Braking…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 10,000 miles

Fuel system

3 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy

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

When I first start my car for the day, I get an error message, which says transmission error get transmission checked immediately. I’m unable to put my car into gear and when I try to go forward the transmission acts as if insufficient transmission fluid and does not accelerate properly and go into gear. I went to a Hyundai dealer in…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Our 2024 Santa Fe while traveling 70mph on the freeway suddenly lost power and went into what Hyundai warranty described as "limp mode'. This happened 2x. The 1st time was June 26, 2024 and the 2nd time was June 29th 2024. Both times the high pressure fuel pump was diagnosed by 2 different Hyundai dealership service facilities.Both times…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Steering

3 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy

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

I was driving on the freeway at 70MPH it was dusk. The traffic was light and I was exiting the freeway. Two lanes exit and then split each direction. There is a car next to me but is not coming into my lane and nobody in front of me. Suddenly a collision alarm starts going off the vehicle brakes and the emergency steering notification…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently swerved from side to side. The message “Consider Taking A Break” was displayed and the Driver Attention Warning (DAW) warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the Automatic Emergency Braking…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 10,000 miles

Air bags

1 complaintAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy

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

Involved in a car accident 4/24 going 60 mph, driver cut over and made contact near driver side door, causing us to also slam into a concrete wall on passenger door. After 3 months and up to 29k in damages, insurance declared our car a total loss on 7/23/24. On 7/25/24 the recall was released. No airbags deployed but I had 2 airbag…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Hyundai Santa Fe complaints by year

Compare the 2024 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.

Compare with similar 2024 midsize SUVs

Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.

CarVs. its other yearsRecallsMost reported
2024 Hyundai Santa FeToo new to judge7Transmission and drivetrain
2024 Toyota HighlanderToo new to judge7Fuel system
2024 Honda PilotToo new to judge6Seats and seat belts
2024 Kia TellurideToo new to judge5Electrical system
Compare side by side

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

This is every recall issued for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.

Seat belts Anchorage

Apr 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V218000
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.
Full recall summary

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.

Backup camera Display function

Nov 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V808000
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.
Full recall summary

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."

Electrical system Starter assembly

Oct 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V659000
Risk
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix
Dealers will inspect and reinstall the starter motor terminal cover, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary

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.

Electrical system Switches / knobs / buttons

Nov 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V843000
Risk
A sunshade that closes unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Fix
Dealers will replace the switch knobs, free of charge.
Full recall summary

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The overhead console rear sunshade switch knob may not be fully recessed, which can result in unintentional closing of the sunshade. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition and Roof Panel Systems."

Air bags

Jul 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V561000
Risk
An air bag that deploys unintentionally can increase the risk of an injury.
Fix
Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the wiring harness as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Santa Fe and Santa Fe HEV vehicles. The main floor wiring harness may chafe against the passenger-side second-row bench seat assembly and become damaged, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally or prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.

Transmission and drivetrain Control module

Jul 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V529000
Risk
A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix
Owners are advised to use the emergency parking brake after parking their vehicles.
Full recall summary

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Santa Fe vehicles. A software error in the transmission control unit may result in a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in PARK.

Backup camera

Apr 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V246000
Risk
An obstructed rearview camera image reduces rearward visibility and increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix
Hyundai will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update.
Full recall summary

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Santa Fe vehicles. The rearview camera image may be obstructed by a trailer parking assist message. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe questions

What are the most common problems with the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe?

The most reported problem areas on the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe are the transmission and drivetrain (45 complaints), the electrical system (31 complaints) and the driver assist systems (24 complaints).

Is the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe a good year to buy?

Too new to judge fully. It has been on the road 2 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Santa Fe year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 15,000 miles. 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 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe have?

NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most recent, from Apr 2026, covers the anchorage. 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 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe problems start?

Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 15,000 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.

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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.