2021 Hyundai Santa Fe: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2021 Hyundai Santa Fe: CAUTION — 170 owner complaints (1.51 per 1,000 sold), rated on its recalls: 7 campaigns, 4 for fire or crash risk; top issue: powertrain / transmission (51 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2021 is 1.46, where 1.00 is a typical Santa Fe year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. 54% of its complaints are severe — a crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system. Its raw count is below the median year, but it has been on the road only about 5 years, so complaints are arriving faster than for older Santa Fe years.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, published U.S. sales, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
170
NHTSA complaints
1.51
Complaints per 1,000 sold
97
Service bulletins
7
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe problems
Powertrain / transmission is the clear leader, named in 30% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2021 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 51 | 30% |
| Unknown or other | 41 | 24% |
| Engine | 38 | 22% |
| Electrical system | 29 | 17% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 18 | 11% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls
7 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021, reported between Mar 17, 2021 and Nov 21, 2024.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 24V879000 | Nov 21, 2024 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Sensing system › Camera |
| 23V181000 | Mar 17, 2023 | Trailer hitches |
| 22V746000 | Oct 6, 2022 | Powertrain / transmission › Automatic transmission |
| 21V00M000 | Dec 28, 2021 | Visibility › Windshield |
| 21V524000 | Jul 9, 2021 | Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings |
| 21V308000 | May 3, 2021 | Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings |
| 21V185000 | Mar 17, 2021 | Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module |
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 97 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2021 — close to the 104 of the median Santa Fe year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (44), powertrain / transmission (34), engine & cooling (14). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2021 vs. the year before and after
From the 2020 to the 2021, owner complaints fell 22% (218 → 170) — an improvement. The 2022 that followed rose 20% (170 → 204), so the 2021 is the cleaner of the two by count.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Santa Fe | CAUTION | 218 | 110 | 2 | — |
| 2021 (this page) | CAUTION | 170 | 97 | 7 | — |
| 2022 Santa Fe | AVOID | 204 | 91 | 5 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Hyundai Santa Fe years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
Powertrain / transmission (51 complaints on the 2021): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Engine (38 complaints on the 2021): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Electrical system (29 complaints on the 2021): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Forward collision avoidance (18 complaints on the 2021): ask about false automatic-braking events and look for driver-assist warning messages.
Fuel / propulsion system (11 complaints on the 2021): smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
Recalls: confirm all 7 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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FAQ
Is the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe: CAUTION — 170 owner complaints (1.51 per 1,000 sold), rated on its recalls: 7 campaigns, 4 for fire or crash risk; top issue: powertrain / transmission (51 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2021 is 1.46, where 1.00 is a typical Santa Fe year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe are powertrain / transmission (51, 30%), unknown or other (41, 24%), engine (38, 22%). The manufacturer has 97 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
7 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, most recently 24V879000 (Nov 21, 2024, backup camera / back-over prevention); 23V181000 (Mar 17, 2023, trailer hitches); 22V746000 (Oct 6, 2022, powertrain / transmission). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the per-1,000 rate divides complaints by published U.S. 2021 calendar-year sales; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.