2024 Hyundai Santa Fe: Problems & Reliability
AVOID2024 Hyundai Santa Fe: AVOID — 157 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 7 campaigns, 3 for fire or crash risk; top issue: powertrain / transmission (45 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2024 is 1.72, where 1.00 is a typical Santa Fe year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.12. 48% 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 2 years, so complaints are arriving faster than for older Santa Fe years.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
157
NHTSA complaints
1.72
Verdict score (1.00 = typical Santa Fe year)
36
Service bulletins
7
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe problems
Powertrain / transmission leads a spread-out record, named in 29% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2024 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 45 | 29% |
| Unknown or other | 33 | 21% |
| Electrical system | 31 | 20% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 16 | 10% |
| Engine | 13 | 8% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls
7 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2024, reported between Apr 2, 2024 and Apr 7, 2026.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 26V218000 | Apr 7, 2026 | Seat belts › Front › Anchorage |
| 25V808000 | Nov 21, 2025 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Display function |
| 25V659000 | Oct 3, 2025 | Electrical system › Starter assembly |
| 24V843000 | Nov 7, 2024 | Electrical system › Wiring › Switches/knobs/buttons |
| 24V561000 | Jul 26, 2024 | Air bags |
| 24V529000 | Jul 12, 2024 | Powertrain / transmission › Automatic transmission › Control module › Software |
| 24V246000 | Apr 2, 2024 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Software |
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 36 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2024 — fewer than the 104 of the median Santa Fe year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (19), powertrain / transmission (4), engine (3). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2024 vs. the year before and after
From the 2023 to the 2024, owner complaints fell 27% (215 → 157) — an improvement. The 2025 that followed held roughly level (157 → 143). The 2025 is still new, so its count will keep growing.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Santa Fe | AVOID | 215 | 44 | 1 | — |
| 2024 (this page) | AVOID | 157 | 36 | 7 | — |
| 2025 Santa Fe | CAUTION | 143 | 35 | 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 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe
Powertrain / transmission (45 complaints on the 2024): 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.
Electrical system (31 complaints on the 2024): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Forward collision avoidance (16 complaints on the 2024): ask about false automatic-braking events and look for driver-assist warning messages.
Engine (13 complaints on the 2024): 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.
Service brakes (13 complaints on the 2024): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Recalls: confirm all 7 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2024 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 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe: AVOID — 157 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 7 campaigns, 3 for fire or crash risk; top issue: powertrain / transmission (45 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2024 is 1.72, where 1.00 is a typical Santa Fe year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.12.
What are the most common 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe are powertrain / transmission (45, 29%), unknown or other (33, 21%), electrical system (31, 20%). The manufacturer has 36 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
7 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, most recently 26V218000 (Apr 7, 2026, seat belts); 25V808000 (Nov 21, 2025, backup camera / back-over prevention); 25V659000 (Oct 3, 2025, electrical system). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2024 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 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; 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.