Which Years Of Used Hyundai Santa Fes Are Most Reliable?
Joining Hyundai’s lineup more than 20 years ago, the Santa Fe became the company’s first SUV. Today, this midsized crossover remains a strong seller for the Korean automaker and in the second-hand market. With this in mind, we’ll explore the most reliable Hyundai Santa Fe years.
We’ll break things down by generation and then take a year-by-year look at more recent Santa Fe model years. Our search for definitive answers about Hyundai Santa Fe reliability comes mostly from looking at engine and transmission issues. Not only are these critical components, but they are the most expensive to repair. Other factors, such as a problematic electrical system, can also come into play.
Our review is based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Consumer Reports, and carcomplaints.com. Importantly, this analysis only looks at reliability. Before purchasing, you’ll want to assess other characteristics, like safety and fuel economy. Further, it’s always advisable to have a used car inspected by a professional mechanic before signing the paperwork.
Most Reliable Hyundai Santa Fe Years—First Generation (Sold: 2001-2006)
Predicting reliability for twenty-year-old cars can be tricky. No matter how dependable a vehicle is after leaving the factory, time will take its toll. As such, we’ll focus our efforts on later Santa Fe generations.
Most Reliable Hyundai Santa Fe Years—Second Generation (Sold: 2007-2012)
2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Down
Avoiding the first year of an all-new model or new generation is smart car buying. Initial design kinks may not go away and are often corrected in later years. Another reason to avoid the 2007 Sante Fe is that it has the unfortunate distinction of having more complaints on file with NHTSA than any other model year. That’s a major red flag.
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2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Down
While complaints drop somewhat for the 2008 Santa Fe, it’s not enough of a movement to make this vehicle any more appealing. A reliability rating of 2 (out of 5) from Consumer Reports is equally concerning.
2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Down
You should keep searching beyond the 2009 model year if you’re hoping to find a reliable second-generation Santa Fe. Although owner trouble reports have been cut in half from 2007, many complaints still focus on engine, transmission, and electrical system issues.
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Down
Complaints are down with the 2010 Santa Fe, but there are still numerous reports about engines that stall or transmission with slipping gears. The fate of this model year is sealed by a 1 out of 5 reliability score from Consumer Reports.
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Up
If your Santa Fe shopping budget means sticking with the second generation, then the 2011 model year is where to park your money. This isn’t a flawless car, but complaints are down significantly, and it gets a passing grade from Consumer Reports (3 out of 5).
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Down
Ordinarily, the last year of generation means the problems have been solved. Not so for the 2012 Santa Fe. A significant uptick in owner reports about engine stalling is especially troubling, and carcomplaints.com makes a particular point about avoiding this model year. We get the hint.
Most Reliable Hyundai Santa Fe Years—Third Generation (Sold: 2013-2018)
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Down
Given the previous generation’s history, staying away from the first year of the third generation is highly recommended. Plus, the seriousness of owner reports made to NHTSA confirms our suspicions.
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Down
Carcomplaints.com calls the 2014 Santa Fe a clunker, and we must agree. More than half of the complaints on file with NHTSA concern the engine, and a 2 out of 5 reliability rating from Consumer Reports doesn’t help matters.
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Up
We’ll call the third-generation Santa Fe a late bloomer because the 2015 edition is the first one worthy of being called reliable. Owner complaints are down substantially; this Hyundai even earns a notable Consumer Reports reliability ranking of 4.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Down
The seesaw of Santa Fe reliability takes a downturn with the 2016 model year. This is evidenced by a poor rating from Consumer Reports (2) and that engine issues continue to dominate owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE YEARS TO AVOID
If you’re considering purchasing a used Santa Fe, you’ll want to know which Hyundai Santa Fe years to avoid to make the best buying decision.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Down
A double thumbs down is how we’d rank dependability for the 2017 Santa Fe. Trouble reports involving the engine quadrupled over the previous year. And learning about faulty crankshafts is enough to strongly suggest avoiding this edition like the plague.
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Up
At least the third generation of the Santa Fe closes out with a winner. Engine-related complaints for the 2018 edition are a fraction of the more troublesome previous years. This is just some of the evidence that Hyundai worked out most of the gremlins.
Most Reliable Hyundai Santa Fe Years—Fourth Generation (Sold: 2019-2023)
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Down
It’s the first year of an all-new Hyundai Santa Fe. Despite a strong rating from Consumer Reports (a surprising 5 out of 5), we can’t help but be turned off by the number of reports covering engine and electrical system issues. History is our guide here.
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Up
A strong showing across the reviewed data makes the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe a reliability champion. Sure, there are complaints (no car is perfect), but there’s not enough of one specific area to be concerned about. The Consumer Reports reliability score of 4 is also reassuring.
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: Thumbs Down
Just when we were excited about the strong dependability showing for the 2020 Santa Fe, along comes the 2021 model year. Much of the worry comes from increased owner reports about the engine. The numbers aren’t as bad as earlier, but the rise gets our attention. Consumer Reports backs this up by dropping reliability to a 3.
2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Verdict: No Decision
Given the Santa Fe’s inconsistent background for dependability, we’re reluctant to pass judgment on the 2022-2023 model years until these cars add more mileage to their odometers. We’ll wait for what the future brings before having a verdict about the reliability of these cars.
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