VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 212.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Santa Fe years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
65 reports with mileage · 132 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Unknown Or Other complaints
46 reportsTHE BLUE LINK REMOTE START OFTEN DOES NOT RESPOND. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET FIXED. THE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SYSTEM. HYUNDAI DOES NOT HAVE A CONTACT NUMBER THAT IS EASY TO LOCATE. WHEN YOU DO CALL THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO TALK WITH AND OFTEN JUST HANG UP ON YOU. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR SEVERAL MONTH…
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THE BLUE LINK REMOTE START OFTEN DOES NOT RESPOND. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET FIXED. THE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SYSTEM. HYUNDAI DOES NOT HAVE A CONTACT NUMBER THAT IS EASY TO LOCATE. WHEN YOU DO CALL THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO TALK WITH AND OFTEN JUST HANG UP ON YOU. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH SOMEONE TO TALK TOO ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVE RECENTLY SENT AN E MAIL TELLING ME THAT THAT I MUST ACCEPT CHANGES IN MY BLUE LINK (THEY ARE GOING TO SHARE DATA FROM THAT WITH OTHER COMPANIES). YOU DO NOT HAVE AN OPTION TO DECLINE. THEY GIVE YOU AN OPTION TO AGREE OR THEY NOTE THAT CONTINUED USE OF BLUE LINK GIVES CONSENT. I DO NOT GIVE MY CONSENT. BLUE LINK IS NOT DEPENDABLE AND AS A RESULT DATA FROM THAT SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO INACCURATE. I OWN THREE HYUNDAI'S AND BUYING THE 2019 WAS A MISTAKE. THE BLUE LINK SYSTEM IS A MESS. THE SELL YOU THE SYSTEM IT WORKS ON YOUR PHONE, WORKS FROM ANYWHERE NO DISTANCE LIMITATIONS ECT. BUT AFTER YOU BUY IT THEY POINT OUT THAT YOU CANT COMPLAIN BECAUSE ITS A COMPLEMENTARY SERVICE. THIS ONLY COMES OUT AFTER YOU BUY THE CAR. THEY NEVER TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE THE PURCHASE. AFTER OWNING HYUNDAI'S FOR SEVERAL YEARS (3 OF THEM) I AM BEYOND DISAPPOINTED THEY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS SO POOR. WHATS WORSE IS THAT WHEN YOU COMPLAIN THEY CAN'T FIND A NUMBER TO CONTACT WHERE YOU CAN GET HYUNDAI AMERICA TO EVEN LISTEN TO THE PROBLEM.
IDLE STOP AND GO TECHNOLOGY FEATURE CANNOT BE DISABLED. THE SYSTEM TURNS ITSELF ON AFTER I HAVE TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES WITH THE FEATURE TURNED OFF AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN, THEREBY TURNING THE TECHNOLOGY BACK ON. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS THINKING MY ENGI…
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IDLE STOP AND GO TECHNOLOGY FEATURE CANNOT BE DISABLED. THE SYSTEM TURNS ITSELF ON AFTER I HAVE TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES WITH THE FEATURE TURNED OFF AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN, THEREBY TURNING THE TECHNOLOGY BACK ON. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS THINKING MY ENGINE WAS RUNNING WHEN IT WAS NOT. THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO DISABLE THIS, NOT JUST TEMPORARILY TURN OFF. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION BUT THEY ARE MYSTIFIED AS I AM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE PURCHASE LAST SUMMER, THOUGH BELOW I AM ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC DATE IT HAPPENED.
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2019 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ON FEBRUARY 20, 2019. ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 WHILE DRIVING ON A BACK COUNTRY ROAD GOING NO MORE THAN 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. I OPENED THE ELECTRIC CLOTH COVER AND THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED AND GLASS STARTED FALLING IN THE CAR. CONTACTED THE DEALER TH…
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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2019 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ON FEBRUARY 20, 2019. ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 WHILE DRIVING ON A BACK COUNTRY ROAD GOING NO MORE THAN 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. I OPENED THE ELECTRIC CLOTH COVER AND THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED AND GLASS STARTED FALLING IN THE CAR. CONTACTED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE. THE DEALER OR HYUNDAI SHOULD COVER THE COST AS I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 4 DAYS.
MY NEW 2019 HYUNDAI SANTE FE FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT HAD THE YELLOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. IT SAID THE BSM SYSTEM WASN'T WORKING. THEN THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I HAD TO WAIT TO GET IT TO START. THERE HAVE BEEN 3 OCCASIONS WHEN IT DID START IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING DIE, VERY SLUGGISH AND DIDN…
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MY NEW 2019 HYUNDAI SANTE FE FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT HAD THE YELLOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. IT SAID THE BSM SYSTEM WASN'T WORKING. THEN THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I HAD TO WAIT TO GET IT TO START. THERE HAVE BEEN 3 OCCASIONS WHEN IT DID START IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING DIE, VERY SLUGGISH AND DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE. THE RPM WOULD NOT INCREASE. IT ALSO STARTED 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS IT LOST STEERING WHEEL POWER AND THE A/C STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. I HAD TO TURN IT OFF AND WAIT TO RESTART IT. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR THE BLIND SPOT MONITORING MODULES. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE MODULE IT STILL SHOWED IT NOT WORKING. SO NOW IT IS UNDRIVABLE AT GENE MESSER HYUNDAI IN LUBBOCK TEXAS, THEY SAY IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE SO I AM DRIVING A LOANER. THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DETERMINE WHY THE ENGINE DID THE DESCRIBED THINGS ABOVE. THESE THINGS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION AND PARKED.
I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AUGUST 1 AND DROVE IT HOME, 50 MILES, AT 75+ MPH. IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED A HIGH VIBRATION IN THE RIDE AS WELL AS LOOKING IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE BLURRY FROM THE VIBRATION UNTIL I PLACE A FINGER ON THE MIRROR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY RELATING TO THE VIBRATION. THEY BALAN…
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I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AUGUST 1 AND DROVE IT HOME, 50 MILES, AT 75+ MPH. IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED A HIGH VIBRATION IN THE RIDE AS WELL AS LOOKING IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE BLURRY FROM THE VIBRATION UNTIL I PLACE A FINGER ON THE MIRROR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY RELATING TO THE VIBRATION. THEY BALANCED THE FRONT TIRES. I RETURNED HOME AND THE VIBRATION WAS STILL THERE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 4 MORE TIMES WITH NO SOLUTION. I HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED WITH A RENTAL FOR A FEW DAYS AND WAS TOLD THE SUV WAS READY. I PICKED IT UP ON A SATURDAY AND ASKED FOR SOMEONE TO GO FOR A RIDE TO SEE IF THE VIBRATION WAS STILL THERE. NO ONE WAS AVAILABLE SO I DROVE IT HOME AND THE VIBRATION WAS STILL THERE. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER AND AN HYUNDIA ENGINEER TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE UP TO 70MPH WHICH WAS IN THE CITY AND NOT HIGHWAY DRIVING. I HAD A CONFERENCE CALL WITH THE GM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINEER SAID ALL OF THE SUVS VIBRATED AND THIS ONE WAS MORE "PRONOUNCED" WHICH WAS NOT IN HIS REPORT TO HYUNDIA WHO I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT. I BELIEVE THIS VIBRATION IS NOT IN THE WHEELS, ONE TIRE WAS REPLACED, BUT MECHANICALLY ELSEWHERE. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE 9/25/2018. I BELIEVE THIS SUV TO BE UNSAFE AND THAT OTHER COMPONENTS WILL FAIL. THIS IS MY 3RD SUV AND I'VE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRST 2. ANOTHER ENGINEER IS SCHEDULED TO INSPECT IT 10/23/2018. I AM A HELICOPTER PILOT AND KNOW WHAT VIBRATIONS CAN DO TO MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS.
Official recalls
223V181000 · Trailer Hitches
Mar 17, 2023
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.
18V715000 · Air Bags:side/window
Oct 11, 2018
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. The Side Curtain Air Bag (SCAB) mounting bolts may interfere with and damage the air bags during deployment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the air bags become damaged during deployment they may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the SCAB installation bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 177.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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