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Hyundai Santa FE HybridModel year report

2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid Problems

Complaints
20filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
28,500miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
34 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid AWD · 36 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid. The part named most often is engine, with 8 complaints (40% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (7) and other or unknown (5). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 28,500 miles. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 47 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Lane departure (1), Seats (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “Whenever the weather gets above 80 degrees outside my car put a notice to refill inverter coolant, when everything is filled max line. I’ve mentioned it twice to the Hyundai service and both times the employee told me not to worry about it and it is a sensor issue. That is unacceptable, I live in Las Vegas, Nevada where temperatures on average in summer are 90+. That’s a big risk an unnecessary danger to have my car engine over heat and stop in the middle of no where and potentially leave me stranded or worse cause an accident or fire. …”

NHTSA complaint #11516429, filed 2023-04

Transmission and drivetrain: “I have been taking my 21 Santa Fe hybrid limited into the dealership for a year and a half for the same code . Powertrain code P040B00, and to this day they can not repair this issue. I looked it up and a ton of us are having issues with this same code. It should be investigated, and customers should be warned. Hyundai needs to recall these vehicles or provide a solution. A year and a half is unacceptable”

NHTSA complaint #11533831, filed 2023-07

Other or unknown: “From what I have been told there is no recall on this issue. Purchased a Hyundai Sante Fe Hybrid 2021 brand new in 2021. I live in La Quinta California summers are especially hot. Temps can be anywhere from 105 to 120 . Only had the car for 6months when in light came on saying Inverter needs coolant this has been a problem for the past 2yrs. Checked with Hyundai Service department my coolant is fine air conditioning works well. This not a safety issue but should be fixed and Hyundai is doing nothing about it. Many complaints have been ignored.”

NHTSA complaint #11521248, filed 2023-05

Fuel system: “While driving 80 mph down the highway my brand new vehicle shut off completely, the entire car lost power. In another instance I was going around a roundabout and my acceleration completely went out, my son was in the back seat and another car had to jump the curb to avoid crashing into us. I met a woman in the dealership who has been waiting over a year for her recalled tow hitch to be fixed. When it rains or snows the forward safety systems shut off and the alert repeats extremely distracting on your dash, like sounds, red flashing lights, over and over again. …”

NHTSA complaint #11529228, filed 2023-06

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 26,000 and 31,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–25100%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 28,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20221020232024
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Santa FE Hybrid · SUV AWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 14.7% risk
Santa FE Hybrid · SUV FWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 15.5% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2021 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking optional.

Neighbouring years: 2022: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Santa Fe Hybrid AWD1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid6-speed automatic333032$2,100
Santa Fe Hybrid Blue AWD1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid6-speed automatic363134$1,950

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 47 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 47 bulletins →

Other model years of the Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202621—3536—Too new
20251057,4503436Too new to compareToo new
20243626,7864—36Too new to compareToo new
20235815,3121—34Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Too new
20223729,2504534Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
20212028,5003534—Stable

All Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 8 complaints (40% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 7.

Has the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid (Santa Fe Hybrid Blue, 1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 34 mpg combined, 36 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 28,500 miles and the middle half falls between 26,000 and 31,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.