2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL Problems
- Complaints
- 26filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
- EPA fuel economy
- 21 mpgcombined, 3.3L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 25 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL. The part named most often is engine, with 10 complaints (38% of the total), followed by other or unknown (6) and brakes (5). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 80,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 58 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 10 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.
Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
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.
- Engine10 38%
- Other or unknown6 23%
- Brakes5 19%
- Electrical system4 15%
- Steering1 3.9%
- Body and structure1 3.9%
- Vehicle speed control1 3.9%
Example complaints
Engine: “The engine seized with no warning. We had our camshaft replaced six months prior that was covered by our extended warranty. Hyundai dealer was tracking oil consumption issue prior to repair and notice consumption was increasing. We had three oil changes from November through April. Our last oil change was on 3.25 and engine seized 1,200 miles later. Hyundai offered to cover 60% of the $22,000 engine replacement. We were told that we would need to cover the cost ($2,200) for our Hyundai dealer to break down the engine for our extended warranty to inspect. …”
NHTSA complaint #11588781, filed 2024-05, 120,848 milesOther or unknown: “While driving west in I-70 near Frisco, CO. The sunroof randomly exploded, throwing glass throughout the vehicle. I was driving the car with my wife and dog, all of us got covered in glass and the exploding glass was extremely loud. We were lucky the sound didn’t cause me to drive off the road or that any of falling glass severely cut us.”
NHTSA complaint #11651428, filed 2025-03Brakes: “Recall 218 for possible engine fire was issued in early February 2022. 3.5 months later in mid-May there is still no remedy. It has been inconvenient to “park my vehicle outside and away from structures” and to constantly be pulling over when I smell something to make sure my car is not on fire. I can not use my car to go on any long trips for fear it will catch fire. Hyundai should buy my car back since it can catch fire and I can’t use it reliably and since it could kill me or my family.”
NHTSA complaint #11464135, filed 2022-05Electrical system: “2019 HYUNDAI SANTA FE XL- I feel something should be done against Hyundai. I could have easily been killed by their failure in one area. Vehicle wiring harnesses. Are you aware that the wiring systems in many of their vehicles are made from Soy. Soy is a product that is made of Soy Beans and guess that rodents such as mice, chipmunks and squirrels love. Soy Beans. I have had three instances where rodents have chewed the wiring in my vehicle. The one time I could have been killed. To be honest I thought I would be when cars could come behind me and screech on their brakes. …”
NHTSA complaint #11528966, filed 2023-06Mileage when problems were reported
20% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 75,000 and 91,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa FE XL · SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 4 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 15.7% risk |
| Santa FE XL · SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | 4 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 15.0% risk |
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe XL AWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 18 | 24 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Santa Fe XL FWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 18 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Santa Fe XL Ultimate AWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 17 | 22 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Santa Fe XL Ultimate FWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 18 | 23 | 20 | $3,350 |
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
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control…Covers: Hyundai Santa FE XL 2019, Santa FE 2016–2018, Tucson 2014–2015 +1 more
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in…
Recall details for the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL → · 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. 58 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038722Oct 15, 2026Back-over prevention (rear camera). Some Hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger various DTCs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the PDW…
- 11038430Oct 8, 2026Engine. Certain Palisade (LX2) and Santa Fe (NC) vehicles equipped with Lambda II 6-cylinder engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber…
- 11038456Oct 7, 2026Engine. Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles…
- 11037233Aug 26, 2026Other or unknown. Certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk…
- 11032526Apr 25, 2026Air bags, Electrical system. Some vehicles listed below may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s) B1763 (OCS ECU Defect), and/or B1764 (OCS Mat Defect) may be stored. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage…
- 11032525Apr 25, 2026Air bags, Electrical system. Some vehicles listed below may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s) B1763 (OCS ECU Defect), and/or B1764 (OCS Mat Defect) may be stored. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage…
- 11032523Apr 10, 2026Air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile…
- 11032522Apr 10, 2026Air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo…
- 11029907Feb 11, 2026Engine. Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 26-EM-002H describes the procedure…
- 11028951Feb 11, 2026Engine. Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect the engine and…
Other model years of the Hyundai Santa FE XL
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 26 | 80,000 | 1 | 5 | 21 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Rising |
All Hyundai Santa FE XL model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL have?
NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL is reported most often?
Engine is named most often, in 10 complaints (38% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 6.
Has the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL 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 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL get?
The EPA rates the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL (Santa Fe XL FWD, 3.3L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2019 Hyundai Santa FE XL reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 80,000 miles and the middle half falls between 75,000 and 91,000 miles; 20% 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.