Owners have reported 6 crashes and 3 injuries to NHTSA for the 2025 Hyundai Santa-FE. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report several electrical system issues with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, with the most common being the 12V battery draining unexpectedly, leaving the vehicle unresponsive and requiring jump starts or towing. Complaints frequently mention problems with the vehicle's gear recognition, where the car fails to shift out of neutral or park, sometimes resulting in unintended movement. Additionally, multiple owners describe issues with the infotainment system, including screens going blank and malfunctioning driver assistance alerts. These problems often occur at low mileages, some as early as 700 miles, and have significant safety implications, including unintended braking and loss of propulsion power. Buyers should be aware of these patterns, as they may impact vehicle operation and safety.
Owner complaints14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners report frequent issues with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe's vehicle speed control, primarily related to the driver attention monitoring system. Complaints often describe the system failing to recognize drivers' eyes when wearing sunglasses, leading to unexpected deactivation of cruise control and sudden braking, which is especially concerning at highway speeds. Multiple reports indicate that the Forward Attention Warning system is overly sensitive, causing distractions and stress by frequently issuing alerts even when drivers are attentive. One complaint involves a crash with injuries due to unintended acceleration, suggesting a potential transition issue between electric and gas modes. These problems are reported even in vehicles with low mileage, indicating they may occur early in the vehicle's lifespan.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints12
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Owners report that the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe's driver assistance systems, particularly the Forward Attention Warning and adaptive cruise control, frequently malfunction. Common symptoms include the systems shutting down unexpectedly, persistent false alerts suggesting inattentiveness, and the inability to use sunglasses without disabling these features. These issues often occur at highway speeds, with some drivers experiencing momentary loss of control or unexpected deceleration, which could pose safety risks. Complaints are noted across various mileages, including as early as 13,000 miles. Potential buyers should be aware of these reported problems, especially if they rely on driver assistance technologies.
Owner complaints12
POWER TRAIN
Owners of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe frequently report powertrain issues, particularly involving transmission performance and communication failures. Common symptoms include failure to shift gears, unintended acceleration, and loss of power, often occurring at varying speeds and sometimes resulting in the vehicle entering "limp mode." These issues are reported as early as 67 miles and continue at higher mileages, with some incidents involving high RPMs without corresponding acceleration and problems with the shift-by-wire system. Safety implications include potential loss of control, as some complaints describe unintended acceleration or the vehicle rolling unexpectedly. Buyers considering this model should be aware of these recurring transmission and powertrain concerns.
Owner complaints9
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Owners report several visibility issues with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, particularly concerning the windshield and wipers. Complaints frequently mention inadequate wiper performance, with streaking during rain and failure to clear snow, sometimes requiring repeated dealership visits. Washer nozzles are described as spraying too low on the windshield, leading to ineffective cleaning, especially at highway speeds. Windshield durability is also a concern, with reports of cracks and chips occurring soon after purchase, suggesting potential issues with the glass quality. Safety implications include one reported crash due to a malfunctioning rearview camera, highlighting the importance of addressing these visibility issues.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints4
STEERING
Owners of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe frequently report issues with the steering system, particularly noting loud squeaking noises and increased stiffness in the steering wheel after driving for 10-20 minutes or in cold weather conditions below 50F. Some complaints describe the steering wheel jerking unexpectedly, causing the vehicle to veer off course, with one incident resulting in a flat tire after hitting a median. Another common issue involves multiple alerts appearing on the dashboard, followed by steering wheel vibration and loss of vehicle control, which has left some vehicles unable to restart. These issues often occur within the first 11,000 miles of ownership and have led to difficulties in steering control, posing potential safety risks for drivers.
Owner complaints3
ENGINE
Owners report that the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid frequently experiences sudden power loss while driving, often at highway speeds, leading to dangerous situations. Typical symptoms include abrupt deceleration, entry into "limp mode," and engine shutdown without prior warning or illuminated indicators. These issues are noted at mileages as low as 4,000 and up to 14,830 miles. Safety implications are significant, with multiple reports of near-collisions and stranded vehicles on highways. Buyers should be aware of these recurring engine-related problems, which have required major repairs such as ignition coil, fuel pump, and oil pump replacements.
Owner complaints2
SEAT BELTS
Owners report two incidents involving seat belt failures in the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. Complaints frequently mention seat belts detaching or dislodging during rear-end collisions, with one incident involving the driver's seat belt and another involving the passenger-side seat belt. Both incidents resulted in the vehicle being declared a total loss, and one incident reported injuries, including a concussion and orthopedic injuries. The failures occurred at relatively low mileages, around 5,000 to 8,500 miles. Safety implications are noted, as these seat belt failures coincide with crashes and injuries.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints2
AIR BAGS
Owners of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe report issues with air bag non-deployment during crashes. In one incident, the vehicle collided with a deer, and despite the crash, the air bags did not deploy. Another owner describes a situation where the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated while parking, leading to multiple collisions with parked cars and a fence, yet the air bags still did not deploy. These incidents occurred at approximately 10,024 miles and involve significant safety implications, including the potential for injury during collisions. Buyers should be aware of these reports when considering the vehicle's safety features.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Owners of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe report issues related to the fuel/propulsion system, with two main patterns emerging. Some owners describe a significant and sudden loss of power while driving at highway speeds, with the vehicle failing to accelerate beyond approximately 25 mph and a dashboard message instructing to "park and let battery charge." This issue is noted around 9,000 miles and poses potential safety risks due to the loss of power in traffic. Another complaint involves engine stalling at around 2,149 miles, attributed to bad fuel, resulting in costly repairs for replacing fuel injectors, although the source of the bad fuel remains unverified. These issues highlight potential reliability concerns for prospective buyers, especially regarding the vehicle's performance and the clarity of responsibility for repairs.
