2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Problems & Complaints

Avoid2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Santa Fe Hybrid at the same age

Owners have filed 58 complaints about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 2.1× as many as a typical Santa Fe Hybrid model year at the same age, which makes the 2023 one of the Santa Fe Hybrid years to avoid. The most reported problem area is the engine & cooling (25 complaints, typically around 7,000 miles). One recall covers this model year, including one with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning.

58complaints
1recalls
1crashes
0fires
2injuries
0deaths

Most common 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid problems

  • Engine & cooling~7,000 miles
    2543%
  • Transmission & drivetrain
    1526%
  • Electrical system
    1424%
  • Driver assistance~24,000 miles
    1424%
  • Fuel & propulsion system
    1322%
  • Other / not specified
    1119%
  • Speed control & acceleration~7,000 miles
    712%
  • Brakes
    35%
  • Body & structure
    23%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof
    23%
  • Equipment & accessories
    12%
  • Wheels & tires
    12%
  • Steering
    12%
  • Lights
    12%
  • Suspension
    12%

Share of the 58 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid complaints by model year

2021202220232024202520262037583610319
Owner complaints per model year, Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Compare all Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid years →

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid recalls (1)

Trailer hitches

NHTSA recall 23V-181 · Mar 17, 2023 · 584,784 vehiclesPark outside

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.

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.

What 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid owners say

Engine & cooling all 25 →

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30-35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle worked as designed for several miles before the failure recurred. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure was due to the accelerator switch. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH in the driveway, the vehicle lost motive power. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 6,800.

7,000 miles · May 2024

The issue I'm about to describe has occurred multiple times during the seven (7) months I've owned the vehicle - including again today. In all cases, I was attempting gradual acceleration to merge onto a highway or high-traffic street (e.g., when exiting a mall parking lot onto a busy city street). When I press the accelerator nothing happens - NO power whatsoever for at least two seconds! And on three of these occasions, I was almost broadsided by oncoming high-speed traffic! I've reported this issue to my dealership (both sales and service) and their response was that this is a known problem with the Hyundai hybrid models BUT that there is NO fix available nor, to the best of their knowledge, is there one in the process of being developed! …

Jun 2023

Transmission & drivetrain

The issue I'm about to describe has occurred multiple times during the seven (7) months I've owned the vehicle - including again today. In all cases, I was attempting gradual acceleration to merge onto a highway or high-traffic street (e.g., when exiting a mall parking lot onto a busy city street). When I press the accelerator nothing happens - NO power whatsoever for at least two seconds! And on three of these occasions, I was almost broadsided by oncoming high-speed traffic! I've reported this issue to my dealership (both sales and service) and their response was that this is a known problem with the Hyundai hybrid models BUT that there is NO fix available nor, to the best of their knowledge, is there one in the process of being developed! …

Jun 2023

It started in April 2024. After the dealership performed an oil change we heard a strange noise whenever we accelerated. The dealership said it was either the transmission or the hybrid motor and both were on back order (usually an indicator that these parts are in great demand). After several weeks both parts arrived but they only replaced the transmission because that took care of the noise. A few days after we got the car back, we heard a clunking sound whenever we shifted. I tried to take the car to a different dealership but they said we had to return to the place that installed the transmission because bolts were missing. We went back to that dealership and they said no bolts were missing but they did need to be tightened. After that the clunking stopped, however, the next day we started experiencing other problems. …

Apr 2024

Electrical system

It started in April 2024. After the dealership performed an oil change we heard a strange noise whenever we accelerated. The dealership said it was either the transmission or the hybrid motor and both were on back order (usually an indicator that these parts are in great demand). After several weeks both parts arrived but they only replaced the transmission because that took care of the noise. A few days after we got the car back, we heard a clunking sound whenever we shifted. I tried to take the car to a different dealership but they said we had to return to the place that installed the transmission because bolts were missing. We went back to that dealership and they said no bolts were missing but they did need to be tightened. After that the clunking stopped, however, the next day we started experiencing other problems. …

Apr 2024

While driving the blind spot safety system, driver attention warning system, and lane following system malfunction at the same time, and the vehicle loses power steering. The first time this occured was in the parking lot of an elementary school in April 2024. I was driving less than 2mph and the vehicle had less than 8,000 miles on it. The dealer said they would be unable to diagnose unless they witnessed the errors. The second time it occured was in May 2024 while driving on the interstate at around 75mph. The vehicle was driven directly to the dealership who kept it for four weeks. They said the connections to the ECU were severely corroded, sanded them down, and added a water protectant. The third time it occured was a month later. The dealership has had the vehicle for two weeks with no diagnosis. …

Apr 2024

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
1.6L 4-cyl turbo hybrid6-speed dual-clutchAWD33 / 30 / 32

EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid a good car?

Based on 58 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Santa Fe Hybrid at the same age. It is one of the Santa Fe Hybrid years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid?

The engine & cooling — 25 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system › radiator assembly. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (15) and electrical system (14).

How many recalls does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid have?

There is 1 recall for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, the most recent from March 17, 2023 (trailer hitches). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid?

Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2023 and 2024. See the full Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid years comparison.

At what mileage do 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 24,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.