Most common 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe problems
Share of the 203 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Santa Fe complaints by model year
Best Santa Fe years: 2018, 2011. Years to avoid: 2017, 2025, 2023, 2013, 2024. Compare all years →
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls (2)
Trailer hitches
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.
Air bags › Side/window
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe:
Loss of Motive Power
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.
What 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe owners say
Engine & cooling all 75 →
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power while depressing the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the turbo was replaced. The contact stated that months later, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where a part on the transmission was replaced; however, the failure returned, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and had the transmission replaced. …
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while at a complete stop with the auto engine Start/Stop feature activated, the vehicle would intermittently shut off upon depression of the accelerator pedal with several warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact would be forced to turn off the vehicle and open the driver's side door to reset the vehicle; after multiple attempts, the engine would restart and resume normal operation. The contact had taken the vehicle to two separate dealers, Freehold Hyundai (4065 US-9, Freehold, NJ 07728) and Greg May Hyundai (1501 TX-340 Loop, Waco, TX 76712)] on multiple occasions but neither dealer was able to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and provided a case number. The contact was referred back to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 37 →
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power while depressing the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the turbo was replaced. The contact stated that months later, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where a part on the transmission was replaced; however, the failure returned, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and had the transmission replaced. …
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating with the accelerator pedal depressed and the RPM raised. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally failed to start. No warning light was illuminated. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that there were metal shavings in the oil pan. Hyundai Eugene (89320 N Game Farm Rd, Eugene, OR 97408) was contacted; however, the failure was not identified. Upon further investigation, the Hyundai Blue Link App retrieved DTC associated with the Power Train EMS and Power Train TCU. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. …
Electrical system all 27 →
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stoplight, the vehicle failed to respond. The Auto START/STOP feature failed to restart the engine as designed. The contact stated that the Turbo light was illuminated as if the turbo was activated, even though the contact had not activated the feature. The vehicle was taken to a Certified mechanic who determined that the turbo had failed. The turbocharger was replaced. After the vehicle was repaired, the failure reoccurred while the vehicle was idling or parked. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was informed of the failure however, the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle there were multiple warning messages displayed on the instrument panel and the vehicle would not accelerate to exceed 10 MPH. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who disconnected the battery and reset the computer and the failure was remedied. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,000.
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 29 / 25 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 25 / 22 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe a good car?
Based on 203 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Santa Fe rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Santa Fe at the same age. 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 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The engine & cooling — 75 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline › turbo/supercharger. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (37) and electrical system (27).
How many recalls does the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2025, 2023, 2013 and 2024. See the full Hyundai Santa Fe years comparison.
At what mileage do 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 10,000 miles; 86% 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.