Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 50 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly caught on fire. The contact's wife became aware that the radio was inoperable before the failure. Additionally, the contact's wife's eyes were irritated, and there was a hot, harsh odor which grew stronger very quickly. The odor was inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the smoke was black, and flames started shooting out from under the hood to consume the vehicle. The vehicle was a total loss. The fire was extinguished by the Murphysboro Fire Department. The Fire Department was unable to determine where the fire had started. There was a Police report filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while making a turn from a complete stop, the vehicle responded but suddenly stopped. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle 5 minutes later. However, upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine made abnormal roaring sounds. The contact was able to drive after several attempts and pulled into a parking lot, however, the failure reoccurred. The contact restarted the vehicle and pulled into a parking spot. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. An unknown software update and an unknown repair were completed; however, the vehicle hesitated to respond while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. …
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to coast off the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 (Power Train). The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.
Problem #1 - At least 4 quarts of oil spewed from the oil tank and covered most of the engine for an unknown period time. There were no notifications, alerts, or any other indication concerning the oil tank having 1 or less quart of oil. Ultimately, there are at least three (3) questions that need to be addressed 1.In a 2021 Santa Fe, what would cause both the timing and valve covers to leak out at least four (4) quarts of oil out of the oil tank onto the engine. 2.Why was there no notification, alerts, or indication that the oil tank only had less than one (1) quart of oil. 3.What other damage could there have been to the engine beyond the several parts identified as needing to be replaced, that was not identified. A Chronological Order of Events is available.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was not able to restart and was towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred two weeks later. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where the failure was diagnosed as a computer mapping failure which was resolved by the replacement of an unknown part. The contact stated that the dealer informed her that they could not provide a detailed repair bill without contacting the manufacturer for permission to provide it to the owner. The manufacturer was notified, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 37,500.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic signal, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. Additionally, the contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(R) the back over protection camera screen was black. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the reverse image screen operated as needed. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was hesitating after a cold start. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over and restart the vehicle. The contact's husband restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 41,122.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly shifted to neutral(N). The contact pulled over to the side of the road and attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
Car would not start; battery was too low to activate lights or locks, let alone starter. An attempted jumper cable connection to an older car was insufficient to make the motor turn, even after just running the assist car while connected for 20+ minutes. A subsequent jump from the AAA 2000 Ah jump pack did work although their 'test' indicated battery state-of-charge and state-of-health to be less than 30%. Their obvious recommendation was battery replacement and, with the vehicle now running, a drive to the dealership was attempted. At the first intersection a full vehicle stop engaged the engine Stop-Start function, but without sufficient battery for the 'Start' part. …
My Santa Fe has less than 14k miles. In many instances, the car has stalled when turning on. The engine would tremble and then shut the engine off while the dash lighting/symbols stay on. It will idle for a quick second and then drop to zero. Another instance is when driving into a parking spot and driveway and we applied the brakes. At that moment the engine shut off while the dash lights/radio and everything else stayed on. In all instances, if we apply the brake and then hit the start button, the car will typically turn on and act like nothing ever happened. In 2 instances, the blind side detection would turn off while driving and all the warning lights would come on the dash. After turning it off and letting it sit for a few minutes it would disappear. One time the front detection would go off and there was no car in front of me for about 8ft. …
NHTSA investigations
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.
Engine complaints in other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, 22% of the model year's 167 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 38,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.