NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The driver and passenger seat belt anchors may detach from the vehicle structure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seat belt anchors and reinforce or replace them as needed at no cost.
This page covers 4 recalls, 20 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe.
23–36 mpg combined
6.5–10.2 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe received an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. The model earned 5 stars in frontal crash, side crash, and side pole crash tests. It received 4 stars in rollover testing. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so this rating covers the Santa Fe through the current generation.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Seat complaints dominate what owners report for the 2026 Santa Fe. The most consistent pattern involves the second-row power captain's seats folding down on their own without the button being pressed, and multiple owners describe this happening while children were seated and belted in the row. A smaller cluster of owners reports lane departure and driver monitoring alerts firing repeatedly even when they believe they're looking at the road correctly, with some noting the warnings persist regardless of eyewear. Two owners describe rear windshield glass shattering spontaneously while the vehicle was parked and undisturbed. One isolated report mentions a broad electrical failure affecting the instrument cluster, door locks, windows, and tailgate simultaneously.
20
Total Complaints
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe has 4 recalls, the most serious involving engine connecting rod bolts that may not be properly tightened, which can cause a sudden loss of drive power or an oil leak that raises the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Two recalls affect occupant protection in a crash. The driver and passenger seatbelt anchors can detach from their mounting points, leaving the belts unable to restrain occupants when it matters most. The side curtain airbags may also have been installed incorrectly, meaning they can fail to deploy properly in a side impact, reducing protection for occupants along the sides of the cabin. On the electrical side, a software error can cause the instrument panel display to go blank or stop updating, taking the speedometer and warning lights off screen while the vehicle is in motion.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver and passenger seat belt anchors may detach from the vehicle structure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seat belt anchors and reinforce or replace them as needed at no cost.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the instrument panel display may cause it to fail, preventing the display from functioning properly.
What the fix does
The instrument panel display software will be updated for free either over-the-air or at a Hyundai dealer.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Side curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, preventing them from deploying in a crash as designed.
What the fix does
Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Engine connecting rod bolts may not be tight enough, causing loss of power, engine damage, and possible oil leaks.
What the fix does
The engine will be replaced at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.