2025 Hyundai SANTA FE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
129 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
10,024 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2025 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 129 complaints (20.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 10.1% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 7.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 7.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 4.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 26 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Power Train | 19 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 15 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 12 |
| Tires | 9 |
| Seat Belts | 8 |
Unknown Or Other: 26; Electrical System: 25; Power Train: 19; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 15; Engine: 13; Visibility/Wiper: 12; Tires: 9; Seat Belts: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 118 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 46 |
| 2026 | 82 |
2024: 1; 2025: 46; 2026: 82
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11701696 · 2025-11-26 (November 26, 2025)
Battery/Electrical: 3 separate occasions the battery drained completely overnight, requiring mechanical key to open and jumpstart services from AAA (covered under Hyundai services). Risk of leaving me stranded on isolated areas. Problem confirmed via 3 requests for AAA to jumpstart my vehicle. Hyundai service dept inspected vehicle, confirmed low battery levels, unable to reproduce issues overnight, reported no electrical or mechanical issues that would cause battery drain. No warning messages, lamps, or symptoms prior to each failure. Stee…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11701696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11702075 · 2025-11-30 (November 30, 2025)
My 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid with 1724 miles was unresponsive in the garage. Not able to get in the car because the 12v battery was completely drained. Hyundai dispatched a tow truck to take it to the local Hyundai dealership. A service provider did call me to let me know the car was there. He also told me that apparently this problem I had was a known issue with the 2025 Santa Fe Hybrids. I had no advance warning of any imminent problems with the battery.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11702075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11632295 · 2024-12-24 (December 24, 2024)
Hyundai Distracted Driver feature is FAULTY and VERY hazardous! If someone puts on sunglasses to drive SAFELY, the vehicle says you ARE distracted; and cuts the cruise control and starts braking on its own. VERY BAD!!! The vehicle is almost undrivable. Many others are having their dealerships buy their Hyundai Santa Fes back because they are nearly undrivable and are a general US roadway hazard, due to the way the faulty "Distracted Driver" feature kills cruise control AND actually distracts drivers constantly ... causing very unsafe driving…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11632295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11645106 · 2025-02-26 (February 26, 2025)
The Hyundai Bluelink system in my car, which interfaces with interfaces with almost all other computer-controlled systems on the car and through which software updates can be received and installed fails to work on an intermittent basis and the onboard system gives no warning when the Bluelink system has an outage or other malfunction. Large numbers of Hyundai vehicles suffered Bluelink outages beginning in early February 2025 so that system such as Collision-avoidance, emergency braking functions, and "SOS" crash notifications and owner assist…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11645106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11680172 · 2025-08-12 (August 12, 2025)
The attention detection system is the worst designed feature of any vehicle I have ever experienced. It constantly dings while looking directly at vehicles ahead. It is distracting and turns off by looking DOWN directly at the steering wheel. It is a safety hazard and Hyundai needs to push out a fix ASAP or allow the feature to be disabled entirely. You cannot use cruise control without it activated and the feature is a safety hazard that makes the car LESS safe.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11680172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11686422 · 2025-09-10 (September 10, 2025)
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while stopped and making a left turn from a cross street, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and traffic allowed the contact to make the turn; however, the steering wheel jerked to the right, and the vehicle jumped over a median strip. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the right front passenger’s side tire rolled over the median strip, and then the rear passenger’s side tire next. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11686422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11670416 · 2025-07-01 (July 1, 2025)
I have had issues with my dual-clutch transmission slipping gears in multiple ways while driving; most commonly while in drive and going downhill the tachometer will aggressively rev when just idling and without pressing the accelerator. Also, when trying to reverse out of a parking space on an incline or decline multiple times I have rolled forward as if in neutral and receiving no power to back the vehicle in reverse. Previously owned a 2023 sonata with similar transmission issues and blew a cylinder on the highway within a year of ownership(…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11670416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11674415 · 2025-07-18 (July 18, 2025)
Re: 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe VIN: [XXX] I am facing several issues that require immediate attention. Below are the unresolved concerns: Transmission Problems 1. When driving downhill with the cruise control on, the transmission produces significant vibrations and makes a lot of noise. This is unacceptable and needs to be checked and fixed, as I am very concerned about my safety. 2. When accelerating from speeds above 45 miles per hour, the RPMs exceed 5,000, but the car does not increase in speed. The transmission fails to shift properly. Th…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11674415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11710618 · 2026-01-13 (January 13, 2026)
My 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has recurring powertrain communication failures starting at only 67 miles and continuing at 5,300 and 6,200 miles. Diagnostic trouble codes include U010100 (lost communication with engine control module) and multiple U100xxx codes related to transmission and CAN bus communication failures. These indicate loss of communication between critical control modules. The issue has happened multiple times and remains unresolved. I am concerned this could cause drivability problems, warning lights, or sudden loss of power.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11710618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11757825 · 2026-08-18 (August 18, 2026)
Auto had a very strong gas smell after arriving at work. Check the engine and underneath the car for leaks but no fluids on the ground or my garage. Smell persisted while out of town and made appointment for inspection. The dealer service man said it was suffering numerous leaks and we’re awaiting parts. Latest info was still leaks present and would advise after making certain no leaks persist.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11757825 at NHTSA ↗