Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the wipers and visibility. The 7 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2026Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/7 checked
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/5
Engine off, key in hand0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/1
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2026 checks
Worth adding to your 2026 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cylGas | AWD, FWD | 23–24 mpg |
| 1.6L 4-cylHybrid | AWD, FWD | 34–36 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Wipers stop on their own while driving, then restart after a short pause. No warning light comes on before, during, or after. In snow, each pause lets the windshield cover over quickly and blocks the driver's view, which is a clear crash risk. A separate report describes a rear side window shattering at highway speed with no warning, impact, or unusual noise, dropping glass into the back seat where a child seat was installed. Only 2 complaints are on file, and neither gives a mileage, so no repeat pattern is visible yet.
Excerpts from complaints Santa Fe owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The car was brought to the dealership where it was purchased. The right rear passenger window exploded while on the highway; the pieces then shattered and fell into the child safety seat installed. There were no other vehicles around as I was driving and the temperature inside the car and outside were about the same. There were no warnings and there was no abnormal noises or flexing prior to the window completely shattering.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2026
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2026 has the fewest owner complaints of the 9 Santa Fe years we cover, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Recall repairs are free at any Hyundai dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays.".
Risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 27, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
Risk: Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 281.
Cars shoppers compare with the Hyundai Santa Fe, with their own 2026 checklists.
2026 owner complaints, side by side
