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The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe has 192 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe has 192 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 42 complaints, typically surfacing around 41,370 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Santa Fe | 235 | 0 |
| 2017 Santa Fe | 943 | 5 |
| 2018 Santa Fe | 108 | 1 |
| 2019 Santa Fe (this page) | 192 | 1 |
| 2020 Santa Fe | 198 | 0 |
| 2021 Santa Fe | 163 | 3 |
| 2022 Santa Fe | 190 | 4 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the engine was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: engine is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 41,370 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
It's a rental car. It was a snow day and hit on the concrete wall but the airbag didn't deploy. Compared to the damage to the car, it is a safety concerns.
Tl* the contact owns a 2019 Hyundai santa fe. While driving 17 MPH, the bca braking system engaged, the vehicle lost power, and all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact turned the vehicle off and back on, which returned it back to normal. The…
•What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? When ambient temperature is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, sufficient heat is not produced from the vehicles defroster to keep the windshield from icing. Also, sufficient heat…
Oil Pan leaks after an oil change. Oil pan has a hairline crack just below the drain plug after normal tightening of the plug. Excessive oil was found on my driveway. No obvious engine damage, considering the vehicle was only moved from one spot to the other. The dealer stated…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
In the event of a crash, if the air bags become damaged during deployment they may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 192 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the engine was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: Engine: 42 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 16,000–75,000 mi; Powertrain: 30 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 9,200–87,000 mi; Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 42 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 41,370 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 192 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 41,370 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 42 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 41,370 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 41,370 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 192 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.