New engines end the oil-consumption story and a new gearbox starts a different one. Eight recalls in the launch year of everything.

The 2.5 turbo does not drive through a conventional automatic. It uses an eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, which is mechanically closer to two manual gearboxes operated by computer, and that explains most of what owners complain about. "While driving approximately 5-30 MPH, the transmission failed to shift properly." "At 50-55 mph the transmission violently shook the car when downshifting to accelerate." "While driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle experienced hard shifting." Hyundai has bulletins for all of it: a transmission control unit software update that "revises the touch point learning variation, improving drivability and judder symptoms," with some gearboxes receiving "an updated clutch spring"; a procedure to prevent "moisture intrusion of the HP EOP connector," because moisture there "can result in corrosion and insufficient connection of the terminals"; and the outright replacement procedure when the oil-pump codes appear. A mechanic reviewing the later version of this car is unusually direct about the design: he calls Hyundai's use of dual-clutch transmissions in a family car "a very bad idea," explains that because there is no torque converter you have no creep at a standstill so "you're slowly killing your clutch" in stop-start traffic, and concludes that they "made a beautiful engine and then they put this horrendous transmission" in front of it, which is "a problem waiting to happen." He is fair about the other side: driven normally it is "very fast shifting, very smooth shifting." Drive one in traffic before you decide.

Both on the same joint, both a fire risk, and they are separate campaigns so check for both. 21V308 covers 2021 Santa Fe with 2.5-litre turbo engines: the fuel pipe connecting the high-pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not have been tightened properly, and an insufficiently tightened pipe may leak fuel. Hyundai stated the affected vehicles were repaired and no owner letters were sent, so this one can be invisible unless you look. 21V524 covers 2021–2022 Santa Fe and Sonata with 2.5-litre turbocharged engines for the same joint: fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail. Dealers inspect and tighten, or replace the pipe, free. Owner letters for that one went out in September 2021.

Specific to the 2021 Santa Fe and a genuine safety-standard failure: the Occupant Detection System module may not deactivate the front passenger airbag when it detects a child restraint in that seat, which means the airbag could deploy with a child sitting there. Hyundai replaced the Occupant Detection System module free, and stated that all affected vehicles had been remedied as of May 2021 — but this is exactly the sort of thing to confirm rather than assume if you are putting a child seat in the front. A related complaint on this year records a $3,000 quote to replace a seat mat sensor once out of warranty, which is a useful reminder that the seat sensing hardware is not cheap.

One of the most repeated complaints on this model year, and one of the few with a clean, generous answer. "My horn stopped working. Not under warranty but I believe it is a safety issue. A replacement horn is not available." "Replaced horns a couple times, after doing research, this seems to be a deeper and ongoing issue with this car [on a] larger scale." "Horns stopped working entirely. Car was crossing into my lane and I attempted to honk [and there was] no sound." Hyundai's bulletin names the cause and the population: "certain 2021 – 2023 model year Santa Fe, 2021 – 2023 model year Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2022 – 2023 model year Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid vehicles may experience an inoperable horn that may be caused by foreign substances causing internal parts to oxidize." And the fix for owners: "Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage for the horn replacement under this condition to 10 years or 120,000 miles from the date of original ret[ail delivery]." Press the horn on the test drive. If it does not work, that is a covered repair, not a negotiation.

A damaged printed circuit board means the rearview camera image may fail to display, which is a federal rear-visibility standard failure. Dealers replace the camera free; owner letters went out in January 2025, so this is one of the newer and more likely to be open. It covers 2021–2022 Santa Fe and Santa Fe HEV along with the Elantra range. Complaints match it exactly: "When I select reverse my camera does not come on. It started as just a flashing screen, but does not come on." One owner adds a caution worth carrying: the camera was replaced under the recall and failed again within four days, so check it works after any repair.

The 2021 hybrid's own complaint file is small but pointed, and this cluster continues and grows through 2022 and 2023. "While I was traveling 70-75 mph the vehicle had a sudden loss of engine and battery output performance... 'Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely, triangle warning displayed.' The vehicle would not accelerate despite pressing the gas pedal all the way to the floor and had to be coasted off the interstate through three lanes of traffic." "The vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH." Owners note the same recovery every time: switch the car off, wait, restart, and it drives normally, leaving no fault for the dealer to find. Hyundai has bulletins around the edges of this — an engine control module logic revision for codes P1441 and P1A77, a hybrid-starter-generator belt slip code — but there is no recall and no bulletin that names the loss-of-power symptom itself. Treat it as a documented owner pattern with no manufacturer fix, and ask any hybrid seller directly whether they have ever seen a "Check Hybrid System" message.

The other hybrid cluster, and this one does have a bulletin. "Only had the car for 6 months when [the] light came on saying Inverter needs coolant... Checked with Hyundai Service department, my coolant is fine." "Whenever the weather gets above 80 degrees outside my car put[s up] a notice to refill inverter coolant, when everything is filled [to the] max line." Hyundai's bulletin describes exactly this: "certain Santa Fe Hybrid (TM HEV) and Tucson Hybrid (NX4 HEV) vehicles may exhibit a restricted coolant flow condition, which may be accompanied by a warning message (e.g., Coolant Supplement, Refill Inverter Coolant) in the cluster. No related DTCs are stored" — which is why the dealer's scanner shows nothing and the owner is told not to worry. A related bulletin sets out a cooling-system cleaning and coolant change to address it. There is a version of the same warning documented on the gas car for this model year too. Name the bulletin at the service desk rather than accepting "it is just a sensor."

The remaining recalls, plus one thing that has none. 21V00M: the windshield may not have been properly bonded during manufacturing and can detach in a crash; dealers remove and reinstall it free. 22V816: on the hybrid, the front seat belt pretensioners may explode on deployment and project metal fragments into the cabin; dealers secure them with a cap, free. 23V181: the tow hitch harness circuit board can short and cause a fire where a hitch harness was fitted as original equipment or bought as a dealer accessory, with Hyundai advising owners to park outside until it is fixed. And with no recall or bulletin behind it, a persistent annoyance: "Fuel door mechanism stops working leaving you unable to add fuel"; "I have to lock and unlock my car, sometimes up to 10 times, to get the fuel fill door to open." Open the fuel door on the test drive.