2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Complaints

Complaint Summary
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe has 66 reported complaints.
- Top issues involve unknown or other and forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control.
Powertrain: Hybrid (HEV).
Reliability Score
Reliability Score
Based on 66 complaints
Most Frequent Issues
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
13 19.7%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
7 10.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7 10.6%
POWER TRAIN
5 7.6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4 6.1%
Quick Insights
The top category is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, accounting for 19.7% of all complaints.
Owners have reported issues across 24 distinct vehicle systems.
Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.
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What owners keep reporting on the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe has 66 owner complaints in this dataset. UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the most common complaint category, representing about 20% of the reports shown here.
Most common complaint categories
The top complaint groups for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe are UNKNOWN OR OTHER (13), FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (7), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7).
Are these complaints a serious red flag?
Potentially. 22 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.
What should buyers inspect on a used 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.
Detailed Complaint Log
Showing 24 of 24 systems
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
13 Reports20% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
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 conditions. Might have to get our dealership to buy back our brand new 2025 Santa Fe Limited (as MANY others have already done). The Distracted Driver feature actually distracts drivers constantly AND causes unsafe and hazardous driving conditions. Please ... please ... please strongly compel Hyundai to fix this A.S.A.P., by Hyundai issuing a patch to their system update that allows drivers to turn off/disable the hazardous "Distracted Driver" feature. Hyundai Community Posts: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
12/24/2024
When approaching red light at low speed, about 3mph, the engine cut off in traffic, "apply brakes" or similar, started strobbing across the screen and then it said to put in park. The pedals were not working for brakes. Car came to a stop and put it in park and started it again. The Sante Fe has 3150 miles on it. No other issues.
4/11/2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
7 Reports11% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
The forward attention warning (FAW) on the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe calligraphy can not be deactivated. Correction, it can be turned off for normal driving. For instance, driving around the city or not using smart cruise control. As soon as you turn on the smart cruise control it's reactivated and can't be turned off. The FAW does not work when using prescription sunglasses / non prescription sunglasses or if the sun is hitting the inside of the cabin a certain way. The FAW constantly flashes warnings and beeps at you even though you are looking forward and keeping your eyes on the road. If you look far down the road you shift your eyes up some, and the system beeps and flashes warnings to keep your eyes on the road. On a recent 230 miles trip I did not wear my prescription sunglasses / non prescription sunglasses and the FAW system went off at least 50 plus times and I had my eyes on the road at all times. Very distracting, I then had to take my eyes off the road to see why it was beeping and telling me to keep my eyes on the road. The FAW system actually makes for a stressful and distracting drive. At this time the FAW is useless. I took the vehicle to the dealer and the FAW is not a system that can be turned off. Hyundai needs to allow the dealers to be able and deactivate the system.
1/27/2025
The sensor always goes off stating my eyes aren't on the road to the point it trys to stop the vehicle in traffic. This prevents me from being able to use cruise control because the sensor is causing issues by not detecting my eyes
3/7/2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7 Reports11% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
Vehicle fails to appropriately recognize when it is put in Park. The dash shows a "P" indicating the vehicle is in park, but emits a continuous beeping sound with a message on the dash that reads, "Auto Stop is Off. Shift to P or N and start engine manually." However, when pressing "P" as it states I must do, it then reads, "Gear already selected," before returning to the previous message. This is all while a "P" is illuminated and beeping is continuous. Throughout this time, if the brake is released, the car begins driving forward as though it is in Drive, not Park. I have 3 separate videos of this happening.To answer the above questions: The vehicle has repeatedly been inspected by a Hyundai dealership and each time I am told the issue cannot be replicated. I am happy to have it inspected again. It most certainly puts my safety and others at risk as it continues driving after I have engaged park. No police or insurance representatives have yet inspected it. No others warnings or messages appear before it occurs, only during. The issue first started just before 5k miles on the car and has since occurred at least 5 more times.
4/10/2025
I am reporting a critical safety defect involving my brand-new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving on the freeway, the vehicle experienced a complete brake system failure, nearly causing a serious accident. My boyfriend was driving at the time, and when he tried to brake, the vehicle did not stop. He had to take immediate evasive action to avoid crashing, which put both of us â and nearby drivers â in immediate danger. The vehicle was purchased about a month ago and had never been serviced or modified. After the failure, it was towed to Hanlees Auto Mall Hyundai in Richmond, California, where the service department inspected it and confirmed the problem was caused by a missing clamp, which is a critical component of the braking system. This appears to be a manufacturing or dealership oversight. They took photos, documented the issue, and made the repair â but they also told me they cannot guarantee this wonât happen again. There were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms before the failure â the brakes simply stopped working during operation on the freeway. As of now: â¢The issue has been confirmed by Hanlees Hyundai in Richmond. â¢I have not yet received a loaner vehicle. â¢The car is currently in my possession, but I do not feel safe driving it. â¢I have been in contact with Supervisor Steve at Hyundai of Vacaville, who has offered to pick up the vehicle and provide a loaner, but that has not yet occurred. This is an extremely dangerous failure that occurred on a brand-new vehicle. I am requesting a formal investigation into this issue to determine if itâs isolated or part of a broader manufacturing defect with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. A missing brake component that results in total failure at freeway speeds is a life-threatening safety hazard and should be taken seriously by the manufacturer and federal safety officials.
7/8/2025
POWER TRAIN
5 Reports8% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
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(engine knocked out while driving about 65 and just lost power and had to pull over on side of highway. Went to dealership yesterday for regular maintenance and told them about transmission issues. They checked vehicle for any tcu updates and there were none. Test drove it and said it was driving normal. I know itâs not driving normally/safely. What can I do?
7/1/2025
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. This has happened three times, and it is very dangerous.  3. During hot weather, the car has stalled multiple times when I accelerate. This has put me in dangerous situations when the car stalls in traffic.  Gas Mileage 4. I have observed a significant reduction in fuel efficiency during high-temperature conditions. Specifically, the gas mileage decreases by approximately 20% to 30% when driving home in the afternoon heat compared to my morning commute, even though I follow the same route.   Message sent to Hyundai.com on 7/14/2025 with supporting documents.  On July 12, 2025, I arrived at my scheduled service appointment at Earnhardt Hyundai regarding my 2025 Santa Fe. To ensure a thorough evaluation, I provided the service technician with a detailed list outlining the specific issues I have been experiencing with the vehicle (attached for your review). It is deeply concerning that Earnhardt Hyundai did not document or formally acknowledge all the complaints I submitted to the service department. (attached invoice) This lack of attention is particularly troubling in relation to the persistent issues with the dual-clutch transmission (DCT) ⨠INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
7/18/2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4 Reports6% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
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 conditions. Might have to get our dealership to buy back our brand new 2025 Santa Fe Limited (as MANY others have already done). The Distracted Driver feature actually distracts drivers constantly AND causes unsafe and hazardous driving conditions. Please ... please ... please strongly compel Hyundai to fix this A.S.A.P., by Hyundai issuing a patch to their system update that allows drivers to turn off/disable the hazardous "Distracted Driver" feature. Hyundai Community Posts: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
12/24/2024
The forward attention warning (FAW) on the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe calligraphy can not be deactivated. Correction, it can be turned off for normal driving. For instance, driving around the city or not using smart cruise control. As soon as you turn on the smart cruise control it's reactivated and can't be turned off. The FAW does not work when using prescription sunglasses / non prescription sunglasses or if the sun is hitting the inside of the cabin a certain way. The FAW constantly flashes warnings and beeps at you even though you are looking forward and keeping your eyes on the road. If you look far down the road you shift your eyes up some, and the system beeps and flashes warnings to keep your eyes on the road. On a recent 230 miles trip I did not wear my prescription sunglasses / non prescription sunglasses and the FAW system went off at least 50 plus times and I had my eyes on the road at all times. Very distracting, I then had to take my eyes off the road to see why it was beeping and telling me to keep my eyes on the road. The FAW system actually makes for a stressful and distracting drive. At this time the FAW is useless. I took the vehicle to the dealer and the FAW is not a system that can be turned off. Hyundai needs to allow the dealers to be able and deactivate the system.
1/27/2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
3 Reports5% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
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 assistance required functions cannot be relied upon. Some owners were notified by an email that their vehicles "may" have a problem and/or "might" need to have a Technical Service Bullitin done by a dealership. No distribution by model, year, or VIN and no mention of the problem as an "outstanding recall or campaign" on the MyHyundai website so that owners might be able to find out about this problem. I have tried to get answers on what the problem was, asked why the first repair campaign done on my car failed to work, why the system suddenly conncected on its own (no notice, no owner intervention to connect), and why did the system then fail again less than 40 days later. Hyundai corporate (case number [XXX]) and Hyundai Bluelink (case number [XXX]) have make promises, broken promises and fail to even provide answers and spend most of their time blaming each other. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2/26/2025
1. [XXX] â I went to get into the Satna FE, the lights blinked and mirrors moved into the unlock position, but doors would not open. I had to use my husbands car since he was out of town to get to work. I came home at lunch after calling my husband and my salesperson , Paula and used the valet key and was able to unlock and get into the vehicle. I then started the Santa FE and this is when the safety warning message appeared. I felt unsafe and Paula had the Hyundai of Statesboro tow the vehicle from my home, retained it for approximately three days, and reported the issue resolved after clearing diagnostic messages and conducting a 50-mile road test. Vaden of Statesboro contacted me on October 17th stating it was ready for pickup and all the codes were cleared. I picked it up on October 18th. 2. [XXX] â The same issued with the doors not opening and had to use the valet key again, the safety warning reappeared around midday while driving, accompanied by a hard shift / drivetrain shock. The vehicle was returned to Hyundai of Statesboro at approximately 5 p.m. The dealer acknowledged the repeated issue and provided a rental vehicle for me ([XXX]), while repairs continue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
11/13/2025
SERVICE BRAKES
3 Reports5% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
Vehicle fails to appropriately recognize when it is put in Park. The dash shows a "P" indicating the vehicle is in park, but emits a continuous beeping sound with a message on the dash that reads, "Auto Stop is Off. Shift to P or N and start engine manually." However, when pressing "P" as it states I must do, it then reads, "Gear already selected," before returning to the previous message. This is all while a "P" is illuminated and beeping is continuous. Throughout this time, if the brake is released, the car begins driving forward as though it is in Drive, not Park. I have 3 separate videos of this happening.To answer the above questions: The vehicle has repeatedly been inspected by a Hyundai dealership and each time I am told the issue cannot be replicated. I am happy to have it inspected again. It most certainly puts my safety and others at risk as it continues driving after I have engaged park. No police or insurance representatives have yet inspected it. No others warnings or messages appear before it occurs, only during. The issue first started just before 5k miles on the car and has since occurred at least 5 more times.
4/10/2025
I am reporting a critical safety defect involving my brand-new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving on the freeway, the vehicle experienced a complete brake system failure, nearly causing a serious accident. My boyfriend was driving at the time, and when he tried to brake, the vehicle did not stop. He had to take immediate evasive action to avoid crashing, which put both of us â and nearby drivers â in immediate danger. The vehicle was purchased about a month ago and had never been serviced or modified. After the failure, it was towed to Hanlees Auto Mall Hyundai in Richmond, California, where the service department inspected it and confirmed the problem was caused by a missing clamp, which is a critical component of the braking system. This appears to be a manufacturing or dealership oversight. They took photos, documented the issue, and made the repair â but they also told me they cannot guarantee this wonât happen again. There were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms before the failure â the brakes simply stopped working during operation on the freeway. As of now: â¢The issue has been confirmed by Hanlees Hyundai in Richmond. â¢I have not yet received a loaner vehicle. â¢The car is currently in my possession, but I do not feel safe driving it. â¢I have been in contact with Supervisor Steve at Hyundai of Vacaville, who has offered to pick up the vehicle and provide a loaner, but that has not yet occurred. This is an extremely dangerous failure that occurred on a brand-new vehicle. I am requesting a formal investigation into this issue to determine if itâs isolated or part of a broader manufacturing defect with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. A missing brake component that results in total failure at freeway speeds is a life-threatening safety hazard and should be taken seriously by the manufacturer and federal safety officials.
7/8/2025
ENGINE
3 Reports5% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
I am reporting a critical safety defect involving my brand-new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving on the freeway, the vehicle experienced a complete brake system failure, nearly causing a serious accident. My boyfriend was driving at the time, and when he tried to brake, the vehicle did not stop. He had to take immediate evasive action to avoid crashing, which put both of us â and nearby drivers â in immediate danger. The vehicle was purchased about a month ago and had never been serviced or modified. After the failure, it was towed to Hanlees Auto Mall Hyundai in Richmond, California, where the service department inspected it and confirmed the problem was caused by a missing clamp, which is a critical component of the braking system. This appears to be a manufacturing or dealership oversight. They took photos, documented the issue, and made the repair â but they also told me they cannot guarantee this wonât happen again. There were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms before the failure â the brakes simply stopped working during operation on the freeway. As of now: â¢The issue has been confirmed by Hanlees Hyundai in Richmond. â¢I have not yet received a loaner vehicle. â¢The car is currently in my possession, but I do not feel safe driving it. â¢I have been in contact with Supervisor Steve at Hyundai of Vacaville, who has offered to pick up the vehicle and provide a loaner, but that has not yet occurred. This is an extremely dangerous failure that occurred on a brand-new vehicle. I am requesting a formal investigation into this issue to determine if itâs isolated or part of a broader manufacturing defect with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. A missing brake component that results in total failure at freeway speeds is a life-threatening safety hazard and should be taken seriously by the manufacturer and federal safety officials.
7/8/2025
Yesterday while I was driving I almost was hit by another car in an intersection. My car did not respond fast enough, the engine did not have any stregth. I found today after I took it for service that it needs a replacement of the oil pump. My car is new it only has 4 months of usage and this type of repairs is done in vehicles with a high mileage. This is very uncommon.
10/8/2025
STEERING
3 Reports5% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
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 passengerâs side tire rolled over the median strip, and then the rear passengerâs side tire next. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle stopped in a parking spot on the side of the street. The contact shifted the vehicle to park(P) and turned off the vehicle. The contact observed that the right front passengerâs side tire was flat. The contact called Roadside Assistance, and the technician informed the contact that there was a cut on the inside side wall of the front passengerâs tire. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the passengerâs side front suspension arms and other parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the vehicle was difficult to steer while the steering wheel was vibrating. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer, who removed the aftermarket parts and replaced the parts with OEM steering and suspension parts; however, there was still a vibration in the steering wheel. The contact stated that several times, while turning to the left, the vehicle would turn to the right instead. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.
9/10/2025
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. Steering wheel column has friction squeak when using driver assist and adjusting direction. No issues at this time.
11/26/2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
2 Reports3% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
The windshield wiper fluid is designed to only hit the bottom of the windshield. This does not allow for the windshield to be properly cleaned while the vehicle is in motion. Creates a safety hazard if you cannot wash debris or an excess of bugs from the field of view of the driver. There are multiple complaints regarding the spray location onto the windshield.
7/29/2025
The window washer fluid is does not cover the the upper areas of the window, making it difficult to see particularly in snowy or icy weather.
10/27/2025
SUSPENSION
2 Reports3% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
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 passengerâs side tire rolled over the median strip, and then the rear passengerâs side tire next. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle stopped in a parking spot on the side of the street. The contact shifted the vehicle to park(P) and turned off the vehicle. The contact observed that the right front passengerâs side tire was flat. The contact called Roadside Assistance, and the technician informed the contact that there was a cut on the inside side wall of the front passengerâs tire. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the passengerâs side front suspension arms and other parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the vehicle was difficult to steer while the steering wheel was vibrating. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer, who removed the aftermarket parts and replaced the parts with OEM steering and suspension parts; however, there was still a vibration in the steering wheel. The contact stated that several times, while turning to the left, the vehicle would turn to the right instead. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.
9/10/2025
Intermittent and variable vibration/shaking at all speeds ranging from mild to severe. Worse when cold. TSB 25-SS-002H-1. Despite multiple balancing attempts (hunter road force balancer) and complete set of tire swap there was no resolution. TSB indicates this is a known abnormality/issue and present across all models. Vehicle inspected by 2 different hyundai dealerships and independent dealership without resolution. Began at 7500 miles and has persisted.
12/6/2025
SEAT BELTS
2 Reports3% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the driver's front door was making an abnormal creaking sound. The contact stated that while driving, but at a standstill, a 2008 Toyota Camry rear-ended the vehicle. There was significant damage on the driver's side of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The alert was making the normal dinging sound for the approaching vehicle. The driver sustained a concussion. The passenger sustained injuries to her hip, back, pelvis, and orthopedic system, and medical attention was provided. The contact's daughter was occupying the passenger-side seat, and the seat belt dislodged near her waist from the outside near the door (the seat belt retractor connected to the vehicle's structure). A police report was filed. There was no fire or airbag deployment. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired, as they were having mechanical issues at the time. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The Hyundai inspector was able to inspect the vehicle, but the findings were unknown. The vehicle was taken to a collision center, and the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
10/3/2025
The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contactâs spouse stated that while at a stop, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle. The spouse reported that during the collision, the driverâs seat belt became inoperable and detached from the driverâs seat. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was required. The spouse also stated that the air bags did not deploy during the incident. A police report was filed, and a report number was provided to the contact. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was declared totaled. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 8,500. The VIN was not available.
10/20/2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
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 assistance required functions cannot be relied upon. Some owners were notified by an email that their vehicles "may" have a problem and/or "might" need to have a Technical Service Bullitin done by a dealership. No distribution by model, year, or VIN and no mention of the problem as an "outstanding recall or campaign" on the MyHyundai website so that owners might be able to find out about this problem. I have tried to get answers on what the problem was, asked why the first repair campaign done on my car failed to work, why the system suddenly conncected on its own (no notice, no owner intervention to connect), and why did the system then fail again less than 40 days later. Hyundai corporate (case number [XXX]) and Hyundai Bluelink (case number [XXX]) have make promises, broken promises and fail to even provide answers and spend most of their time blaming each other. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2/26/2025
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
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 assistance required functions cannot be relied upon. Some owners were notified by an email that their vehicles "may" have a problem and/or "might" need to have a Technical Service Bullitin done by a dealership. No distribution by model, year, or VIN and no mention of the problem as an "outstanding recall or campaign" on the MyHyundai website so that owners might be able to find out about this problem. I have tried to get answers on what the problem was, asked why the first repair campaign done on my car failed to work, why the system suddenly conncected on its own (no notice, no owner intervention to connect), and why did the system then fail again less than 40 days later. Hyundai corporate (case number [XXX]) and Hyundai Bluelink (case number [XXX]) have make promises, broken promises and fail to even provide answers and spend most of their time blaming each other. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2/26/2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:DRIVER MONITORING:CAMERA/SENSOR
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and taking her eyes off the road ahead, there was a warning chime and a red warning light illuminated, advising the driver to "Consider taking a Break". The contact stated that the safety feature is the Driver Monitoring: Camera/Sensor and the safety feature was activating while turning her head or moving her eyes from looking ahead. The contact stated that the chime was loud and was distracting while driving. The contact stated that the failure was almost constant. The contact called a local dealer and was advised that the system could not be deactivated. The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the issue. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 700.
5/1/2025
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the windshield wiper fluid was low. The contact added additional fluid to the reservoir. After the additional fluid was added, the contact became aware that there was windshield wiper fluid on the garage floor. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the soy-based feeding tubes to the windshield wipers had been chewed on by rodents. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 700. The VIN was not available.
7/9/2025
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the driver's front door was making an abnormal creaking sound. The contact stated that while driving, but at a standstill, a 2008 Toyota Camry rear-ended the vehicle. There was significant damage on the driver's side of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The alert was making the normal dinging sound for the approaching vehicle. The driver sustained a concussion. The passenger sustained injuries to her hip, back, pelvis, and orthopedic system, and medical attention was provided. The contact's daughter was occupying the passenger-side seat, and the seat belt dislodged near her waist from the outside near the door (the seat belt retractor connected to the vehicle's structure). A police report was filed. There was no fire or airbag deployment. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired, as they were having mechanical issues at the time. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The Hyundai inspector was able to inspect the vehicle, but the findings were unknown. The vehicle was taken to a collision center, and the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
10/3/2025
AIR BAGS
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a deer jumped out in front of the contact's vehicle. The contact's vehicle crashed into the deer, where it came to a stop by the side of the roadway. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A Police report was filed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 10,024.
10/14/2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that while parked and seated in the vehicle, the instrument panel was blinking on and off several times before going dark. The contact stated that the infotainment system also displayed a blank screen. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a recall repair, and the contact was informed that there was no failure with the instrument panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000.
11/6/2025
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that while parked and seated in the vehicle, the instrument panel was blinking on and off several times before going dark. The contact stated that the infotainment system also displayed a blank screen. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a recall repair, and the contact was informed that there was no failure with the instrument panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000.
11/6/2025
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
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Consistently after 10-20 minutes of driving with steering assist or immediately upon driving on cold days (under 50F), the steering wheel generates loud squeaking noises with the steering wheel stiffening and becoming harder to turn, creating a potential safety issue. The change is gradual but required a full stop of the car, shutdown, and restart to remedy. This issue has persisted for months and other Hyundai owners have shared the issue on various forums with Hyundaiâs solution to replace the full steering column in some instances. Many owners seem to not be able to get help as dealers are not able to easily replicate this issue without lengthy drives.
11/27/2025
WHEELS
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
Intermittent and variable vibration/shaking at all speeds ranging from mild to severe. Worse when cold. TSB 25-SS-002H-1. Despite multiple balancing attempts (hunter road force balancer) and complete set of tire swap there was no resolution. TSB indicates this is a known abnormality/issue and present across all models. Vehicle inspected by 2 different hyundai dealerships and independent dealership without resolution. Began at 7500 miles and has persisted.
12/6/2025
TIRES:SIDEWALL
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
Pirelli Scorpion MS 255/45 R20 105V M+S A large bulge was found on the inside sidewall of the tire immediately adjacent to the tread. We had it inspected due to a slight shimmy in the nearly new (<3000 miles) vehicle, which had been present since delivery when traveling at highway speeds. We were told that the car was unsafe to drive but neither the dealership where we bought the vehicle and the dealership where we were having it serviced were willing to provide any relief (loaner, warrantee or discounted tire(s), etc.) Pirelli indicated that they may cover it under warrantee but that the tire would need to be shipped to them for inspection to determine if the condition was due to a defect. We drove it slowly home and after a few days of not driving it while trying to get some assistance, we purchased 4 new tires. We were able to find approximately a dozen other similar reports for 2025 Santa Fes with the same tires that had experienced the same issue; one such report indicated that 3 out of the 4 original tires all developed a bulge on the sidewall. When I first attempted to purchase new tires at Costco, the manager "refused" to sell me tires because he insisted that it was a defect and that the dealership should replace it but they did sell them to me after the dealership again refused to do so. We did not retain the tire and the only people to inspect it were the technician at the dealership where we had it serviced and the manager of the Costco tire center. There were no warning lights, but there was a slight shimmy at highway speed (~70 mph) from the time we took delivery until we replaced the tires. The defect was on the inside sidewall and was not readily visible when the tire was installed.
12/15/2025
TIRES
1 Report2% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
As I was driving I heard a pop the front driver side tire popped from side wall And the back driver side tire has a big bubble in it and I did not hit any pot holes 2 tires on the same side failed on me and my car only has around 1500 miles one pop and one has a big bubble on a new car
12/22/2025
Data and Methodology
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the most common owner complaints for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Are complaints about the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe a serious warning sign?
How should buyers use complaint data for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Are complaints about the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe severe?
Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.
Hyundai Santa Fe: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?
Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.
- Complaint entries
- 66
- Top-topic view
- 5 grouped topics shown
- Primary source
- NHTSA ODI owner complaint records
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