Hyundai Santa Fe — the 3 years we've written up
2013–2022, side by side: what goes wrong on each, what the fix costs, and what they typically ask. 3 of the 3 carry a high-severity issue.
What this page is
These are the 3 Hyundai Santa Fe model years Kestrel has done the homework on — not every year Hyundai built one. A year that isn't listed here isn't a year we're warning you off; it's one we haven't written up yet. Ranking a whole model run would mean telling you about years we've never looked at.
Year by year
GDI engine concern (carry-over from prior years) — $5,000-$10,000 if failure occurs
Engine warranty extensions and recalls — $0 recall
Theta II engine failure (2.0T and 2.4L) — $0 if covered, $4,500-$7,000 if not
Looking at one in particular?
This page covers the Hyundai Santa Fe in general. The Kestrel report covers the one you're looking at — the asking price against the market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for that year.
Known issues are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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