YearToAvoid

2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#6 most-complained of 16 Santa Fe years

The 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe has a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 6th worst among 16 model years, with a Caution verdict. Engine problems dominate at 59% of complaints, alongside 3 recalls covering brakes, hood latch cables, and tires.

Complaints
493
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
16 / 30
Injuries / deaths
20 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 23.5 hwy

Top 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine289 (59%)
  2. Brakes67 (14%)
  3. Electrical System58 (12%)
  4. Steering52 (11%)
  5. Other42 (9%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain36 (7%)
  7. Fuel System32 (6%)
  8. Structure & Body25 (5%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers15 (3%)
  10. Airbags13 (3%)

What owners report

  • Brakes reportedly failed to respond during low-speed driving, resulting in a collision, at a median mileage of 70,100 for brake-related complaints.
  • Some owners found no coolant in the reservoir shortly after taking delivery of a new vehicle, sometimes followed by a back-up camera replacement.
  • Vehicles reportedly rolled out of park while parked, with one owner describing the car crashing into another vehicle after rolling unattended.
  • Owners described a loud noise near the hood while shifting into reverse, occurring at the same time the navigation screen went black.
  • One owner reported clunking noises followed by the engine cutting off while exiting a highway, then a fire that required towing.
  • A warning light for the emission control system reportedly came on during highway driving along with a loss of acceleration and visible exhaust smoke, later linked to a timing issue.
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints: complaints filed per quarter442014 Q12015 Q42017 Q32019 Q22021 Q12022 Q42024 Q32026 Q3
658 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q4 (44).

2014 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V651000Sep 22, 2023Brakes1,649,478 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

    Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.

  2. NHTSA 17V358000Jun 5, 2017Structure & Body437,400 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

    Risk: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.

  3. NHTSA 13V624000Dec 16, 2013Suspension, Wheels & Tires28 vehicles

    Tires:sidewall

    Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2014 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 5, 2013, through November 15, 2013, and equipped with P235/65R17 103T Continental Crosscontact LX tires. The tires may have a damaged sidewall.

    Risk: The damaged sidewall may result in a separation between the belt edges which could cause tread detachment or rapid air loss, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai notified dealers to suspend sales of affected Santa Fe Sport vehicles equipped with the P235/65R17 103T tires, and replace them with alternative tires. All affected vehicles were remedied prior to retail sale. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151.

2014 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
23.5 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2014 compared with other Santa Fe years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Caution60353122
2013Avoid87605320.5
2014Caution67493320
2015Good33254220
2016Best7236320

All Hyundai Santa Fe years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2014 Santa Fe a Complaint Index of 67, the 6th worst of 16 model years tracked, with a Caution verdict relative to other Santa Fe years. Engine issues account for 59% of its 493 complaints.
What is the main problem with the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Engine problems are the top complaint area, making up 59% of complaints (289 of 493), with a median failure mileage of 83,000 and 21 reported fires.
Does the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2014 Santa Fe: a brake component recall advising owners to park outside, a hood latch cable recall, and a tire recall for certain vehicles built in November 2013.
How does the 2014 Santa Fe compare to other model years?
Its Complaint Index of 67 is worse than 2015 (33), 2016 (7), and 2018 (0), but better than 2013 (87) and 2017 (100), which are rated Avoid.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.