YearToAvoid

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#13 most-complained of 21 Santa Fe years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe has 200 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 40 out of 100 — #13 highest of 21 Santa Fe model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (80 complaints, 40% of the total). Complaints report 16 crashes, 12 fires, and 10 injuries.

Complaints
200
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
16 / 12
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
18.5 city / 24.5 hwy

Top 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

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

  1. Engine80 (40%)
  2. Other48 (24%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain35 (18%)
  4. Electrical System27 (14%)
  5. Structure & Body18 (9%)
  6. Brakes14 (7%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras13 (7%)
  8. Fuel System12 (6%)
  9. Steering12 (6%)
  10. Airbags7 (4%)
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints: complaints filed per quarter222018 Q42019 Q42020 Q42021 Q42022 Q42023 Q42024 Q42025 Q4
285 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q1 (22).

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V181000Mar 17, 2023Structure & Body584,784 vehiclesPark Outside

    Trailer hitches

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

    Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.

  2. NHTSA 18V715000Oct 11, 2018Airbags8,204 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. The Side Curtain Air Bag (SCAB) mounting bolts may interfere with and damage the air bags during deployment.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, if the air bags become damaged during deployment they may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the SCAB installation bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 177.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
24.5 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
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.

2019 compared with other Santa Fe years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Avoid100966620
2018Best5109220
2019Good40200221
2020Caution60213223.5
2021Good25166724.5

All Hyundai Santa Fe years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe ranks #13 of 21 among Santa Fe model years (Complaint Index 40/100, verdict: Good). It has 200 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The most reported problem areas are engine (80 complaints), transmission & powertrain (35 complaints), and electrical system (27 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 10,000 miles.
Does the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, most recently reported 2023, covering structure & body and airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe?
EPA rates the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe at 21 MPG combined (18.5 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.