YearToAvoid

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe has a complaint index of 90 and ranks 3rd worst among 21 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Owners report Engine issues most often (48 complaints, 23% share), along with transmission rollaway incidents and one recall covering tow hitch fire risk.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
90/100
#3 of 21 Santa Fe years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
210
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
1 Park Outside
Crashes
11
reported in complaints
Fires
3
Injuries
15
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2011
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 28 hwy
Injuries / deaths
15 / 0

Top 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other62 (30%)
  2. Engine48 (23%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain44 (21%)
  4. Electrical System39 (19%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras37 (18%)
  6. Brakes25 (12%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers13 (6%)
  8. Fuel System12 (6%)
  9. Structure & Body7 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Vehicles reportedly roll forward or fail to hold Park after the driver exits, sometimes crashing into structures.
  • Some drivers describe unintended acceleration while parking, resulting in collisions with walls or buildings.
  • Brake pedal pulsation was reported before a full brake failure while parking, leading to a crash.
  • One owner described an airbag catching fire seconds after deploying in a low-speed collision.
  • A vehicle reportedly caught fire spontaneously hours after being parked, destroying the engine compartment.
  • Adaptive cruise control and lane-keep systems reportedly failed to activate during a guard rail collision, and airbags did not deploy.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints: complaints filed per month10Sep 2022Jul 2023Jan 2024Jul 2024Jan 2025Jul 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026
210 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2022 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2026 (10).

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign 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.

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,600
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.

2023 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
2021Caution25166724.5
2022Caution45199525
2023Avoid90210125
2024Caution65150723
2025Avoid75133523

All Hyundai Santa Fe years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2023 Santa Fe has a complaint index of 90, ranking 3rd worst out of 21 model years, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Santa Fe years.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA data shows Engine complaints lead at 48 (23% share), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 44 (21%) and Electrical System at 39 (19%).
Does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall (23V181000) for 2019-2023 Santa Fe and related models over a tow hitch harness fire risk, advising owners to park outside until repaired.
How many complaints does NHTSA have on file for the 2023 Santa Fe?
NHTSA lists 210 complaints for the 2023 Santa Fe, including 11 crashes, 3 fires, and 15 injuries.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe?
EPA rates the 2023 Santa Fe at 25 mpg combined (22 city / 28 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $2,600.

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.