YearToAvoid

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#4 most-complained of 16 Santa Fe years

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe ranks 4th worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 80 and an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 210 complaints, 11 crashes, 3 fires, 15 injuries, and 1 recall, with Engine problems the top complaint area.

Complaints
210
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
11 / 3
Injuries / deaths
15 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 28 hwy

Top 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle rolling or lurching forward after being placed in Park, sometimes striking structures or other vehicles.
  • Some describe unintended acceleration while parking, causing the car to crash through walls or into buildings.
  • Brake pedal pulsation was reported before a parking incident where brakes failed to stop the car despite full pedal pressure.
  • One owner reported the engine compartment catching fire hours after the vehicle was parked, destroying nearby vehicles.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in a crash involving adaptive cruise control and lane-keep systems, or in one case caught fire after deploying.
  • Owners describe the accelerator sticking, leading to a crash before any inspection could be completed.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints: complaints filed per month14Sep 2022Jul 2023Jan 2024Jul 2024Jan 2025Jul 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026
306 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2022 to Sep 2026; peak Dec 2024 (14).

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)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Best20166724.5
2022Good47199525
2023Avoid80210125
2024Caution73150723
2025Avoid93133523

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 ranks 4th worst among 16 model years, with a complaint index of 80 and an Avoid verdict relative to other Santa Fe years.
What are the main problems with the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA data shows Engine complaints lead at 48 complaints (23% share), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 44 complaints (21%) and Electrical System at 39 complaints (19%).
Does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2023 Santa Fe, campaign 23V181000, involving a tow hitch harness issue where owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until repaired.
How many complaints and crashes does the 2023 Santa Fe have?
NHTSA records 210 complaints for the 2023 Santa Fe, including 11 crashes, 3 fires, and 15 injuries, with no reported deaths.
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.