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2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Xl
Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.
25 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Buy-rated alternatives from this era
Other 2017–2021 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict — worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Xl.
Why caution?
Has a "park it / park outside" recall, the most serious kind. Verify the fix was done before buying.
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#336 of 481Among the 2019 models with a matured record, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Xl ranks #336, scoring higher than 13% of them. See the 2019 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL SUV AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 16%
2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Xl, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Brakes (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
36%9 complaints · typically near 45k mi · 6 in the last 2 years
“Check engine light came on and then vehicle stalled took to shop and said the engine was needing to be replaced. Looked into issue and seen multiple issues with this e…”
Brakes
20%5 complaints
“The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do …”
Electrical system
16%4 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL. The contact stated that there were intermittent, but constant electrical failures with the vehicle. The contact stated tha…”
Visibility & wipers
8%2 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the panoramic sunroof fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an …”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 25 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 1 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Park itService Brakes, Hydraulic · 22V056000
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Hyundai before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Xl. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"? One is a "park it" / "park outside" order, the most serious kind, so I'd want that repair documented before I drive it.
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 45k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report brakes problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any brakes symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2019 Hyundai SANTA FE XL beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2019? See how every Santa Fe Xl model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Xl against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.