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What 162 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (162)Crash / fire / injury (5)Transmission & drivetrain (50)Engine (36)Electrical system (29)Driver assistance (18)Visibility & wipers (14)Fuel system (9)Speed control (7)Brakes (6)Backup camera & sensors (5)Body & structure (3)

5 of 162 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

May 27, 2025Latches & locksCrash1 injury

The contact filed the complaint on behalf of the contact's mother. The contact owned a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the contact's mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was crashed into by an oncoming vehicle. The other vehicle crashed into the front passenger's side close to the front bumper area. The driver's side door independently opened, although it was secured and locked prior to the crash. The contact stated the vehicle spun around and flipped onto the driver's side. In addition, the contact's mother's left leg and left foot were pinned underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. The paramedics and Police arrived on the scene. A Police report was filed. The contact's mother was transported to the local medical center. The contact's mother sustained compartment syndrome, the big toe bone was broken in two places, and the left foot was broken. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11663064

Feb 19, 2025Electrical systemCrashFire

12v connector for phone charger melted my phone cord. Reported to Centennial Hyundai Las Vegas and High Desert Hyundai Kingman Az. Both service departments said my vehicle cannot detect the problem because I purchased a substandard plug-in. I have worked as an operator of high voltage electrical systems. I understand in some circumstances that a system cannot detect a fault, however the company is still responsible for the fire it caused. This is unsafe and can cause serious consequences. It must be corrected.

NHTSA ODI 11643612

Apr 1, 2024Crash

On two different occasions the car is rolled away from me and while I was out of the car and walking away from the vehicle. The first time it rolled backwards across the parking lot and into a flagpole and the second time it was a McDonald's parking lot and I was able to jump back in the car in time but it started to roll forward as I was bending down to get my debit card off the ground.

NHTSA ODI 11580394

Jun 30, 20221 injury

The passenger door has a sharp edge at the bottom exactly like the palasade hyundai recall. Both my daughter and my 82 year old mother have gashed their ankle on the door. In the case of my mother she was lucky we did not need stitches! I have a picture of the injury. I made a case submission to Hyundai.

NHTSA ODI 11471807

Jul 13, 2021Driver assistanceCrash

Message: I own a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe with the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist feature installed and activated. The Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist did not function properly to stop my car to avoid a low speed impact. I applied the brakes to stop. I could not avoid impacting another vehicle. The damage was minor. Hyundai did inspect my vehicle braking system on June 8 at Hyundai of Cool Springs. I was not provided full report on findings/corrective action. Hyundai America was supposed to provide a follow up report. I was called today and the Hyundai representative had no details on the brake inspection to share with me. I am suspicious. I think Hyundai is hiding a safety issue. I am reporting this event so the NTSB can contact Hyundai to determine if this is a safety defect needing corrective action. The Hyundai Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist is designed to help detect and monitor the vehicle ahead or help detect a pedestrian or cyclist in the roadway and warn the driver that a collision is imminent with a warning message and an audible warning, and if necessary, apply emergency braking. Ref: Hyundai owner's manual, chapter 7, page 7-2 On page 7-6 the system operation is described: System operation Basic function System warning and control The basic function for Forward Collision- Avoidance Assist is to help warn and control the vehicle depending on the collision level: ‘Collision Warning’, ‘Emergency Braking’ and ‘Stopping vehicle and ending brake control’. OTM070143N Collision Warning • To warn the driver of a collision, the ‘Collision Warning’ warning message will appear on the cluster and an audible warning will sound. • If a vehicle is detected in front, the system will operate when your vehicle speed is between approximately 6~112 mph (10~180 km/h). • If a pedestrian or cyclist is detected in front, the system will operate when your vehicle speed is between approximately 6~53 mph (10~85 k

NHTSA ODI 11424621

Working with the data? Download all 162 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 15, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid verdict →