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

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V879000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION), but the failure occurred. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera displayed a distorted image or a black screen occasionally while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that there was no record that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer. The contact found the paperwork provided by the dealer when the recall repair was completed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for the most recent failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,667.

NHTSA ODI 11724716

I am writing to formally express my deep concern and dissatisfaction with the ongoing quality and safety issues I have experienced with my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, which I purchased new in March 2021. Despite regular maintenance and careful ownership, this vehicle has presented a persistent pattern of failure—most notably involving the electrical systems, onboard cameras, and overall build quality. Specifically, the following issues have occurred: •The rear backup camera has intermittently failed for an extended period, frequently displaying a black screen or static lines, rendering it unusable. •The front camera system has now failed entirely, disabling several advanced safety features. A warning alert is permanently displayed on the dashboard and cannot be dismissed. •I was recently informed that repairing this front camera will cost approximately $2,400, a significant expense for a system that should not fail this early in the vehicle's life cycle. •The overall quality of the interior materials has proven to be poor, with excessive wear and inconsistent performance of various controls and features. •In general, the engine power and performance fall well below expectations, especially given Hyundai's advertised standards. These recurring issues have not only affected our driving experience but have also introduced serious safety concerns, particularly as critical systems such as cameras and driver-assist features are now non-functional. We have never experienced this extent of problems with any vehicle in our ownership history. At this point, we are extremely disappointed and frustrated, and we feel that Hyundai has failed to uphold the level of quality and reliability expected from a modern, family-oriented SUV.

NHTSA ODI 11663198

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V879000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11631455

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic signal, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. Additionally, the contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(R) the back over protection camera screen was black. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the reverse image screen operated as needed. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.

NHTSA ODI 11573313

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the back-up camera was activated, the screen display turned to a green color and no image was visible, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The contact indicated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure or retrieve a fault code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,000.

NHTSA ODI 11484223