Home · 2022 · Hyundai

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Xl

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

190 owner complaints · 5 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Buy-rated alternatives from this era

Other 20202024 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict — worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Xl.

2021
Mazda Mazda6
Buy100/100
2022
Kia Niro Phev
Buy98/100
2023
Kia Rio 5
Buy97/100

Why caution?

Has a "park it / park outside" recall, the most serious kind. Verify the fix was done before buying.

Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (28% of complaints, typically reported near 15k miles).

Score breakdown, by factor

Full methodology →

#286 of 438Among the 2022 models with a matured record, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Xl ranks #286, scoring higher than 20% of them. See the 2022 ranking →

Complaint volume70
Severity70
Recall load58
Trend53

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20212026 YTD

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Xl, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miTransmission & drivetrain~15k mi · 53 reportsEngine~18k mi · 52 reportsElectrical system~17k mi · 30 reportsFuel system~30k mi · 30 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Driver assistance (15) · Speed control (15)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Transmission & drivetrain

28%

53 complaints · typically near 15k mi · 22 in the last 2 years

when vehicle accelerates from stopping position motor immediately increases rpm's from 700 to about 4,000 and increases and decreases with jerking motion. sometimes mu…

Read the transmission & drivetrain complaints →

Engine

27%

52 complaints · typically near 18k mi · 23 in the last 2 years

While driving, my vehicle displayed “Shifter System Malfunction! Service Immediately.” Immediately after, I was unable to shift the vehicle from Drive into Park, Rever…

Read the engine complaints →

Electrical system

16%

30 complaints · typically near 17k mi · 21 in the last 2 years

I did a navigation update as requested by the infotainment system on the Hyundai. After the update, the air conditioner would not turn on when the ac button was depres…

Read the electrical system complaints →

Fuel system

16%

30 complaints · typically near 30k mi · 18 in the last 2 years

Fuel injector failed the entire engine on my 2022 Santa Fe had to be completely replaced. The dealership put in a new engine. Santa Fe is only four years old. That is …

Read the fuel system complaints →

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.

miles

We can place 4 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.

Read all 190 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 10 crash/fire/injury reports →

Recalls (5)

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.

Back Over Prevention · 24V879000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles. Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 271.

Park itTrailer Hitches · 23V181000

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.

Fix: 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.

Power Train · 22V746000

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.

Risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.

Engine And Engine Cooling · 22V197000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Santa Fe and Santa Cruz vehicles. The oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment.

Risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the turbocharger oil supply pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall 222.

Fuel System, Gasoline · 21V524000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.

Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.

Questions to ask the seller

Questions worth asking the seller of this Hyundai before you buy, drawn from its public record:

  1. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2022 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.
  2. Owners of this model report transmission & drivetrain problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 15k miles). Has this car shown any transmission & drivetrain symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  3. Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 18k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  4. 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)?
  5. How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
  6. 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 2022 Hyundai SANTA FE XL beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2022? See how every Santa Fe Xl model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2022 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.

See what owners are saying about other cars →

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Xl as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.