What are the most common problems with the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Engine complaints lead the list, followed by brakes, electrical and steering.

Does the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?

Yes. The count is in the by-year fact, and each one is listed in the Recalls section of this page.

Is the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?

Owner reports are mixed. The engine group is the largest source of complaints, so look at the engine history of any car you consider.

What is the gas mileage of the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the figures.

2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls and MPG

Q: How many complaints does the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe have?

NHTSA has 657 owner complaints on file.

NHTSA has 657 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe^[1]. The engine group is the biggest, with 381 complaints^[2].

657owner complaints^[1]

7recalls^[3]

19–23MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints across several parts of the car. Here are the groups, biggest first.

Engine. 381 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe warning lights that keep coming back, a car that loses power while driving, odd noises when accelerating, and engines that needed replacing.
Brakes. 88 complaints^[6]. Owners describe pedals that need much more force than usual, grinding sounds when stopping, and a loss of braking fluid.
Electrical System. 71 complaints^[7]. Owners describe a blind spot warning that cancels itself, a key fob that comes apart easily, and a loss of power steering with alerts on the dash.
Steering. 57 complaints^[8]. Owners describe a car that drifts and needs constant small corrections to stay straight at highway speed, even after dealer visits.
Unknown Or Other. 56 complaints^[9]. These reports do not fit a single named part.
Power Train. 49 complaints^[10].
Fuel/Propulsion System. 35 complaints^[11].
Speed Control. 34 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2014 Santa Fe is necessarily included.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (23V651), September 2023. About 1,649,478 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (21V303), April 2021. About 151,205 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (20V520), August 2020. About 151,205 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Engine (18V934), December 2018. About 150,730 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch (17V358), June 2017. About 437,400 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine (17V226), March 2017. About 572,000 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]
Tires › Sidewall (13V624), December 2013. About 28 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash.^[19]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Santa Fe 2WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	18 / 25 / 21	$3,200
Santa Fe Sport 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	20 / 27 / 23	$2,900
Santa Fe Sport 2WD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[21]	19 / 26 / 22	$3,050
Santa Fe Sport 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[22]	19 / 25 / 21	$3,200
Santa Fe Sport 4WD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[23]	18 / 24 / 21	$3,200
Santa Fe 4WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[24]	18 / 24 / 20	$3,350
Santa Fe Ultimate 2WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[25]	18 / 23 / 20	$3,350
Santa Fe Ultimate 4WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[26]	17 / 22 / 19	$3,550

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[5]	5	5	5	4	14.3%
SUV FWD^[27]	5	5	5	4	15.1%

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: SUV AWD^[28], SUV FWD^[29].

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[30]	265 hp
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.4L 4-cylinder^[31]	187 to 190 hp
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe with 3.3L 6-cylinder^[32]	290 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
SANTA FE SPORT AWD 2.4L PREMIUM/2.4L LUXURY/2^[33]	185 in	74 in	67 in	106 in	3,862 lb
SANTA FE SPORT FWD 2.4L/2.4L PREMIUM/2.0T^[34]	185 in	74 in	67 in	106 in	3,726 lb
SANTA FE XL FWD 4DR SUV^[35]	193 in	74 in	67 in	110 in	3,946 lb
SANTA FE XL PREMIUM/LUXURY/LIMITED AWD 4DR SU^[36]	193 in	74 in	67 in	110 in	4,339 lb

How 2014 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Santa Fe model year. The 2014 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2001	209	4
2002	165	4
2003	308	4
2004	303	3
2005	216	3
2006	106	1
2007	684	7
2008	541	4
2009	358	2
2010	260	2
2011	181	2
2012	354	1
2013	805	7
2014	657	7
2015	339	4
2016	306	3
2017	1,326	7
2018	432	5
2019	229	3
2020	217	2
2021	187	8
2022	265	8
2023	290	2
2024	191	7
2025	238	5
2026	56	4

NHTSA's counts for the Santa Fe show 657 complaints and 7 recalls for 2014^[3]. Among the 27 model years listed, 23 have fewer complaints than 2014 and 3 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2017 (1,326)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2014 Santa Fe?

The 2014 Santa Fe has a large complaint file, and the engine group stands out from the rest^[1]^[2]. Brakes, electrical and steering complaints follow far behind^[6]^[7]^[8]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales, so they show where owners ran into trouble, not how often. The by-year section also lists recalls for this year^[3]. Check that any open recall work was done before you buy one.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe?: Engine complaints lead the list, followed by brakes, electrical and steering^[2]^[6]^[7]^[8].
Does the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?: Yes. The count is in the by-year fact^[3], and each one is listed in the Recalls section of this page.
How many complaints does the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe have?: NHTSA has 657 owner complaints on file^[1].
Is the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?: Owner reports are mixed. The engine group is the largest source of complaints^[2], so look at the engine history of any car you consider.
What is the gas mileage of the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the figures.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe

2005 216 complaints, 3 recalls
2006 106 complaints, 1 recall
2007 684 complaints, 7 recalls
2008 541 complaints, 4 recalls
2009 358 complaints, 2 recalls
2012 354 complaints, 1 recall
2013 805 complaints, 7 recalls
2014 this page
2017 1,326 complaints, 7 recalls
2018 432 complaints, 5 recalls
2019 229 complaints, 3 recalls
2020 217 complaints, 2 recalls
2023 290 complaints, 2 recalls

Compare all model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe

Other Hyundai models from 2014

2014 Hyundai Accent 79 complaints, 1 recall
2014 Hyundai Genesis 44 complaints, 3 recalls

All Hyundai models

Similar cars from 2014: small suvs

2014 Lincoln MKX 35 complaints, 1 recall
2014 Mazda CX-9 54 complaints, 3 recalls
2014 Mitsubishi Outlander 86 complaints, 9 recalls
2014 Nissan Murano 145 complaints, 1 recall
2014 Nissan Pathfinder 585 complaints, 12 recalls
2014 Nissan Rogue 440 complaints, 10 recalls

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 657 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe (16 mention a crash, 46 a fire, 20 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
381 complaints name the engine component group (3 crashes, 32 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 81,123). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Hyundai Santa Fe model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
88 complaints name the brakes component group (5 crashes, 8 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 74,900). NHTSA vehicle records
71 complaints name the electrical system component group (4 crashes, 13 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 53,000). NHTSA vehicle records
57 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 33,000). NHTSA vehicle records
56 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 5 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 69,000). NHTSA vehicle records
49 complaints name the power train component group (4 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
35 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 5 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
34 complaints name the speed control component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 48,500). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 23V651, filed September 22, 2023: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V303, filed April 28, 2021: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
Recall 20V520, filed August 27, 2020: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V934, filed December 28, 2018: Engine. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V358, filed June 5, 2017: Latches / Locks / Linkages › Hood › Latch. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V226, filed March 31, 2017: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine. NHTSA recall database
Recall 13V624, filed December 16, 2013: Tires › Sidewall. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Santa Fe 2WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport 2WD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport 4WD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 24 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe 4WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Ultimate 2WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Ultimate 4WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 265 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 187 to 190 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe with 3.3L 6-cylinder: rated 290 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SANTA FE SPORT AWD 2.4L PREMIUM/2.4L LUXURY/2: length 185 in, width 74 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 106 in, curb weight 3,862 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SANTA FE SPORT FWD 2.4L/2.4L PREMIUM/2.0T: length 185 in, width 74 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 106 in, curb weight 3,726 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SANTA FE XL FWD 4DR SUV: length 193 in, width 74 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 110 in, curb weight 3,946 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SANTA FE XL PREMIUM/LUXURY/LIMITED AWD 4DR SU: length 193 in, width 74 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 110 in, curb weight 4,339 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2014 Hyundai Santa Fe: problems, recalls and fuel economy