2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Safety Report
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (179) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 13 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Unknown Or Other | Compare unknown or other issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2026 | Compare against the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe with 13 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2020 | Check the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe before buying across this generation. |
Hyundai Santa Fe Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Hyundai Santa Fe years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe | 98 | 6 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe | 169 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe | 80 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe | 152 | 7 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe | 13 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe | 172 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Unknown Or Other
35 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Hyundai onlyPower Train
18 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Hyundai onlyEngine
14 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Hyundai onlyElectrical System
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Hyundai onlyVisibility/Wiper
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Hyundai onlyForward Collision Avoidance
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Forward Collision Avoidance issues Hyundai onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability Score
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trailer Hitch Hyundai is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe models due to trailer hitch issues, which could lead to improper towing and potential accidents. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Power Train Power train malfunctions have been reported, causing sudden loss of power and potential safety hazards. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Electrical system failures, including horn malfunctions, have been reported, posing safety risks. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electronic Throttle Control Electronic throttle control system malfunctions have been reported, leading to potential power loss and safety concerns. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe:
Horn failures have been reported multiple times, affecting safety.
Trailer hitch issues have been reported, affecting towing safety.
Power train malfunctions have been reported, causing sudden loss of power.
Electrical system failures, including horn malfunctions, have been reported.
Recall Details for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 previou...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 2 reported injuries or fatalities.
I have been fighting this issue now for 2 years, vibration while driving interstate speeds, especially right rear seat. I have had tires replaced twice trying to fix balance issue only to find out that one rim will not road force balance correctly, even with tire matched it only reduced road force balance to 20lbs (30lbs with out match). I have had it at discount tire and Gettel Hyundai of Lakewoo...
Driving to work and a loud noise (pop) was heard and then I realized the sunroof had basically exploded. Glass was all over the car and all over myself. I immediately got off the road and turned on my hazard lights to assess the situation. This could have caused an accident had I not remained calm. Contacted dealership this morning. Waiting to hear back. No prior warning to this happening.
While driving on the interstate at 70mph the vehicle’s fuel injectors failed causing the vehicle to lose power suddenly.
On 6/7/2023 with the original owner, the vehicle displayed code P1c2D03, according to carfax history the transmission was replaced 7/12/2023. I purchased the vehicle in May, 2025. In December, 2025, while driving to work I experienced intermittent loss of ability to accelerate, followed by the vehicle again displaying code P1C2D03 in the Bluelink app. The dealership performed a software update and...
I have attached a photo since I couldn’t save it
I am submitting this complaint regarding a safety-related incident involving my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe on February 14, 2026. While driving, the vehicle suddenly began to overheat, creating an immediate safety hazard. I was close to my home and was able to return there safely, but once parked, I observed coolant leaking from the front of the vehicle. Due to the risk of further overheating or engine...
The horn stops working which is a safety hazard in case someone is backing into you, etc. This horn has stop working 4 times and had to be replaced.
1. The factory-supplied scissor-type jack that came with my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe failed. While changing a flat tire on the side of the road, the jack collapsed three times and could not hold the vehicle. Yes, the jack is still available for inspection. I have it in my possession and have provided photographs of the jack, its capacity label, and the incident location as evidence. 2. My safety was ...
Needed to use horn in an emergency situation and that's when I found out my horn no longer works. 20,000 miles on 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Horn How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My horn stopped working - cannot use it when driving to warn other drivers - safety issue Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not reproduced, but dealership has confirmed the horn stopped...
Total horn failure, both horns. Took vehicle to the dealership, diagnosed both horns need to be replaced. None in stock. Horns ordered , no dates known by Hyundai when they will be in stock. Hyundai admits it h. Known with many models Driving a car in Buffalo NYwith. Out a horn driving a vehicle,r Nissan , is VERY DANGEROUS and scary. I do not think that Hyundai is taking this issue seriously and ...
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy repeated horn failures since purchasing vehicle new. Will be having 5th and 6th horns replaced with no effective remedy as vehicle has less than 11K miles on it and this urgently safety failure needs to be corrected. There is no warning of the horn failure until you need them to prevent an emergency/collision warning.
While driving after dark, a different car traveling in opposite direction almost caused head on collision while driving in the wrong lane. Driver of the Santa Fe attempted to activate horn on vehicle to alert other vehicle that they were traveling in the wrong lane/direction, but horn failed to sound. Driver was narrowly able to avoid physical collision as a result. Driver took vehicle to dealersh...
Component/System Failure: The electronic throttle control system malfunctioned. The vehicle is reporting powertrain diagnostic trouble codes P2118 and P2101 through the Hyundai manufacturer mobile application (Bluelink), indicating an electronic throttle actuator / throttle control motor issue. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: This malfunction poses a safety risk...
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while there was snow on the roof of the vehicle, the windshield wipers failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer because there was space between the hood and the windshield where the snow was collected, causing the windshield wipers to fail to operate as intended. The dealer tightened the wiper blades; howev...
Horn stopped working at 47,474 miles Check Tire Pressure System light is on, poor sensor at 45,650
My panoramic sunroof spontaneously blew while driving on freeway
Horn completely out, yes available. I was unable to warn another driver from entering my lane several times. Warn a pedestrian from stepping out into traffic. Confirmed by the dealer. The horn was Inspected replaced at my own cost on March 2025 by December 2025 the part is no longer operational. I asked the dealer to honor the warranty they declined saying the mileage was passed the warranty te...
Fuel injectors are bad. The car misfires, I smell gas, runs rough. They fixed one the second week of December 2025. I had the same symptoms when my light came on again on December 23,2025, they said they couldn’t find anything and gave me the car back. On January 3, my engine light came on again, I had warnings sent to my email and phone app about potential engine failures they said today ( 1/6/2...
I stopped to fill the gas on my road trip and the gas panel would not open. As a single women driving alone this is not ideal. It took 45 min of continuous unlocking/locking with pushing to get it to pop open. There needs to be an alternative/emergency handle to pull so this does not happen again. I was standing in 32 degree weather the entire time! NOT SAFE
Showing 20 of 179 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
Has the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE been recalled?
Yes, the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE have?
The 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE has 179 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 10 involved crashes. 15 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE?
The 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE involve unknown or other (35 complaints), power train (18 complaints), engine (14 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, visibility/wiper, forward collision avoidance.
How many crash reports does the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE have?
There are 10 crash reports associated with the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE out of 179 total complaints (5.6% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE have?
There are 3 fire reports for the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE out of 179 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE.
How many injuries are reported for the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE?
15 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE is acceptable with caveats. It has 179 complaints, 1 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE?
The components with the most failures on the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (35 complaints), 2. POWER TRAIN (18 complaints), 3. ENGINE (14 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (12 complaints), 5. VISIBILITY/WIPER (7 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 35 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE?
Consider the recall for trailer hitch issues and the frequency of horn failures when purchasing a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE has 179 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE?
The 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 179 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 13 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Trailer Hitch and Power Train.
What are the known issues with the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE?
Known issues with the 2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE include: Trailer Hitch, Power Train, Electrical System, Electronic Throttle Control. These are based on patterns found across 179 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What is the most common issue reported for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Horn failures are the most common issue reported.
Is there a recall for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Yes, Hyundai has issued a recall for certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe models due to trailer hitch issues.
What safety concerns are associated with the electronic throttle control system malfunction?
Electronic throttle control system malfunctions can lead to sudden power loss, posing safety risks.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Consider the recall for trailer hitch issues and the frequency of horn failures when purchasing a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The data includes 179 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 10 reported crashes, 3 fire incidents, 15 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16