Hyundai Santa Fe 2007–2012
2nd generation (CM)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20263,280 complaints, 2,664 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 30,000 and 100,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 18 complaints (0.7%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 6,700
- 25%
- 30,000
- Median
- 70,000
- 75%
- 100,000
- 90%
- 131,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 217 | 8.1% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 104 | 3.9% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 84 | 3.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 80 | 3.0% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 106 | 4.0% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 65 | 2.4% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 62 | 2.3% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 49 | 1.8% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 82 | 3.1% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 60 | 2.3% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 92 | 3.5% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 85 | 3.2% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 117 | 4.4% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 93 | 3.5% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 123 | 4.6% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 124 | 4.7% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 140 | 5.3% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 101 | 3.8% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 91 | 3.4% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 94 | 3.5% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 99 | 3.7% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 75 | 2.8% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 71 | 2.7% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 62 | 2.3% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 65 | 2.4% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 32 | 1.2% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 51 | 1.9% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 29 | 1.1% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 51 | 1.9% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 12 | 0.5% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 26 | 1.0% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 14 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 17 | 0.6% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 21 | 0.8% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 23 | 0.9% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 5 | 0.2% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 9 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 10 | 0.4% |
| 200,000+ | 18 | 0.7% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 3,280 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2012 Hyundai Santa Fe, and 2,664 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 30,000 and 100,000 miles. The median is 70,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (15.3% of complaints, typically around 88,000 miles), the fuel and propulsion system (14.3% of complaints, typically around 85,000 miles), the electrical system (9.8% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles).
7 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine88,000median 88,109 miles, middle half 51,000 to 119,000
- Fuel and propulsion system85,000median 85,000 miles, middle half 65,000 to 105,000
- Electrical system80,000median 80,000 miles, middle half 48,000 to 106,000
- Throttle and speed control38,000median 38,000 miles, middle half 18,000 to 73,000
- Transmission and driveline40,000median 39,800 miles, middle half 7,000 to 91,000
- Airbag system44,000median 44,000 miles, middle half 3,500 to 80,000
- Brakes60,000median 60,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 107,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 502 | 15.3% | 88,000 | 51,000–119,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 468 | 14.3% | 85,000 | 65,000–105,000 |
| Electrical system | 320 | 9.8% | 80,000 | 48,000–106,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 247 | 7.5% | 38,000 | 18,000–73,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 234 | 7.1% | 40,000 | 7,000–91,000 |
| Airbag system | 227 | 6.9% | 44,000 | 3,500–80,000 |
| Brakes | 149 | 4.5% | 60,000 | 30,000–107,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 139 | 4.2% | 87,000 | 54,000–108,000 |
| Fuel system | 121 | 3.7% | 70,000 | 50,000–83,000 |
| Steering | 113 | 3.4% | 72,000 | 19,000–106,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 70,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 15.3% of complaints (502 reports, 389 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 88,109 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,000 and 119,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 14.3% of complaints (468 reports, 398 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 65,000 and 105,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 9.8% of complaints (320 reports, 254 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,186 and 106,300 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 7.5% of complaints (247 reports, 226 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 38,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 17,500 and 73,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.1% of complaints (234 reports, 201 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 39,800 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,000 and 91,150 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 6.9% of complaints (227 reports, 163 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 44,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,685 and 80,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2007 model year drew the most — 982 complaints — while 2011 drew the fewest at 268. The median year sits at 490.
That makes 2007 an outlier: roughly 2.0 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 7 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the hydraulic brake circuit (2), the airbag system (2), the engine (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 3,280 complaints filed against this generation, 199 reported a crash; 71 reported a fire; 151 reported an injury; 14 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 6.1% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 30,000 and 100,000 miles, with a median of 70,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the fuel and propulsion system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The fuel and propulsion system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 85,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine — 2.4l Theta Ii (family Context) 2010–2012 (2.4L only)
The 2.4L Theta II introduced here belongs to the engine family later subject to the connecting-rod bearing failure actions. IMPORTANT PRECISION: Hyundai's engine recalls concentrated on the GDI (direct-injection) Theta II from MY2013 onward; the 2010-2012 Santa Fe's port-injected 2.4L Theta II is not the primary recall population. State the family relationship, not a recall, on this page.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 982 | 801 |
| 2008 | 718 | 605 |
| 2009 | 506 | 393 |
| 2010 | 332 | 265 |
| 2011 | 268 | 221 |
| 2012 | 474 | 379 |
Recalls (7)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V746000 | 2021-03-31 | Engine |
| 20V061000 | 2020-04-02 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module |
| 13V113000 | 2013-04-22 | Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch |
| 12V354000 | 2012-09-07 | Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive |
| 11V472000 | 2012-05-28 | Air Bags:frontal |
| 11V261000 | 2011-06-30 | Power Train:driveline:driveshaft |
| 10V613000 | 2010-12-17 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper |
What owners reported
When i sit in the passenger seat, the airbag light indicates "off". I weigh 130 lbs and i have read the owners manual on this topic. It does not matter how i am positioned in the seat, this function does not work correctly. I have visited my service department and called Hyundai consumer affairs. They state that the…
2007 · Airbag system
The passenger front air bag sensor located in the seat does not correctly classify my wife (130 lbs.) As an adult. As a result, the passenger front air bag and passenger side impact air bags are not consistently activated. The "passenger air bag off" indicator light located on the dash is on at least 30% or more of…
2007 · Airbag system
I own a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV. The seat belt for the passenger rear seat (40) does not stay up and available to new occupants. It always falls down the seat belt slot and is extremely difficult to retrieve for the passenger. Passenger invariably seat themselves into 60 portion of the seat directly behind the…
2007 · Seat belts
When starting our 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe yesterday, the "esc off" light appeared on the dash. I tried to press the button to see if it would engage, but it had no reaction. I shut the vehicle off and waited a while and restarted and the light was gone. However 10 minutes later while driving 73 MPH on the hwy, the "esc…
2007 · 10 miles · Problems owners could not categorise
Built from 2,664 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page