Reliable Auto DB

2014 Hyundai Santa Fe reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 493 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe over 13 years — 24 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Santa Fe years here — under the median of the other years, which is 33. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Brake control module, Latch, and Sidewall.

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
Photo by Elise240SX, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

493

Per year

24

Recalls

3

Years on the road

13

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (274 of 493), then Steering (52) and Electrical system (49). Those filings include 16 that report a crash, 30 that report a fire, and 14 that report an injury.

Next to 2013 and 2015

The 2013 Santa Fe has 605 complaints, 51 per year, and the 2015 has 254 complaints, 10 per year. The 2014 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013. The 2014 has more complaints per year than the 2015.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall Brake control module 2023-09-22 · NHTSA campaign 23V651000
Summary Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Remedy Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Recall latches, locks, and linkages, hood, latch 2017-06-05 · NHTSA campaign 17V358000
Summary Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Remedy Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.
Recall tires, sidewall 2013-12-16 · NHTSA campaign 13V624000
Summary Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2014 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 5, 2013, through November 15, 2013, and equipped with P235/65R17 103T Continental Crosscontact LX tires. The tires may have a damaged sidewall.
Remedy Hyundai notified dealers to suspend sales of affected Santa Fe Sport vehicles equipped with the P235/65R17 103T tires, and replace them with alternative tires. All affected vehicles were remedied prior to retail sale. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151.

Complaints by component (493 total)

Engine
274
Steering
52
Electrical system
49
Powertrain
36
Service brakes
32
Fuel and propulsion system
27
Speed control
27
Hydraulic brakes
22
Structure
20
Air bags
13
Electronic stability control (ESC)
11
Exterior lighting
11
Visibility
9
Seat belts
7
Visibility and wipers
7
Suspension
6
Fuel system, gasoline
5
Seats
5
Wheels
5
Air brakes
4
Forward collision avoidance
4
Engine and engine cooling
3
Lane departure
3
Tires
3
Back-over prevention
2
Adaptive and mobility equipment
1
Fire-related
1
Show 19 more Show less
Crash-flagged

16

Fire-flagged

30

Injury reports

14

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

23201432201517201636201719201839201968202058202161202258202361202415202562026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I request that NHTSA review what I believe is a misleading Hyundai warranty extension involving the Occupant Classification System (OCS/ODS), part of the air bag system. Around Mid May 2026, my air bag warning light…"
    Air bags · filed 2026-08-06
  • "We are the original owner of a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The vehicle is experiencing issues from internal engine oil consumption caused by a manufacturing defect in the GDI powertrain. In 2023, while driving under normal…"
    Engine · filed 2026-06-17
  • "My car was in shop for Smog inspection and failed. Mechanic told me that the most likely reason was that the engine has issues related to failing crankshaft position sensor which triggered the check engine light. He…"
    Engine · filed 2026-06-05
  • "Driving to work at 0730 on 20 may, i put my foot down to accelerate from 40mph and nothing happened, i tried again thinking foot placement and the engine died. All ligjts went out, engine turned off and i free coasted…"
    Engine · filed 2026-05-22
  • "My insurance company said I have an urgent Recall on my vehicle. Recall # 251 ABS fuse replacement. NHTSA# 23V651000. I would like this replaced."
    Service brakes · filed 2026-03-28

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Santa Fe two-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 18 25 21 MPG $3100
Santa Fe four-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 18 24 20 MPG $3250
Santa Fe Sport two-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 20 27 23 MPG $2800
Santa Fe Sport two-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 19 26 22 MPG $2950
Santa Fe Sport four-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 18 24 21 MPG $3100
Santa Fe Sport four-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 19 25 21 MPG $3100
Santa Fe Ultimate two-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 18 23 20 MPG $3250
Santa Fe Ultimate four-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed All-wheel drive 17 22 19 MPG $3400

Specs and fitment

3rd generation (DM), 2012–2018
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-20 or 5W-30 (2.4L and 3.3L V6 per manual) , 5 qt capacity
Tire size 235/60R18 to 235/55R19 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 5,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 17V358000. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.

Compare

Previous year 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Next year 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe See every Hyundai Santa Fe model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?

Owners have filed 493 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe over 13 years — 24 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Santa Fe years here — under the median of the other years, which is 33. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Brake control module, Latch, and Sidewall.

What are common problems with a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (274 of 493), then Steering (52) and Electrical system (49). Those filings include 16 that report a crash, 30 that report a fire, and 14 that report an injury.

Is the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Santa Fe has 605 complaints, 51 per year, and the 2015 has 254 complaints, 10 per year. The 2014 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013. The 2014 has more complaints per year than the 2015.

Has the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe been recalled?

The 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Owners have filed 493 complaints about the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe is 20.9 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Santa Fe take?

5W-20 or 5W-30 (2.4L and 3.3L V6 per manual)

What does NHTSA recall 17V-358 cover on the Hyundai Santa Fe?

NHTSA campaign 17V358000.

What generation is the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe?

3rd generation (DM) (2012-2018).