HyundaiSanta Fe2026Overview/hyundai/santa-fe/2026/base/

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2026 Santa Fe.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, documented in its Overview, pairs an 8‑speed automatic transmission with EPA‑rated fuel economy of 20 city/28 highway/23 mpg. Reliability data show only 28 owner complaints in the 2026 model year, the lowest tally in the nameplate’s two‑decade history, after a peak of 941 complaints in 2017, and four recall actions have been issued. Overall, the latest Santa Fe presents a modest complaint volume and a drivetrain that builds on the model’s established architecture.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy20/28/23 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 28 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Santa Fe of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.3–9.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.30 sec — 2024 Calligraphy HTRAC
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2025Hybrid Limited HTRAC 1.6L Turbo I-4 + Elec 1.49-kWh7.60 sec15.80 sec231 hpAWD
2024Calligraphy HTRAC 2.5L Turbo I-46.30 sec14.80 sec277 hpAWD
2024Calligraphy HTRAC 2.5L Turbo I-47.00 sec15.40 sec277 hpAWD
2024Calligraphy HTRAC 2.5L Turbo I-47.40 sec15.80 sec277 hpAWD
2024Hybrid Caligraphy HTRAC 1.6L Turbo I-4 + Elec7.80 sec16.00 sec231 hpAWD
2024Hybrid Caligraphy HTRAC 1.6L Turbo I-4 + Elec7.80 sec16.00 sec231 hpAWD
2024Hybrid Caligraphy HTRAC 1.6L Turbo I-4 + Elec9.80 sec17.50 sec231 hpAWD

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2026 Santa Fe sits at the low end of the 2001‑2026 federal trend, with only 28 complaints and 4 recalls versus peaks of 941 complaints and 9 recalls in 2017. This marks a sharp decline from the high‑complaint years of the early 2010s and a relative improvement over the modest 20242025 figures, indicating a positive trajectory for the 2026 model. The recall count of 4 is modest compared to the 7 recalls in 2021 and 5 in 2022, suggesting no new major safety issues have emerged. With no crash or fire complaints reported and the top complaint categories limited to “Unknown or Other,” seats, visibility/wiper, and tires, the data implies that 2026 models have largely resolved earlier pain points. Consequently, the 2026 Santa Fe appears to be a strong candidate for purchase, reflecting both lower complaint volumes and a stable recall profile.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
8
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
28
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 28 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other5
Seats4
Visibility/Wiper3
Tires2
Suspension,Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Forward Collision Avoidance1
Wheels1
Steering,Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

25V549000Engine And Engine Cooling:Critical FastenersReported 26/08/2025

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine… Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's…

25V809000Air Bags:Side/Window:CurtainReported 21/11/2025

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which… Remedy: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 8 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
26-BE-015H TSB2026-06-01SeatsSome Santa Fe (MX5A) and Santa Fe Hybrid (MX5A HEV) vehicles equipped with power seats…
26-AT-003H TSB2026-05-18Power TrainSome Santa Fe (MX5A) and Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles may exhibit a low idle or excessive…
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
26-01-035H TSB2026-04-07Electrical SystemSome vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Santa Fe. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2026 Santa Fe have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Santa Fe get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined mpg.