MODEL
Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In
NHTSA safety across every Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In model year we cover.
Across the 1 model year of the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In we cover (2022 to 2022), no year has an NHTSA crash-test score on record. 5 recalls have been issued across those years.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid is a five-passenger midsize SUV that slots into Hyundai's popular Santa Fe lineup as its electrified, premium-oriented variant. It targets eco-conscious family buyers who want the flexibility of a plug-in powertrain without sacrificing the practicality and comfort of a traditional crossover. It competes in a growing segment of electrified family haulers aimed squarely at suburban households.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In arrives at a notable disadvantage from a safety-data standpoint: NHTSA did not crash-test this model year, leaving shoppers without any official star ratings to lean on. That absence of independent crash-test validation is a meaningful gap, and buyers should weigh it carefully. On the recall front, the picture is concerning. Five recalls were issued against this single model year, and critically, at least one of those campaigns carried a park-outside or do-not-drive designation, the most serious classification NHTSA assigns. That level of urgency signals a risk serious enough that federal regulators believed owners should not operate the vehicle until the issue was resolved. Shoppers and current owners must verify that all recall work has been completed through NHTSA's VIN lookup tool before driving. Owner complaints add further texture. The 187 complaints filed with NHTSA include 8 reported crashes and 3 reported injuries, though all complaints are unverified allegations. One fire report is also on record, which, given the plug-in hybrid powertrain, warrants attention. These numbers are not catastrophic for a model year with this level of market penetration, but combined with the park-outside recall and the absence of crash-test data, the overall safety picture for the 2022 Santa Fe Plug-In is genuinely uncertain. Proceed with caution and confirm recall completion.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally regard the Santa Fe Plug-In as a well-rounded and refined family crossover with a comfortable, upscale cabin, smooth driving dynamics, and competitive all-electric range for daily errands. Most praise the thoughtful interior layout and composed ride quality, while some note that cargo space is modestly reduced compared to the standard Santa Fe due to battery packaging.
- NHTSA did not crash-test the 2022 Santa Fe Plug-In, meaning there are no federal star ratings available to evaluate structural safety performance for this model year.
- At least one of the five recalls issued against this model year carried a park-outside or do-not-drive designation, the most severe warning NHTSA can issue. Confirm all recalls are resolved via NHTSA's VIN lookup tool before purchasing or driving.
- Owner complaints on file with NHTSA include one fire report, which is particularly relevant for a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Prospective buyers should research whether any recalls specifically address the high-voltage battery or charging system.
- With 187 owner complaints including 8 reported crashes and 3 reported injuries for a single model year, the complaint volume is elevated enough to warrant scrutiny. Review the specific complaint categories on NHTSA's website to understand which vehicle systems are most frequently cited.
Most-recalled year on record: 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In with 5 recalls.