MotorCaliberNHTSA Safety Index
NHTSA crash test of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

Federal crash-test performance, recalls, and complaints, scored into one NHTSA Safety Index.

5Recalls
116Complaints
0Investigations
ABOUT THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a five-passenger midsize SUV that has competed in one of the most crowded segments in the American market since its debut. Positioned as a family-friendly crossover with mainstream appeal, it targets buyers who want a practical, comfortable daily driver with a reasonable footprint. The 2019-through-2025 generation covers meaningful design and technology changes, making its safety record worth examining closely before you sign anything.

VERDICT

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe earns an NHTSA Safety Index of 78 out of 100, an average result driven by its federal crash-test stars and its recall record. It has 5 recalls on record, reflected in the score.

WHO IT IS FOR
  • urban drivers exposed to side-impact risk
WHAT REVIEWERS SAY

Reviewers generally regard the Santa Fe as a competitive, well-rounded midsize SUV that offers a comfortable interior and a strong feature set for its segment. Most find it a credible alternative to segment leaders, praising its cabin refinement and driver-assistance technology, though opinions on powertrain character and driving dynamics tend to be more measured than enthusiastic.

NCAP // CRASH TESTCrash-test breakdown

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk 17.4%

Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 20572

Index breakdown

Crash protection61/70
Avoidance tech5/10
Defect record11.5/20
Forward collision warning: Standard & OptionalLane departure warning: StandardStability control: Standard

NCAP // CRASH IMAGESCrash-test images

Crash-test images are US federal government works (NHTSA / NCAP), public domain.

NHTSA // RECALLSRecall record

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE26V218000

Risk: A detached seat belt anchor will not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinforce or replace the seat belt anchors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 29, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 and Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 298 and 032G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchabl

Reported 2026-04-06

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION25V808000

Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the camera wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning January 15, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 288. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.

Reported 2025-11-21

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN25V809000

Risk: Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.

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 at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.

Reported 2025-11-21

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY25V659000

Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the starter motor terminal cover, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 285. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 4, 2025.

Reported 2025-10-02

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:CRITICAL FASTENERS25V549000

Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.

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 number for this recall is 281.

Reported 2025-08-26

NHTSA // COMPLAINTSOwner complaints

116 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.

5reported crash
0reported fire
4reported injuries
0reported deaths
Most-reported systemsUnknown Or Other 26Electrical System 24Forward Collision Avoidance 19Power Train 15Tires 13Visibility/Wiper 11

Other Santa Fe years

Rivals in SUV (2025)

Last verified 2026-07-03. Sources: NHTSA SafetyRatings (VehicleId 20572), recallsByVehicle, complaintsByVehicle for Hyundai Santa Fe 2025. Class rank 145 of 153 in SUV 2025. Methodology · Disclosure