Hyundai Santa Fe brake problems, 2016–2027
255 of the 3,688 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Hyundai Santa Fe 2016–2027 name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). The loudest years: 2017 (117), 2018 (69), 2023 (28). Filed under the same heading across these years: 2 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Hyundai Santa Fe brake problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the brakes | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 13 | 7% | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 28 | 10% | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2020 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2019 | 5 | 2% | — | 1 recall · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2018 in depth | 69 | 16% | 68k | 2 recalls · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 117 | 9% | 37k | 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2016 | 23 | 8% | — | 1 recall · 1 investigation | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the brakes. Nothing here is a rate.
When the brake complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 142 · 2023: 33 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 25 · 2026: 18
Across the model years, half of the 69 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 10,000 and 77,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that since owning the vehicle, the vehicle intermittently failed to start-up as needed. The ABS warning light would be illuminated on the instrument panel.
The contact owned a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while at a stop light, smoke was present coming from under the hood. While attempting to pull over to park, the brakes suddenly failed and an explosion occurred within the engine compartment causing flames from under the hood of the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brake, Hydraulics) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not made aware of the issue.
Unknown issue, but the car has auto braked 2x on the interstate going 65mph. No cars were around me nor any objects in the road. It stated auto braking and sensors going off. Resolved itself within 60 seconds, but did almost cause me to be rear ended because a tractor trailer was quickly approaching me
What is on file about the brakes, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- Oct 27, 2022 · 44,396 vehicles
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
- Feb 3, 2022 · 357,348 vehicles
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
NHTSA investigation
- AQ23002 Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Firesopened Nov 17, 2023 · open
- The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect…
Other systems with a record on the Hyundai Santa Fe
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Hyundai Santa Fe problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Hyundai Santa Fe years have the most brake complaints?
2017, 117; 2018, 69; 2023, 28. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2018 (16%).
Is there a recall for the brakes on the Hyundai Santa Fe?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 22V810000 (2018), 22V056000 (2019). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the Hyundai Santa Fe?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 35,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 10,000 and 77,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.