2nd generation (CM) · CM · 3,280 complaints, 2,664 with mileage
Owners filed 3,280 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2012 Hyundai Santa Fe, and 2,664 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 30,000 and 100,000 miles. The median is 70,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (15.3% of complaints, typically around 88,109 miles), the fuel and propulsion system (14.3% of complaints, typically around 85,000 miles), the electrical system (9.8% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles).
7 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 502 | 15.3% | 88,109 | 51,000–119,000 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 468 | 14.3% | 85,000 | 65,000–105,000 |
| Electrical System | 320 | 9.8% | 80,000 | 48,186–106,300 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 247 | 7.5% | 38,000 | 17,500–73,000 |
| Power Train | 234 | 7.1% | 39,800 | 7,000–91,150 |
| Air Bags | 227 | 6.9% | 44,000 | 3,685–80,000 |
| Service Brakes | 149 | 4.5% | 60,000 | 29,827–107,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 139 | 4.2% | 87,230 | 54,000–108,000 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 121 | 3.7% | 70,000 | 50,250–83,000 |
| Steering | 113 | 3.4% | 72,150 | 18,982–106,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 982 | 801 |
| 2008 | 718 | 605 |
| 2009 | 506 | 393 |
| 2010 | 332 | 265 |
| 2011 | 268 | 221 |
| 2012 | 474 | 379 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 70,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 15.3% of complaints (502 reports, 389 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 88,109 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,000 and 119,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 14.3% of complaints (468 reports, 398 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 65,000 and 105,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 9.8% of complaints (320 reports, 254 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,186 and 106,300 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 7.5% of complaints (247 reports, 226 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 38,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 17,500 and 73,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.1% of complaints (234 reports, 201 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 39,800 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,000 and 91,150 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 6.9% of complaints (227 reports, 163 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 44,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,685 and 80,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2007 model year drew the most — 982 complaints — while 2011 drew the fewest at 268. The median year sits at 490.
That makes 2007 an outlier: roughly 2.0 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
NHTSA records 7 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the hydraulic brake circuit (2), the airbag system (2), the engine (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 3,280 complaints filed against this generation, 199 reported a crash; 71 reported a fire; 151 reported an injury; 14 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 6.1% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 30,000 and 100,000 miles, with a median of 70,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the fuel and propulsion system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The fuel and propulsion system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 85,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
The 2.4L Theta II introduced here belongs to the engine family later subject to the connecting-rod bearing failure actions. IMPORTANT PRECISION: Hyundai's engine recalls concentrated on the GDI (direct-injection) Theta II from MY2013 onward; the 2010-2012 Santa Fe's port-injected 2.4L Theta II is not the primary recall population. State the family relationship, not a recall, on this page.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V746000 | 2021-03-31 | Engine |
| 20V061000 | 2020-04-02 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module |
| 13V113000 | 2013-04-22 | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch |
| 12V354000 | 2012-09-07 | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive |
| 11V472000 | 2012-05-28 | Air Bags:Frontal |
| 11V261000 | 2011-06-30 | Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft |
| 10V613000 | 2010-12-17 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper |