Before you buy a used Hyundai Santa Fe (IV).

2018–2024 · Hybrid / Plug-in hybrid / Diesel · 3 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

3 documented, sourced faults across its 3 engines.
They all depend on the equipment or the production date: ask what this car has.
7 official recalls on record: ask for the chassis number (VIN) and confirm they have been done.
According to the data we have, all its engines have the same number of documented faults.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 3 of its engines.

Fuel leak near the tank and eCall: recalls on the Santa Fe IVFuel system
Period mentioned
2018–2024
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Recalls of this generation; confirm by VIN whether they apply to your car.

1.6 T-GDi Hybrid · 1.6 T-GDi Plug-in Hybrid

1.6 T-GDi Hybrid (Hybrid) · 1.6 T-GDi Plug-in Hybrid (Plug-in hybrid)

Carbon on the injectors and intake of the T-GDi petrol enginesInjection / turbo
Period mentioned
2015 onwards
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Same type of direct-injection turbo engine (T-GDi).

2.2 CRDi

Diesel

Timing chain, fuel filter and clutch on the Sorento II 2.2 CRDiTiming system
Period mentioned
2009–2014
Mileage mentioned
What the sheet says: The guide recommends replacing the chain at around 100,000 km to stop it breaking. The fuel filter often clogs and the clutch wears out before 60,000 km when towing. On the automatic, changing and flushing the oil helps.
Applies if: Same R-family CRDi diesel (D4HA/D4HB) as the Sorento II, where the German guide documents the chain and fuel filter.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Hyundai Santa Fe (IV)
Engine	Documented faults	Recalls
1.6 T-GDi HybridHybrid	22 with conditions	7
1.6 T-GDi Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybrid	22 with conditions	7
2.2 CRDiDiesel	22 with conditions	6

According to the data we have, all its engines have the same number of documented faults.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
Ask an official Hyundai dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.

Hyundai airbag and seat-belt recalls (2003–2026)Airbags and seat belts