First, the main battery was faulty and had to be replaced. Now, less than a week later, the hybrid system has issues too. On top of that, this car has a camera above the steering wheel that watches your face and keeps beeping if your hand isn’t in the right spot on the wheel. Honestly, don’t buy this car.
My hybrid system has been running smoothly so far, but I have a bunch of little annoyances that seem to come from poor design or software. I reported them to Hyundai, they told me to talk to my dealer, and the dealer said they aren’t engineers or software people and can’t help - which I already knew. At least the dealer did say they’ve heard complaints from others too, some of which are from other models. I like the Santa Fe, but I’ve never had a car with so many frustrating issues that really should have been dealt with before it was sold.
@merrickzede
I feel the same way. Hyundai tells me to talk to the dealer, and the dealer says they can’t do anything. Right now, neither my service center nor Bluelink is picking up my calls.
Delaney said:
@merrickzede
I feel the same way. Hyundai tells me to talk to the dealer, and the dealer says they can’t do anything. Right now, neither my service center nor Bluelink is picking up my calls.
Don’t even get me started on Bluelink. Their support is completely useless.
@merrickzede
Could you explain more about the other problems you’ve seen? I haven’t had issues with my Santa Fe other than some recalls, which didn’t bother me.
@FXI: I understand your frustration with the face camera, but it seems that many new cars are coming with this feature. It’s not just a Hyundai problem, so I think it’s a bit unfair to single out the Santa Fe for that.
@Calvine
Not all 2024+ Santa Fes have the facial recognition. If it doesn’t work well, they shouldn’t be using it.
Here are my issues:
OTA updates fail
USB updates fail
Auto-HVAC doesn’t work well in winter
Can’t use windshield defrost and backseat vents at the same time
This summer, the AC worked in the front but the back was blowing hot air
The capacitive lock button on the driver’s door works sometimes
I can’t lock the car from the inside when I’m getting out
Driver profile doesn’t default for the confirmation each time I start
Brake regeneration settings don’t save, I reset them every time
Windshield washer nozzles don’t work well, especially at highway speeds
Wireless charger overheats phones
Tells me to take a break while towing, but never when I’m not towing, that’s definitely a software glitch
Says the ultrasonic sensor is blocked in snow. Let me just confirm it and move on, these alerts are distractions
The trim around the front cup holders has a sharp edge
HVAC off doesn’t mean off. The fan runs at weird speeds, especially when windows or sunroof are open. Passive HVAC settings are shut down
Bluelink and the car have different readings for the next oil change, Bluelink is right, the car is off by about 250 km
I’m not asking Hyundai to fix these just sharing my thoughts: the hard plastic inside the car scratches easily, I’ve never had a car where that happens so much. It’s supposed to be cheap but tough, but this feels cheap in a bad way.
I do like the car, but all these issues are just frustrating. I don’t think they did proper testing for cold weather on this car; it seems like it only spent time in a testing lab instead of real driving conditions.
@merrickzede
I get what you’re saying. I haven’t noticed everything you listed, but I agree about the plastic and possible cold weather testing issues. I’ve noticed a small squeaking sound when I turn the wheel in really cold weather. It’s annoying, but once it warms up, everything is fine. The second row cooling also seems weak. The vents in the pillars look nice, but it feels like they don’t work well, I’m comfortable up front while my kid in the back is sweating.
Overall, I’m happy with my car so far, probably because I’ve been lucky without any big problems… yet.
@Calvine
We had our little one in the back on a hot day, and after driving for 20 minutes, the air was still warm back there, so I closed that vent and redirected the front ones to reach him. So we all had to endure some discomfort instead of just him feeling the heat. I understand the duct work takes time to cool, but this was hot air and that’s just unacceptable.
When it gets to -5 to -15 C (5F), this car struggles to warm up the cabin properly. You really have to wonder if you should keep your jacket on or take it off. My old truck and my wife’s CX5 warm up much better. If you want to be warm, you have to keep adjusting the vents constantly. One minute it’s feet and shoulders, then foggy window so it’s defrost, but then my feet get cold so back to that, and now my body’s chilly, back to warm up my feet and shoulders, I should have just kept my jacket on, and the second row passenger barely gets any heat during all this.
@merrickzede
Hybrid cars can’t use engine heat to warm the cabin. This is a common issue for hybrids.
I haven’t had problems with cooling those rows. Just remember to set it on recirculate for the AC to work well.
I don’t have any other issues besides the forward attention system. It gets weird about hands at one, turning it off in the settings helps but not completely.
@Auto
That’s not entirely accurate - hybrid cars do use engine coolant to heat the cabin, and most come with an extra electric heater. That’s why the engine runs soon after starting in the cold, to heat the coolant for cabin warmth.
I haven’t had any heating issues in my Hybrid Santa Fe. I usually leave it in auto mode, set the temperature, and let it do its thing. Auto generally channels air to the floor and defrost, which works well for the colder climates.
@Auto
That’s a misunderstanding. The heater draws heat from the engine just like a traditional vehicle.
Honestly, my Santa Fe hybrid heats up from cold faster than any other vehicle I’ve had.
@merrickzede
I had a Bluelink issue when I first got the car that Hyundai fixed in about 3 weeks, but everything’s been fine since.
@Calvine
This new model, especially the 2024s, has a lot of issues. I’m currently in the buyback process. My 2024 Santa Fe has been at the dealer for 74 days without a fix. Hyundai told me they’d get it sorted eventually and then hung up. The dealership has been supportive, though. They convinced Hyundai that my car is defective. Now the car won’t even start, and even a new battery only lasts a day. They said there are multiple electrical problems and don’t know how to fix it.
@Calvine
I own a 2024 hybrid Calligraphy with 4,600 miles, and I’ve had no mechanical problems so far. There were two minor recalls fixed during my first oil change. Bluelink has worked perfectly. My only complaint is the camera that watches my eyes; it’s making me keep my hands at 10 and 2. I hear that this feature will become a federal requirement for new cars in 2026.
@Calvine
I’ve had nothing but electrical problems with my Santa Fe hybrid since one week after I bought it. They told me they would replace it, then decided against it a couple of weeks later. I have major safety concerns and they won’t replace it. I’m really frustrated with my vehicle now. I don’t even feel safe driving it. They keep suggesting it’s user error, but I know how to drive a car. I’ve had safe cars before and understand how they work. Sometimes when I put my car in reverse, it doesn’t switch back to drive, and I’m stuck in reverse. This led to an accident. If another car pulls up next to me with loud music or noise, my emergency brake engages, and then I can’t turn it off, leaving me stuck in the middle of the road. I have to keep restarting my car for it to reset. It’s really dangerous to be stuck like that. My car has spent more time in the shop than with me, and they still can’t figure it out. They need to just replace my car instead of putting me, my autistic son, and others at risk. I like the car itself, but the dangers it poses worry me. These are just two of the issues, and there are many more electrical problems. I’m really disappointed with Hyundai for not standing behind their product. I did my research and was excited for the seven-passenger vehicle, but now I’m really let down.
@Calvine
Sorry to hear about your troubles. My 2025 has 4,000 miles and it’s been the best vehicle I’ve had. I live in a warm area so I’m not facing cold weather issues. For me, this vehicle is fantastic.