The 2022 Santa Fe PHEV shares Hyundai's troubled 1.6L turbo Smartstream engine paired with a 6-speed automatic and electric drive system. The engine internals are a serious reliability concern, with catastrophic failures documented even under warranty mileage.
Symptoms: Sudden metallic knocking from engine bay, Loss of oil pressure warning, Engine seizure or failure to start, Metal shavings in oil during routine changes
Fix: Complete engine replacement or short block rebuild required. Hyundai has extended warranty coverage on many units, but out-of-warranty cases require 18-24 labor hours for R&R plus machine work or reman engine. Rod bearings and piston failures are the culprits—metal debris circulates and destroys the bottom end.
Estimated cost: $8,000-12,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Lines Leaking
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Red ATF pooling under vehicle, Transmission overheating warnings on dash, Burnt smell near front of vehicle, Low transmission fluid level on dipstick
Fix: Replace transmission cooler lines and fittings where they connect to radiator assembly. Common failure point is the quick-connect fittings cracking from heat cycling. 2-3 hours labor, drain and refill ATF.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Rear Camera System Intermittent Failure
Common · low severity
Symptoms: Black screen when shifting to reverse, Distorted or flickering rear camera image, Blue screen with 'camera unavailable' message, Works intermittently after car sits overnight
Fix: NHTSA recall 23V-353 addresses camera module failures. Dealer replaces rear camera assembly under recall. Some cases require harness inspection for water intrusion at tailgate grommet. 1.5 hours labor if out-of-pocket.
Estimated cost: $300-500
Transmission Mount Collapse
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive, Excessive vibration at idle in Drive, Visible sagging of transmission bellhousing, Harsh engagement into gear
Fix: Replace forward transmission mount. The PHEV's extra weight and torque from electric motor accelerates mount failure. Requires lifting powertrain slightly for access. 2.5-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $350-600
Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor / Evaporative System Fault
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 20,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0455 or P0442 codes, Fuel cap warning message, Failed emissions test, Difficulty fueling—pump clicks off repeatedly
Fix: NHTSA recall 22V-855 covers fuel tank assembly replacement for EVAP system issues. Some units have tank pressure sensor failures outside recall scope requiring sensor replacement at filler neck. 1.5 hours labor for sensor, 4-6 hours if full tank replacement needed.
Estimated cost: $250-450
High-Voltage Battery Cooling System Leaks
Rare · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Hybrid system warning light, Reduced electric-only range, Coolant level dropping with no visible external leaks, Sweet smell in cabin or cargo area
Fix: The PHEV battery pack has dedicated coolant loop. Leaks occur at quick-disconnect fittings or internal cooling plate seals. Requires HV battery isolation and partial disassembly. Specialized training and equipment needed—dealer-only repair in most cases. 6-10 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $2,000-4,000
Owner tips
Change engine oil every 5,000 miles with quality synthetic—do NOT follow the 7,500-mile interval, given the engine failure history
Monitor oil consumption between changes; burning more than 1 quart per 3,000 miles is early warning sign
Check transmission cooler lines annually for seepage, especially at radiator fittings
Keep software updates current at dealer—several TSBs address hybrid system calibration issues
Inspect rear camera lens and tailgate harness grommet for moisture during car washes
Hard pass unless it's a CPO with comprehensive warranty coverage—the engine failure risk is simply too high for a $6,000-10,000 gamble on a used example.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 24V879000
2024-11-21
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles. Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 271.
TRAILER HITCHES · 23V181000
2023-03-17
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The fuel tank may have been improperly molded, which can result in a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tank, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 20, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 240.
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER · 22V816000
2022-10-31
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023 Genesis G80 Electric, 2021-2022 Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
Consequence: An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
Remedy: Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioners with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 238/011G. This recall is an expansion of recall numbers 22V-354 and 22V-458.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · 22V746000
2022-10-06
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Consequence: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER · 22V197000
2022-03-28
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Santa Fe and Santa Cruz vehicles. The oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment.
Consequence: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the turbocharger oil supply pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall 222.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Santa Fe HEV and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles. The instrument cluster liquid-crystal display (LCD) may invert the image on the screen upon vehicle startup, making the display illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Consequence: An illegible instrument cluster will not show information such as vehicle speed or safety system warnings, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the instrument cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 217.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 21V524000
2021-07-09
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Consequence: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.