Hi! I’m looking at the 2025 Santa Fe Hybrid but I’m a little scared after reading about engine and transmission problems. I’m coming from a Jeep Wrangler, which I loved, but I know it wasn’t the most reliable car. Can anyone share their experience with the Santa Fe Hybrid? What’s good, bad, or ugly about it?
Santa Fe hybrid never had any transmission issues. They only affected the gas models which had DCT.
I can’t comment on long term reliability but we’ve had ours for just over 1.5k miles and no issues so far.
@Sai
This. All the transmission issues were with the DCT in the gas 2.5L turbo models. The hybrid is unaffected. Most I’ve read about in the hybrid was electrical issues causing the car to be immobilized, only seen a couple reports of this.
Have a Wrangler and a ’25 Santa Fe. It’s a beautiful vehicle. I would caution you that it is ‘delicate’ feeling in comparison. I’ve been hit a few times in my wrangler and the other car is always really messed up in the wrangler just has a little ding or a scratch. I feel like the Santa Fe will crumble. That’s not to say it has poor build quality or anything because it definitely does not. It’s just not rugged in any way. But the driving experience (of the hybrid) is spectacular. The two vehicles are polar opposites though, in every single way. The only negative is that even though it feels more technologically advanced than any other vehicle I’ve been in, at times it feels a little bit over-engineered. That’s about it
@Thorn
Gotcha! Yes my wrangler was truly indestructible. A car wash employee jumped out of my moving Jeep and wrecked it through an ATM and it still wasn’t totaled. Haha. I would love to get a new Jeep but they are so dang expensive and everything else I’ve looked at just feels so ugly or so outdated. That’s why I was drawn to the Santa Fe, thank you that’s super helpful!
@Zeke
Honestly though, in your scenario, I feel like the Santa Fe would stop on its own with all the auto-drive features on it lol
24 Calligraphy. We had the transmission recalled and replaced early on and no problems since. Love the car.
We had a 2002 that we donated after 15 years with 235,000 miles on it. Got a 2017 that is running like new with 120,000 miles.
6k miles on a 24 calligraphy (non hybrid) that we got in August. No issues at all.
We got ours after the recall software update
I have a 24 hybrid that has been in the shop for almost 6 months due to electrical problems. I have a lot of regrets, thinking about trading it in because what I thought was my dream car has been an absolute nightmare.
So I’ve had my 2025 Santa Fe limited (gas) for about a month and it’s been extremely reliable. No transmission/engine issues as of yet!
The Santa Fe is a bit too heavy for the DCT Hyundai put in them. To some extent it depends on your typical driving. I bought the Hybrid which has the traditional transmission, better equipped for this size. For some reason it also feels much smoother and faster to accelerate from standstill.
24 Calligraphy with 15k miles on it. I’ve had zero transmission issues. I have had a dead battery on a couple of different occasions but Hyundai told me it’s because I leave my key fob in the truck while it’s in the garage. No issues since I started taking it inside.
LOVE this vehicle. It’s been on many road trips with me and it’s a total delight. No regrets.
I know it’s early but we’ve had my wife’s 2025 hybrid now for 1.5 months with over 1200 miles.
So far, so good. We love it. Zero complaints
3k into my 2024… hybrid sel - great reliability.