Hyundai Recalls 135K Santa Fe SUVs Due to an Increased Fire Risk
Some 2024 and 2025 Santa Fe models may have an improperly installed terminal cover on the starter motor that can lead to an increased fire risk in a crash.
2024 hyundai santa feView Photos
Andi Hedrick|Car and Driver
Hyundai is recalling 135,386 Santa Fe SUVs that may have an increased fire risk during crash scenarios.
According to recall documents, some 2024 and 2025 Santa Fe models may have an improperly installed terminal on the starter motor, increasing the fire risk.
Owner notification will start on December 1, after which Hyundai will inspect and reinstall the faulty starter motor covers as necessary.
Hyundai is recalling 135,386 Santa Fe SUVs that may have an increased risk of catching fire during a crash, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). An improperly installed cover on the starter motor on certain 2024 and 2025 Sante Fe SUVs is to blame.
The issue only affects nonhybrid Santa Fe models, all of which are equipped with Hyundai’s turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. According to the NHTSA documents, the starter motor in affected cars may have been produced with a cover that wasn’t fully seated over the “B+” terminal. Depending on the severity of the crash, if the engine compartment becomes deformed in the wrong way, the uncovered terminal could come in contact with the cooling fan assembly, leading to an electrical short and potentially starting a fire.
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Andi Hedrick|Car and Driver
At the time of filing the recall, Hyundai reported that it was aware of one New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) test that resulted in a fire. The automaker is otherwise unaware of any incidents involving the issue in the field.
Hyundai will begin notifying both dealers and owners of the recall starting on December 1, 2025. Owners will be instructed to take affected models to a local dealer, who will inspect the starter motor covers and reinstall them as necessary. Owners concerned their vehicle is included in the recall can currently check on the NHTSA website using their vehicle’s VIN.
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Jack Fitzgerald
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.