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Which Years of Used Hyundai Santa Fe Sports Are Most Reliable?

in Reliability
Hyundai Santa Fe parked on a street

Source: Pixabay

The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is a popular, affordable, and overall dependable SUV with plenty of interior space. Thanks to its design and user-friendly features, the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is an ideal family car and commuting vehicle for those who frequently drop their kids off at school. Finding the most reliable Hyundai Santa Fe Sport year available is key to buying the best used vehicle you can, so read on.

Most Reliable Years for the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Good news: there are plenty of reliable Hyundai Santa Fe Sport years you can purchase in used condition without having to worry about major mechanical problems. The most reliable Hyundai Santa Fe Sport years tend to include these cars:

  • 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  • 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  • 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  • 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  • 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT YEARS TO AVOID

The Sport is only available in a two-row seat option in North America but comes equipped with a four-cylinder engine. CoPilot is here to show you which Hyundai Santa Fe Sport year models to avoid!


Each of these model years doesn’t have many complaints, and the 2016, 2019, and 2020 Sports don’t have any complaints whatsoever. Thus, buying one of these vehicles in used condition means you’ll benefit from a tried, tested vehicle model that should provide you with good value for money, especially if you find it for a great price.

Are Hyundai Santa Fe Sports Generally Reliable?

Like many vehicles, whether or not a used Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is generally reliable or not depends on the model year. According to motorbiscuit.com, older models tend to have decent reliability scores, although newer models also have fewer user complaints (though this could be due to the fact that they have been released relatively recently).

Copilotsearch.com indicates that the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is generally reliable, although again your mileage may vary depending on the year you purchase. Most Hyundai Santa Fe Sports produce good drive performance, ample customization options, and spacious interiors, making them reliable in terms of commuter vehicles or small family cars.


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Which Hyundai Santa Fe Sports Are the Least Reliable?

Even though the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport line has many stellar years, you should also avoid some less reliable years at all costs. The least reliable Hyundai Santa Fe Sport years include:

  • 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  • 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  • 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  • 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

These vehicles have been marked by several issues and user complaints. For instance, the 2013 and 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sports have higher than average chances of engine failure approaching the 90,000-mile mark. Meanwhile, the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport has a poor transmission. The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport also had several reports of blown engines; it’s arguably the worst model year for the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport you can purchase.

Are Hyundai Santa Fe Sports Expensive to Maintain?

Even if you purchase one of the most reliable Hyundai Santa Fe Sport years, you’ll need to take maintenance fees into account. According to repairpal.com, a used Hyundai Santa Fe Sport will run you about $515 per year. This indicates that the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport produces lower than average ownership costs, as well as reduced frequency of repairs compared to other vehicles.

To really hedge your bets, make sure to ask for a vehicle history report or accident report before buying. That way, you can see whether a given used Hyundai Santa Fe Sport has any major problems under the hood and can avoid buying a lemon by accident. You should never purchase a used Hyundai Santa Fe Sport without taking it on a test drive, either – otherwise, you could end up having to pay much more than $515 per year for faults or flaws that should have been detected earlier.


THE BEST USED SUVS UNDER $10,000

We looked into price, reliability, features, and more to create this list of the best used SUVs under $10k on the market today. Take a look - some of the best used SUVs have gone mostly overlooked or forgotten. 


Which Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is Most Reliable?

If you’re interested in the overall most reliable Hyundai Santa Fe Sport year, opt for the most recent 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. According to engineerine.com, there are a few good reasons for this, including:

  • The vehicle has excellent performance
  • The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport has room for seven people in its third row
  • The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport also comes with a powerful V6 engine

More broadly, this most recent iteration of the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport has seen most of the common issues and complaints people levied against the vehicle model in the past taken care of. In essence, Hyundai has had time to work out the kinks of this vehicle and then some.

What Are the Most Common Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Problems?

Just what are those common Hyundai Santa Fe Sport problems? According to enginepatrol.com, the most common mechanical flaws you might encounter with a used Hyundai Santa Fe Sport include:

  • Paint coming off the vehicle
  • Violent jerking when trying to accelerate
  • Engine failures
  • Engine blowouts
  • The fuel gauge not reading correctly

Some of these can be quite drastic, dangerous, and expensive, so always have a mechanic inspect a used Hyundai Santa Fe Sport before signing on any dotted line.


THE BEST USED LUXURY CARS ON THE MARKET

Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals. 


Is the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Worth It?

Even with several model years to avoid, a used Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is a great choice for families or those who need a vehicle that can double as a commuter car and a drop-off car for kids and soccer teams. The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport provides good gas mileage, easy handling, and excellent reliability on average, particularly if you purchase one of the most reliable Hyundai Santa Fe Sport years.

Final Thoughts

In the end, you should heavily inspect any used Hyundai Santa Fe Sport you plan to buy. But once a mechanic gives you the thumbs up, and once you take your vehicle for a test drive, don’t feel bad about spending money on this car.

It’s a great ride, and it offers a lot of value to families like yours. Be sure to take it in for regular maintenance, and you’ll also enjoy fairly good annual maintenance costs and a low likelihood of major breaks that cause financial difficulty.



Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You

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