Subaru Outback vs Hyundai Santa Fe: recalls and problems

Since 2000 the Subaru Outback has 67 recalls and 9,430 owner complaints; the Hyundai Santa Fe has 46 recalls and 7,720 complaints. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

2027 Subaru Outback
Subaru OutbackAll model years →
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Santa FeAll model years →

At a glance

Subaru OutbackHyundai Santa Fe
Recalls6746
Do-not-drive / park-outside recalls13
Owner complaints9,4307,720
Crashes reported366358
Fires reported87216
Injuries reported239314
Most reported problemElectrical SystemEngine

NHTSA data, model years 2000 onward.

Complaints by model year

Subaru OutbackHyundai Santa Fe
2005 Subaru Outback: 273 complaints2005 Hyundai Santa Fe: 216 complaints20052006 Subaru Outback: 277 complaints2006 Hyundai Santa Fe: 106 complaints2007 Subaru Outback: 131 complaints2007 Hyundai Santa Fe: 684 complaints20072008 Subaru Outback: 226 complaints2008 Hyundai Santa Fe: 541 complaints2009 Subaru Outback: 106 complaints2009 Hyundai Santa Fe: 359 complaints20092010 Subaru Outback: 360 complaints2010 Hyundai Santa Fe: 260 complaints2011 Subaru Outback: 653 complaints2011 Hyundai Santa Fe: 181 complaints20112012 Subaru Outback: 295 complaints2012 Hyundai Santa Fe: 355 complaints2013 Subaru Outback: 297 complaints2013 Hyundai Santa Fe: 605 complaints20132014 Subaru Outback: 208 complaints2014 Hyundai Santa Fe: 493 complaints2015 Subaru Outback: 510 complaints2015 Hyundai Santa Fe: 255 complaints20152016 Subaru Outback: 644 complaints2016 Hyundai Santa Fe: 238 complaints2017 Subaru Outback: 921 complaints2017 Hyundai Santa Fe: 975 complaints20172018 Subaru Outback: 816 complaints2018 Hyundai Santa Fe: 110 complaints2019 Subaru Outback: 1,036 complaints2019 Hyundai Santa Fe: 206 complaints20192020 Subaru Outback: 906 complaints2020 Hyundai Santa Fe: 218 complaints2021 Subaru Outback: 300 complaints2021 Hyundai Santa Fe: 170 complaints20212022 Subaru Outback: 467 complaints2022 Hyundai Santa Fe: 204 complaints2023 Subaru Outback: 89 complaints2023 Hyundai Santa Fe: 216 complaints20232024 Subaru Outback: 106 complaints2024 Hyundai Santa Fe: 165 complaints2025 Subaru Outback: 84 complaints2025 Hyundai Santa Fe: 139 complaints20252026 Subaru Outback: 21 complaints2026 Hyundai Santa Fe: 39 complaints2026

Every model year

YearOutback recallsOutback complaintsSanta Fe recallsSanta Fe complaints
2026021439
20250845139
202401067165
20232891216
202244675204
202143007170
202069062218
201931,0362206
201838162110
201749216975
201646443238
201555102255
2014102083493
2013122973605
2012162951355
2011166532181
2010183602260
2009131062359
200882264541
200781317684
200672771106
200592733216

Subaru Outback: top problems

Electrical System2,270
Visibility2,065
Unknown or other1,328
Power Train932
Engine906
Air Bags667

Hyundai Santa Fe: top problems

Engine2,638
Fuel System963
Power Train937
Electrical System860
Unknown or other744
Service Brakes719
Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Check your VIN →

Questions

Which has more problems, the Subaru Outback or the Hyundai Santa Fe?

Since model year 2000 owners have filed 9,430 complaints about the Subaru Outback and 7,720 about the Hyundai Santa Fe with NHTSA, so the Hyundai Santa Fe has fewer. These are raw counts: the model that sold more will usually have more complaints, so compare individual model years too.

Which has more recalls, the Subaru Outback or the Hyundai Santa Fe?

NHTSA lists 67 recall campaigns for the Subaru Outback and 46 for the Hyundai Santa Fe since model year 2000.