Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Grand Cherokee
Midsize SUV · 2015–2025 · 8,276 federal complaints
Hyundai Santa Fe
3,105 complaints · 9 engines
Most-complained engine: THETA II · 2.4L I4
Full breakdown for Hyundai Santa Fe →
Jeep Grand Cherokee
5,171 complaints · 4 engines
Most-complained engine: 3.6L V6
Full breakdown for Jeep Grand Cherokee →At a glance
Side by side. EPA figures are the model's median across its test variants; price is the base-trim MSRP (CarAPI), median across covered model years.
| Hyundai Santa Fe | Jeep Grand Cherokee | |
|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $25,150 | $30,645 |
| Most common engine | THETA II · 2.4L I4 | 3.6L V6 |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated | Naturally aspirated |
| Fuel economy | 23 MPG | 21 MPG |
| Running cost | $2,650/yr | $2,950/yr |
| Low emissions | 398 g/mi | 429 g/mi |
| Displacement | 2.4 L | 3.6 L |
| NHTSA overall crash rating | ★★★★ (2025) | ★★★★★ (2025) |
| Rollover risk (NHTSA) | 17.4% | 17.9% |
| Engines with enough data | 9 | 4 |
Side by side
Both cars scored as percentiles within Midsize SUV, so the shapes are directly comparable. Built from EPA test data.
What each one's complaints are about
Showing each car's highest-volume engine. Share of component mentions — not a failure rate, and not a ranking between the two.
Hyundai Santa Fe
Jeep Grand Cherokee
How often each one's complaints involve a fire, crash or injury
Shares of each car's own complaints — sales volume cancels out of a within-car ratio, so these two can be compared. The vertical mark is the all-vehicle average.
all vehicles — Fire 1.1% · Crash 4.4% · Injury 2.6%
Every engine with enough data
Complaint counts per engine are shown for scale only — they track how many were sold, not how often they fail.
Hyundai Santa Fe
- THETA II · 2.4L I4Naturally aspirated1,239
- LAMBDA II · 3.3L V6Naturally aspirated629
- THETA II · 2.0L I4Turbo351
- THETA III · 2.5L I4 191hp279
- THETA III · 2.5L I4 281hp271
- GAMMA-II · 1.6L I4Turbo112
- LAMBDA · 3.3L V6Naturally aspirated104
- GAMMA II · 1.6L I4Turbo62
- THETA-II · 2.0L I4Turbo58
Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 3.6L V6Naturally aspirated3,860
- 2.0L I4Turbo670
- 3.0L V6 240hpTurbo293
- 5.7L V8Naturally aspirated269
Recalls where NHTSA said stop driving or park outside
The severest recall class only. Model-level, manufacturer-confirmed. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, whatever the car's age.
Hyundai Santa Fe
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (park outside, 2015–2015) 23V651000
- Trailer Hitches (park outside, 2019–2023) 23V181000
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (park outside, 2016–2018) 22V056000
Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery (park outside, 2022–2025) 25V741000
One car having more complaints than the other mostly reflects how many were sold, not how often they break. Compare each car's own mix of problems — not the totals.