Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota Highlander
Midsize SUV · 2015–2025 · 5,681 federal complaints
Hyundai Santa Fe
3,105 complaints · 9 engines
Most-complained engine: THETA II · 2.4L I4
Full breakdown for Hyundai Santa Fe →
Toyota Highlander
2,576 complaints · 5 engines
Most-complained engine: 2GR-FKS · 3.5L V6
Full breakdown for Toyota Highlander →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 | Toyota Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $25,150 | $30,930 |
| Most common engine | THETA II · 2.4L I4 | 2GR-FKS · 3.5L V6 |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated | Naturally aspirated |
| Fuel economy | 23 MPG | 24 MPG |
| Running cost | $2,650/yr | $2,550/yr |
| Low emissions | 398 g/mi | 371 g/mi |
| Displacement | 2.4 L | 3.5 L |
| NHTSA overall crash rating | ★★★★ (2025) | ★★★★★ (2025) |
| Rollover risk (NHTSA) | 17.4% | 16.4% |
| Engines with enough data | 9 | 5 |
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
Toyota Highlander
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
Toyota Highlander
- 2GR-FKS · 3.5L V6Naturally aspirated1,636
- A25A-FXS · 2.5L I4Naturally aspirated392
- 2GR-FE · 3.5L V6Naturally aspirated278
- T24A-FTS · 2.4L I4Turbo153
- 2GR-FXS · 3.5L V6Naturally aspirated92
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
Toyota Highlander
None on record for this model.
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.