Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Santa FE XL vs FORD F 150
How the Hyundai Santa FE XL and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Hyundai Santa Fe XL vs FORD F 150: The Santa Fe XL has 25 complaints per year, while the F-150 has over 1,100 per year. Santa Fe owners report engine failures and brake recalls, while F-150 owners face transmission and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Santa FE XL or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Santa FE XL
The Hyundai Santa Fe XL, based on NHTSA data, shows a relatively low complaint volume over a short period, but the issues reported are serious. Owners describe engine hesitations leading to complete failures, brake system recalls with parts delays, and electrical problems like dead batteries and wiring concerns. Living with this vehicle may involve dealing with significant mechanical and safety-related repairs, especially around the engine and braking systems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, with a much larger sample over a decade, reveals a high complaint rate, particularly in the powertrain and electrical systems. Owners frequently report harsh shifting and transmission failures, along with various electrical glitches. The F-150's popularity means more data, but the sheer number of complaints and recalls suggests a pattern of reliability issues that could affect ownership experience.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Santa FE XL | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 25 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 25.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Hyundai Santa FE XL
- 01ENGINE9
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
- 03SERVICE BRAKES5
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 05HYDRAULIC3
Owners report engine hesitation and complete engine failure, sometimes at low mileage like 54,000 miles, requiring full replacement. This suggests potential internal engine defects that could lead to costly repairs or safety concerns if the engine stalls.
Complaints mention a recall for the antilock brake system, but parts were unavailable, causing long waits. This indicates a known brake system issue that could affect braking performance, and the delay in repairs leaves owners with a potential safety risk.
There are reports of dead batteries, especially in cold weather, and concerns about wiring harnesses made from soy-based materials. These electrical issues could lead to starting problems and potential fire hazards, though no fires are reported in the sample.
“On [XXX], 2024 I brought my car in for a recall that the dealership called me and advised me that I needed to get it done so I brought it in and mentioned that it was hesitating a little bit so they did the inspection and found out I needed oil They proceeded…”
“On [XXX], the check engine light came on in my 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL. The dealership diagnosed a complete engine failure requiring full replacement. The vehicle has only 54,000 miles. The dealer submitted a warranty claim to Hyundai, but Hyundai denied it…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is harsh shifting and transmission failures, particularly with the 10-speed automatic. Owners describe jerking, clunking, and even loss of power, which can be dangerous in traffic and lead to expensive transmission repairs.
Many complaints involve warning lights for front camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions, as well as other electrical gremlins. These issues can affect safety features and driver assistance systems, potentially reducing their effectiveness.
With over a thousand complaints, headlight problems are significant. Owners likely report dim or failing headlights, which directly impacts visibility and safety at night.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Hyundai Santa FE XL — 1 recall
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
The risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Santa FE XL or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
Based on the data, the Hyundai Santa Fe XL has far fewer complaints per year (25) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100 per year). However, the Santa Fe's issues are severe, including engine failures and brake recalls. In practice, the F-150's higher complaint volume may reflect its larger sales, but the sheer number of transmission and electrical problems suggests a higher likelihood of encountering issues.
Key differences
- The Santa Fe XL has a much lower complaint rate (25/yr) than the F-150 (1,131/yr), but its complaints include engine failures and brake recalls.
- The F-150's top issue is powertrain, with many owners reporting harsh shifts and transmission failures, while the Santa Fe's top issue is engine problems.
- Electrical issues are common in both, but the F-150 has more complaints about driver assistance malfunctions, while the Santa Fe has battery and wiring concerns.
- The F-150 has a higher number of crashes and injuries reported, possibly due to its larger sample size and usage patterns.
- Check for any engine hesitation or check engine light, and verify if the engine has been replaced or if there are pending recalls for the engine.
- Inspect the brake system for any signs of ABS issues and confirm that all recalls, especially the brake hydraulic recall, have been performed.
- Test drive the F-150 for any harsh shifts or clunking, especially between 4th and 6th gears, and check for any transmission-related warning lights.
- Check the operation of the front camera and pre-collision assist systems, as malfunctions are common and may indicate electrical problems.
Before you buy
- For the Santa Fe XL, ask for service records to see if the engine has been replaced or if there are any pending engine-related recalls.
- For the F-150, have a mechanic inspect the transmission and perform a thorough test drive to check for shifting issues.
- Check the NHTSA website for any open recalls on both vehicles and ensure they have been completed.
- Inspect the electrical system in both, including battery condition and any warning lights on the dash.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic who can look for signs of previous repairs or hidden issues.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Hyundai Santa FE XL | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 25 | 36 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Hyundai Santa FE XL or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Santa FE XL vs FORD F 150
- Hyundai Santa FE XL total complaints
- 25
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Hyundai Santa FE XL total recalls
- 1
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Hyundai Santa FE XL avg complaints/year
- 25.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Santa FE XL
- Hyundai Santa FE XL top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN