Car check · problems, recalls, fuel cost, price

Hyundai Santa Fe 2021 in Ghana

What US owners report going wrong with the Hyundai Santa Fe 2021, its safety recalls and crash stars, what fuel costs you a month in cedis, whether it can still be imported, and what it sells for in Ghana.

Gold Pony, CC BY 3.0
Gold Pony, CC BY 3.0
융구티비YunKoo Tv, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photos of the same model and year, not of the car you are buying. Ask the seller for photos of that car, with the VIN and the odometer in shot.

At a glance

US safety recalls 7 includes air bags
Owner complaints 170 4 crashes, 2 fires reported
Crash rating ★★★★★ US government, out of 5
Fuel a month GH₵1,980 40 km a day
Import into Ghana Allowed about 5 years old

Can it come into Ghana?

A 2021 car is about 5 years old, under the 15-year limit. It can be imported until about 2035.

Every used vehicle needs a pre-shipment inspection and a Certificate of Conformity from a GSA-approved body in the country it ships from.
Not allowed at all: flood- or fire-damaged cars, cars with chassis damage, and cars assembled from parts, according to published guides to the rules.
Import duty: 10% of the customs value for a petrol, 1,001 to 3,000 cc car (GRA's vehicle duty table). VAT, NHIL, GETFund and the ECOWAS, AU, EXIM and special import levies come on top, plus an age penalty on older cars.
The customs value is GRA's own figure (the car's price when new, minus up to 50% for age, plus freight and insurance), not what you paid. Only the ICUMS assessment gives the final amount, so never pay a "clearing agent" a figure you cannot see on the official assessment.
Buying a car already in Ghana? Ask the DVLA to confirm through ICUMS that duty was paid before you pay.

Age is worked out from the model year; the rule uses the date of manufacture, which can be a few months earlier. Source: GSA public notice of 14 August 2026, as reported by Citi Newsroom.

Safety recalls

Faults the maker agreed to fix for free in the US. A car shipped to Ghana usually never got the repair, so these are worth asking about.

Fuel system, gasoline 21V524000 · 09/07/2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.

The risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.
Visibility 21V00M000 · 28/12/2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.

The risk: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.
Air bags 21V185000 · 17/03/2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles. The Occupant Detection System (ODS) module may not deactivate the air bag upon detection of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

The risk: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ODS module, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied as of May 12, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 202.
Fuel system, gasoline 21V308000 · 03/05/2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 2.5-litre Turbo engines. The fuel pipe connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not have been tightened properly.

The risk: An insufficiently tightened fuel pipe may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

The fix: Dealers inspected and tightened the fuel pipe connection, free of charge. The affected vehicles have been repaired and therefore no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 206.
Power train 22V746000 · 06/10/2022

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.

The risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.
Trailer hitches 23V181000 · 17/03/2023

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

The risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.
Back over prevention 24V879000 · 21/11/2024

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Santa Fe HEV, Elantra, Elantra HEV and 2022 Elantra N and Santa Fe PHEV vehicles. Due to a damaged printed circuit board, the rearview camera image may fail to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 271.

Recalls for this model and year. Not every car of the model is affected: check the exact car with its VIN.

What owners say goes wrong

Problems real owners reported to the US government (NHTSA). A high count on a popular car is normal; look at which part comes up most.

Power train51
Engine38
Electrical system29
Forward collision avoidance18
Fuel/propulsion system11
Back over prevention8

170 complaints · 4 crashes · 2 fires · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

In owners' own words

"My 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe SE (VIN: [XXX]), with approximately 93,000 miles, has repeatedly experienced a dangerous loss of acceleration while driving at highway speeds of approximately 60 mph. When I press the gas pedal, the vehicle fails to accelerate, making it difficult to merge, pass, or respond safely to traffic. The vehicle does not suddenly slow down, but it will not increase speed when needed. This creates a …"
Fuel/propulsion system · filed 11/01/2026

"For approximately the past year, my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, currently with about 23,000 miles, has experienced intermittent engine and fuel-system problems. During start-up, the vehicle sometimes makes an abnormal rattling/cranking noise, followed by noticeable engine and vehicle vibration. Warning lights may appear, and on some occasions the engine does not start successfully on the first attempt. When it does start…"
Engine · filed 11/01/2026

"The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rear-view camera displayed a distorted pixelated image on the screen. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and stated that there were no recalls associated with the VIN. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V879000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN was not included …"
Back over prevention · filed 10/26/2026

Crash test ratings

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD · US government 5-star ratings

Overall	★★★★★
Front crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★☆ 15% risk in a single-vehicle crash

Front crash test · NHTSA
Side crash test · NHTSA
Side pole test · NHTSA

What it costs to run in Ghana

US EPA fuel figures for the Auto (AM-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo, at this window's Ghana pump price.

Fuel at 40 km a day

GH₵1,980 a month

Town driving10.7 L/100 km
Mixed driving9.4 L/100 km
Litres a month128
Petrol price (1 Nov 2026)GH₵15.39/L

Uses the NPA price floor; pump prices are at or a little above it. Accra traffic and air conditioning use more than the US test, so treat this as the least you will spend.

What a Hyundai Santa Fe 2021 sells for in Ghana

Live listings on Jiji right now.

Asking Jiji…

Found a Hyundai Santa Fe 2021 to buy?

Check that exact car: the VIN shows whether the ad tells the truth, and which recalls apply to it.

Questions people ask

Does the Hyundai Santa Fe 2021 have recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 US safety recalls for the Hyundai Santa Fe 2021, including an air bag recall. Cars imported to Ghana rarely had the free US repair done, so ask for proof or have a dealer check.

What are the common problems with the Hyundai Santa Fe 2021?

Owners in the US most often report problems with: power train, engine, electrical system, forward collision avoidance (NHTSA owner complaints).

How much fuel does a Hyundai Santa Fe 2021 use in Ghana?

About 10.7 litres per 100 km in town (US EPA figure). At 40 km a day that is about 128 litres a month, roughly GH₵1,980 at the 1 Nov 2026 petrol price.

Can a Hyundai Santa Fe 2021 still be imported into Ghana?

Yes for now: Ghana bars used vehicles 15 years and older from 1 October 2026, so a 2021 car can be imported until about 2035. It needs a pre-shipment Certificate of Conformity.

Sources: US NHTSA and EPA public data, Ghana NPA fuel prices, Ghana Standards Authority import notice (14 August 2026). Figures are for US-market versions of this model.