Used car safety, rank #63 of 181
Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD Safety Rating (2019-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2019-20 Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD, a small SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2019-20 Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 17 per million registered vehicle years against a small SUVs average of 42.6, which is 60% below the class average. That places it #63 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 63.8/100.
What the Hyundai Santa Fe death rate means
At 17 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD beats the small SUVs average of 42.6 by 60%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 39, so even the pessimistic end of the range is no worse than the class average.
The other-driver death rate of 76 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Hyundai Santa Fe. It is higher than the Hyundai Santa Fe's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest small SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD highlighted. It ranks 3 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Toyota C-HR at a death rate of 2.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota C-HR | 2018-20 | 2 (0 to 7) | 79.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda CR-V 4WD | 2020 | 14 (0 to 36) | 66.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD (this page) | 2019-20 | 17 (0 to 39) | 63.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD | 2019-20 | 19 (0 to 37) | 62.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota RAV4 hybrid 4WD | 2019-20 | 20 (0 to 40) | 61.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Compass 2WD | 2017-20 | 27 (6 to 48) | 52.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 4WD | 2017-20 | 28 (3 to 53) | 50.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Equinox 4WD | 2020 | 30 (0 to 62) | 48.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Subaru Forester | 2019-20 | 30 (13 to 48) | 48.6 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for small SUVs: 42.6 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Hyundai Santa Fe
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Hyundai Santa Fe we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hyundai Santa Fe | TSP+ | 92.3 |
| 2026 | Hyundai Santa Cruz | No award | 81.2 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 63.8 used-car score above.
International crash test results
Euro NCAP (2024)
ANCAP (2024)
International test results are for the same-generation model sold in those markets. Body structures are typically identical across regions. Euro NCAP vs IIHS explained.
Safety recalls for the Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
Park outside
1 campaign tells owners to park away from buildings and other vehicles, usually a fire risk. Check the VIN before driving it. On a car this age the repair may still be outstanding.
2 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering trailer hitches, visibility.
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Trailer hitches Park outside
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
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Visibility: windshield
Risk: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD: Common Questions
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 17 per million registered vehicle years for the 2019-20 Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD, 60% below the class average (42.6 for small SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 63.8 out of 100 and rank #63 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD driver death rate?
17 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 39. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Hyundai Santa Fe died at a rate of 76 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2019-20 models.
How does the Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD compare with other small SUVs?
The small SUVs class averages 42.6 driver deaths per million; the Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD sits at 17. Among the 9 small SUVs compared above it ranks 3 by safety score; the top of that group is the Toyota C-HR with a death rate of 2.