2024-2025 Hyundai Santa FE Starter Assembly Recall (25V659)
Hyundai Motor America · 135,386 vehicles · Reported October 2, 2025
Hyundai Motor America is recalling 135,386 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa FE vehicles. The B+ positive terminal cover on the starter motor assembly may be improperly installed, which can cause an electrical short during a crash. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V659 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V659000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 285 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | October 2, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai Motor America |
| Vehicles | 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa FE |
| Units affected | 135,386 |
| Component | Electrical System > Starter Assembly |
| Safety risk | An electrical short increases the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa FE in recall 25V659?
The B+ positive terminal cover on the starter motor assembly may be improperly installed, which can cause an electrical short during a crash.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Santa Fe vehicles. The B+ positive terminal cover on the starter motor assembly may be improperly installed, which can cause an electrical short during a crash.
Is it safe to drive a 2024-2025 Santa FE with recall 25V659?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the starter assembly.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V659?
Recall 25V659 covers 135,386 vehicles: 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa FE.
NHTSA lists 135,386 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 | Hyundai | Santa FE |
What is the fix for the Santa FE starter assembly recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and reinstall the starter motor terminal cover, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and reinstall the starter motor terminal cover, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 285. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 4, 2025.
When was recall 25V659 announced?
Hyundai Motor America reported recall 25V659 to NHTSA on October 2, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 28, 2023 | First affected vehicle built (per Hyundai Motor America's filing). |
| October 2, 2025 | Hyundai Motor America filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V659000. |
| October 22, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 12 months ago. If your Santa FE was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Santa FE is part of recall 25V659?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V659 is open on your Santa FE, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 25V659000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Santa FE owners do about recall 25V659?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V659000 applies to your Santa FE.
- Call a Hyundai dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any starter assembly symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Santa FE owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 285 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 54 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 25V659 was reported on October 2, 2025, owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 9 of them (20%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after October 2, 2025, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 285 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 54 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2024 Hyundai Santa FE: 151 complaints in total, 28 about the electrical system
- 2025 Hyundai Santa FE: 134 complaints in total, 26 about the electrical system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
I tried to open the doors of my locked vehicle with the key fob and there was no response. I tried several times and nothing happened. I called AAA and they opened the door with my valet key and was able to pop the trunk. He checked the battery and it was working fine.
2024 Hyundai Santa FE owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11673035, filed July 12, 2025
I was riding on a suburban street and ran over a branch I did not see due to rain and darkness.
2024 Hyundai Santa FE owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11698379, filed November 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the Auto START/STOP feature was activated, and the vehicle stopped.
2024 Hyundai Santa FE owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11700417, filed November 19, 2025
Can recall 25V659 make my Santa FE a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 25V659000 does not automatically make your Santa FE a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same starter assembly problem is common in lemon law claims.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa FE has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Santa FE been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Hyundai Santa FE recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V659
Did the recall 25V659 fix work?
Since recall 25V659 was reported on October 2, 2025, owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 9 of them (20%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 25V659000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Santa FE is part of recall 25V659000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 25V659000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Hyundai. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.