Hyundai will be discontinuing the Dual-Clutch Transmission in its Santa Fe SUVs in the 2026 model year, but what led to this monumental decision?
The Hyundai Santa Fe is an affordable three-row SUV with a boldly designed body that is reminiscent of a Land Rover, but with a base price of $34,300 MSRP plus $1,495 freight. While the Santa Fe’s styling is attractive, the vehicle was delivered to its customers with a hidden problem: a spectacularly high failure rate of 100% that impacts its eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). As a result, Hyundai has now discontinued the Santa Fe’s eight-speed DCT.
An NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Safety Recall Report reveals that 12,349 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles with this transmission were recalled. The report’s description of the defect explained that the DCT had a Transmission Control Unit („TCU“) with software logic that could inadvertently allow the Santa Fe to roll away after the driver had shifted into Park.
