2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Drops Dual-Clutch Transmission in 2026 Santa Fe After Major Recall

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If you’re planning to buy a 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, here’s something new: Hyundai is officially dropping its eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) from the lineup.

Starting with the 2026 model year, Santa Fe models with the standard turbocharged 2.5-liter engine will now come with a more traditional eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission instead.

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Why the Switch?

A Hyundai spokesperson confirmed the change to whatinsider.com, saying,

“For 2026, Santa Fe moves to a torque converter transmission. It became available in our development cycle, and we determined it provided ideal overall drivability for the Santa Fe driver moving forward.”

In plain terms: Hyundai thinks the new transmission just drives better. But there’s also a bigger issue in the background, reliability.

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A Recall May Have Pushed the Change

The switch comes after Hyundai recalled over 12,000 units of the 2024 Santa Fe, all equipped with the dual-clutch transmission. According to official documents, those transmissions had a 100% estimated defect rate, meaning every single one could potentially fail.

In some cases, normal driving could cause a serious failure that required a full transmission replacement.

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What About Kia?

Interestingly, Kia still uses the same DCT in some versions of the Sorento, but a Kia spokesperson told Car and Driver that they won’t be making the switch in 2026, at least not yet.

But it’s worth noting that even Kia hasn’t been immune to problems. Car and Driver reported their 2022 Sorento SX long-term test car had multiple issues with the same transmission, including:

  • Two fluid changes in just 8,000 miles
  • Full transmission replacement
  • Discovery that the original unit was later included in a recall

What’s Not Changing?

The Santa Fe Hybrid will keep its current six-speed automatic transmission, which is part of a completely different powertrain. The hybrid model will return for 2026 with minor trim and interior updates, but no changes to its drivetrain.

Final Thoughts

Hyundai’s move away from dual-clutch transmissions in the 2026 Santa Fe shows a shift toward long-term reliability and smoother everyday performance. After a wave of transmission-related recalls, it seems Hyundai is listening to customer feedback and taking action.

If you’re considering a Santa Fe in the future, the 2026 model may offer a better driving experience and fewer headaches thanks to this important update.