By The newly revealed 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe in the US market comes with a significant technical update. The previously problematic dual-clutch transmission (DCT) has been replaced with a conventional 8-speed torque-converter automatic transmission in the 2.5-litre petrol engine variant.
Previously, the US-market Santa Fe used an 8-speed DCT manufactured by Hyundai Transys, which had been subject to multiple recalls. The most recent recall affected over 12,000 vehicles and involved an estimated defect rate of 100 percent. The issue allowed vehicles to shift unexpectedly from Park to Neutral, increasing the risk of a rollaway.
According to car.news, this update only applies to the US-built and sold Santa Fe models. Vehicles sold in the Australian market continue to use the same DCT system. Hyundai Australia has confirmed that it has no plans to replace the 8-speed DCT used in the current-generation Santa Fe released in 2024.
While the US version is manufactured in Alabama, the Santa Fe models for Australia are assembled in South Korea. In Australia, there has only been one recall related to the transmission. A recall issued in January 2023 affected 4469 Hyundai vehicles, including the previous-generation Santa Fe, as well as the Kona, Sonata N Line, and i30 N hatch and sedan.
Meanwhile, the hybrid version of the Santa Fe sold in the US remains unchanged, continuing to use a 6-speed torque-converter automatic.
Hyundai Motor Group’s sister brand Kia also uses the same D8LF1-coded 8-speed DCT in the US-market Sorento. However, car.news reports that Kia has no current plans to switch to a conventional automatic transmission in the Sorento, despite similar issues.
Dual-clutch transmissions are designed to improve fuel efficiency and responsiveness by pre-selecting gears for quicker and smoother shifts. However, numerous manufacturers have encountered challenges with DCT systems leading to rough gear changes or complete transmission failures. Notably, Volkswagen Group and Ford Australia have faced similar issues, with Ford receiving a record $10 million fine from the ACCC in 2018 over its handling of customer complaints about its ‘Powershift’ DCTs.
Hyundai first introduced a dual-clutch transmission in Australia in 2012 with its Veloster sports hatch. However, due to reliability concerns and customer feedback, the company appears to be shifting toward more dependable alternatives—particularly in markets where safety and customer satisfaction are a priority.
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