2010 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 259 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 8 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 7 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Campaign 13V113000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentOct 6, 2011
CURT MANUFACTURING IS RECALLING CERTAIN TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESSES, PART NUMBER 55538, THAT CONNECT TOW VEHICLE LIGHTING CIRCUITS TO TRAILER LIGHTING CIRCUITS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES. THE UNITS ARE NOT WATER-TIGHT AND MOISTURE CAN SEEP INTO THE CONVERTER MODULE AND DEFEAT THE MODULE'S INTERNAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION.
WITHOUT THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION, THE MODULE CAN OVERHEAT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
CURT MANUFACTURING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESS. THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MANUFACTURING AT 1-715 831-8713.
Campaign 11E040000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, driveshaftApr 28, 2011
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 SANTA FE 2WD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 15, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 5, 2010. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY SUFFER FROM NOISE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WHIRRING/WHINING NOISE AND CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 11V261000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
28 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 2, 2010, crash
A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END IMPACT . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF REPAIRS, THE SHOP REPLACED THE COMPONENTS OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND SENT THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO CHECK FOR ERROR CODES AND TO RESET THE SYSTEM. ONE OF THE ERROR CODES WOULD NOT CLEAR. THE DEALER, IN WASHINGTON STATE ADVISED THE REPAIR SHOP AND US THAT PURSUANT TO A TSB,01-90-013, HYUNDAI RECOMMENDS THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ALSO MUST BE REPLACED IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARD PARTS OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, WHEN THE AIR BAGS ARE DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DIRECT DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS AND THIS APPEARS TO BE SOME UNIQUE REQUIREMENT DESIGNED INTO THE HARNESS BY HYUNDAI. IT IS UNCLEAR WHY THIS IS REQUIRED OR WHAT UNIQUE FEATURE WAS BUILT INTO THE HARNESS THAT DEMANDS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HARNESS. THIS ADDED REQUIREMENT ADDS AN ADDITIONAL $6,767.75 TO THE REPAIR COST OVER AND ABOVE THE REGULAR COLLISION RELATED COST. WHEREAS THIS REQUIREMENT IS UNIQUE TO THE NEW 2010 SANTA FE MODEL AND IS NOT FUNCTION REQUIRED DURING THE STANDARD REPLACEMENT OF AIR BAGS IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT WE ARE AWARE OF, WE MUST ASK IS THIS A DEFECT, IS THIS SIMPLY A DESIGN FEATURE TO ENHANCE PROFIT FROM REPAIRS OR IS THERE SOME UNIQUE FEATURE TO THE WIRE HARNESS DESIGN THAT SERVES SOME OTHER PURPOSE OR FUNCTION? ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR
Electrical system, Aug 6, 2010
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SE / OWNED 5 1/2 WEEKS / 824 MILES. STARTED VEHICLE LATE MORNING, PREPARING TO DRIVE OUT OF THE GARAGE. SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM THE A/C VENTS. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE & GOT OUT OF VEHICLE. CALLED 911 FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT. SMOKE CONTINUED FOR COUPLE OF MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. EVIDENT FROM THE SMELL IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION/BURN. FIREMEN CONFIRMED THIS. FIREMEN CHECKED UNDER THE VEHICLE & THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BUT NO EVIDENCE OF SMOKE, FIRE OR BURN IN EITHER LOCATION. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. NO CONCLUSION AT THIS TIME. *TR
Fuel system, Other, Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Jul 25, 2010
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2010 I WAS ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH FAST MOVING TRAFFIC AND MY CAR LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO BARELY GLIDE THE SANTE FE TO THE SHOULDER AND STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. FOLLOW UP: 3 PM VISITED HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT A THROTTLE PROBLEM. THEY ARE IN CONTACT WITH CA SERVICE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. FRIDAY, 6-11-10 AFTER COMPLETE TESTING OF ALL CIRCUITS, HYUNDAI DECLARES NO SOURCE OF PROBLEM. AUTO WAS PICKED UP AT 4:30 PM HYUNDAI ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER: BOB WOOD HYUNDAI CASE # 3982284 THE SPECIFICS ARE: ?SUV WAS PURCHASED 8/09 AND CURRENTLY HAS 5200 MILES. ?CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON BUT NOT ENGAGED. ?GAS TANK INDICATOR ON ONE-HALF. ?WITH MY FOOT ON GAS PEDAL THE INITIAL INSTINCT WAS THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOST ALL POWER. OPRESSING HARDER ON GAS PEDAL HAD NO REACTION. OTHERE WAS AN OPENING IN TRAFFIC AND WITH THE SUV FORWARD INERTIA I WAS ABLE TO JUST REACH THE ROAD SHOULDER. OOBSERVED THAT RED INDICATORS WERE ON (BATTERY, OIL) ?RESET TRANSMISSION SELECTOR TO PARK, TURNED OFF KEY. OFIRST RESTART-NOTHING HAPPENED OSECOND RESTART SUV STARTED AND I DID NOT TURN OFF UNTIL REACHING HOME. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED THOROUGHLY AND CORRECTED. *TR