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
259 reports, newest first.
Power train, Aug 3, 2010
NEW 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE--AFTER APPROX 3 WEEKS OWNERSHIP, CAR TRIES TO GO INTO REVERSE, MAKES LOUD NOISE, WHEN STARTED. DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME, MAYBE 3-4 TIMES A WEEK. ALSO HAVE "MISS" /"JERK" WHEN CAR SHIFTS AT SLOW SPEED FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR-VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEMS--FIRST TWO TRIPS DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE-TRANS SHIFTER CABLE ADJUSTED LAST TRIP TO DEALER BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS--. *TR
Power train, Jul 31, 2010
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE V6 AWD LIMITED I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START IT, AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WHEN I STARTED IT. LUCKILY MY FOOT WAS NEAR THE BRAKE, SO I INSTINCTIVELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE. I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAR IT WOULD HAVE GONE IF I HAD NOT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY, ALSO LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NOBODY WALKING BETWEEN MY VEHICLE. I LOOKED ON A HYUNDI FORUM AND THERE SEVERAL COMPLAINT'S THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG I ASKED THEM TO CONTACT THE FACTORY AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY COMPLAINT'S ONTHE SAME PROBLEM .I TOLD THEM TO LOOK AT YOUR WEB SITE AND THE FORUM .I AM A AUTO MECHANIC AND I CAN TELL YOU IF THE PARK PAW THAT'S HOLDS THE CAR IN PLACE LETS GO AFTER CONSTANTLY GETTING PULLED AWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE TRUCK CAN TAKE OFF AND HURT/KILL SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP!!!!! THANK YOU *TR
Power train, Jul 31, 2010
HYUNDAI SANTE FE 2010 WAS PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY 2010. WITHIN 3 MONTHS THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED TWICE WHILE IN ROUTE.AND DISPLAYED DIFFICULTY UP-SHIFTING AND DOWN=SHIFTING, 1ST - 3RD AND 3RD - 1ST. RETURNED TO SERVICE DEPT OF DEALER. SERVICE DEPT UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF INCIDENTS. WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS POST THESE INCIDENTS, THE VEHICLE "CLANGED AND BANGED"AND CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION AND SHIFTING GEARS. ALSO BEGAN AN INTERMITTENT LOUD "VACUUM CLEANER" NOISE DURING GEAR CHANGES. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND AFTER 4 HOUR REVIEW, WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REPORTED AS REPAIRED, AND WAS REQUIRED TO BE PICKED-UP, NO STATEMENT OR DOCUMENT WAS PROVIDED TO INDICATE REPAIRS OR DAMAGES. NOT UNTIL THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED WAS THE STATEMENT OFFERED, ONE WEEK LATER. HAVEN'T SEEN THE STATEMENT YET AS IT WILL BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE DEALER THIS WEEK. I WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE CURRENT DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WITH THE A NEW SAME-MODEL TRANSMISSION. WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEWER DEFECTIVE MODEL, I DON'T THINK SO! I AM A WIDOW WITH ONE CAR TO DRIVE FOR WORK. IN MY LINE OF WORK, I AM ALONE ON THE ROAD SEVERAL WEEKS A YEAR. PLEASE CAN YOU ASSIST ME WITH THIS ISSUE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR
Power train, Jul 26, 2010
2010 SANTA FE. I GET A LOUD KNOCK (WHICH JERKS THE VEHICLE) EVERY SO OFTEN WHEN I START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WITH IT. I ALSO GET A PAUSE AT TIMES GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DEALER REFILLED TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE HELPED THAT A LITTLE, BUT IT STILL JERKS AT TIMES WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE KNOCK HAS NOT STOPPED HOWEVER. JUST HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY WHICH IS AT LEAST THE 15TH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE BOUGHT IT IN MARCH. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE A 2010 SANTA FE AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL OF IT SEEMS TO BE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE TO ME, BUT THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING. NOT NORMAL, AND DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH A NEW VEHICLE. I REALLY LIKE THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF THAT. *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
Power train, Jul 25, 2010
I HAVE THE 2010 SANTA FE BANGING PROBLEM - STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT ONLY HAPPENS ABOUT 1 PER WEEK - DEALER CLAIMED THEY NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE - LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS SOME SORT OF CRAZY FOOL. I DESCRIBED IT AS -- IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE BUMPED INTO ME FROM BEHIND - THE FIRST FEW TIMES IT HAPPENED WIFE & I ACTUALLY LOOKED OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW EXPECTING TO SEE THE CAR THAT HAD RAMMED US. I REALLY FIGURED THE CAR WAS GOING INTO GEAR OR SOMETHING - MINE IS THE AWD MODEL - I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS SENDING SOME POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS. FOR ABOUT A WEEK EVERY TIME I WOULD LEAVE HOME & START THE SANTA FE I WOULD LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE - THEN ONE DAY IT HAPPENED AS I WAS LOOKING UNDER. THE ENGINE STARTS - THEN THE VEHICLE SHAKES TO THE POINT THE MUFFLER BANGS INTO THE REAR OF THE FRAME - THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT FEEL LIKE SOMETHING HITTING THE BACK END. HAVE JUST STARTED TO NOTICE A STRANGE FEELING - NORMALLY WOULD ONLY HAPPEN WHEN WE WERE LEAVING HOME - AND SLOWLY TURNING THE CORNER ON OUR STREET - WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 1-2 IT WAS LIKE THE ROAD WAS A WASHBOARD. TODAY IT DID THE SAME THING COMING HOME ON A 2-3 SHIFT. I TALKED TO HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE WHEN I HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG - THEY OFFER NO HELP - THE OLD - IF IT DOES NOT REGISTER A CODE ON THE COMPUTER OR UNLESS THE DEALER CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM - WE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. PER HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE I AM THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD WITH THESE PROBLEMS BUT I GO ONLINE AND FIND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND IT WILL BANG OR SHIFT SO HARD IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR WAS REAR ENDED... *TR
Power train, Jul 19, 2010
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AWD. WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 8 MILES. AFTER ONE WEEK WE STARTED TO NOTICE A BANGING SOUND WHEN THE CAR WOULD SHIFT AT LOW SPEEDS, SOMETIMES IT WAS SO SEVERE THE CAR WOULD JERK FORWARD VIOLENTLY. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER TWICE AND THEY TELL US THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. TODAY MY WIFE WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AND SLOWED DOWN TO LET SOME KIDS CROSS THE STREET, AS SHE WAS SLOWING THE CAR BANGED AND JERKED FORWARD SO VIOLENTLY SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL AND HIT ONE OF THE KIDS! I WAS JUST LOOKING ONLINE FOR OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THERE ARE A LOT, COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS, OR SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED!!! BY THE WAY, THANKS FOR THE HONDA ODYSSEY BRAKE RECALL, I SENT IN A COMPLAINT ABOUT THAT, YOU FOLKS ARE GREAT! THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Power train, May 2, 2010
ENGINE HESITATION AND ACCELERATION,PULLING TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD. WHEN BRAKING ALMOST COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. CAN HEAR WHEEL NOISE,LIKE TIRES ARE GOING TO FALL OFF. *TR
Power train, Apr 23, 2010
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE V6 AWD LIMITED I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START IT, AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WHEN I STARTED IT. LUCKILY MY FOOT WAS NEAR THE BRAKE, SO I INSTINCTIVELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE. I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAR IT WOULD HAVE GONE IF I HAD NOT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY, ALSO LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NOBODY WALKING BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND THE ONE IN FRONT OF MINE. I TOOK IT TO SPORT HYUNDAI DODGE, THEY WERE VERY NICE. THEY PUT IT ON THEIR COMPUTER SCANNER, AND OF COURSE IT DID NOT COME UP WITH ANY PROBLEM CODES. LUCKILY I DO NOT HAVE REMOTE START ON THIS VEHICLE, BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHERE THE VEHICLE MIGHT END UP. I WAS ALSO LUCKY THAT I WAS ACTUALLY SEATED IN THE VEHICLE AND NOT LEANING IN TO START IT. HOPEFULLY THIS WAS A FLUKE SITUATION AND WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. HOWEVER, I WILL HAVE TO REMEMBER TO START THIS VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED IF THERE IS SOMETHING IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA DEPENDED ON THEIR COMPUTERS TOO, WHICH NEVER CAME UP WITH ANY ERROR CODES EITHER, AND THEY THOUGHT THE CUSTOMER WAS AT FAULT, AND LOOK WHERE IT GOT THEM! *TR