2011 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 181 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 12 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 9 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
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperDec 9, 2010
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SANTA FE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 28, 2010, THROUGH NOVEMBER 25, 2010. SOME OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MACHINED.
AS A RESULT, BRAKE FLUID WILL LEAK, FOLLOWED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATING THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS LOW AND SHOULD BE CHECKED, THEN A SOFT OR SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL FEEL, AND IF NOT SERVICED, REDUCED BRAKING POWER WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR CALIPERS AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 17, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AT 1-800-243-7766.
Campaign 10V613000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: suspension
16 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Jun 17, 2025
The undercarriage is completed rusted and is not drivable, I had the treatment done by the dealer to have it coated to protect it from rust. well, its rusted.
Suspension, Wheels, Service brakes, Mar 23, 2023
I read the recall on vehicles of my type and it sounds like the issues I have been experiencing. I’m thinking the car was recalled and repaired ineffectively before I got it. The brake fluid is leaking with no obvious fix, I’ve taken it to a few mechanics to check.
Steering, Suspension, Sep 26, 2020
NOTHING HAS HAPPENED SO FAR, MY COMPLAINT IS THAT EVERY 4-6 MONTHS, I NEED TO BUY PARTS FOR MY SANTA FE. IT STARTS WITH A KNOCK ON THE RIGHT FRONT END OF THE CAR. I NEED TO GET TO WORK, SO I TAKE MY TIME GETTING THERE. I ALSO WAS ABOUT TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE SPRING BROKE ON THE ON RAMP. I SEE ALL THE HORROR STORIES ABOUT THIS MODEL HYUNDAI WITH ISSUES WITH THE FRONT END . I CAN SEND YOU REPAIR BILLS OF WHAT PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS.
Suspension, Sep 25, 2020
PURCHASED USED VEHICLE SEP 2018 FROM USED CAR CHEVY DEALER. 3 DAYS INTO DRIVING THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE FORCING ME TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE QUICKLY, LUCKILY WITHOUT ACCIDENT. CAR TOWED & REPAIRED BY DEALER. HYUNDAI WOULD NOT RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EVEN THOUGH HAVE SEEN OTHERS WITH SAME ISSUE. CAR SOUNDED HORRIBLE AND I HAVE HAD THE SUSPENSION STRUTS AND COILS REPLACED NOW TWICE WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS DUE TO BAD WEAR, ABRASIONS AND SQUEAKING IN THE SUSPENSION. REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT WORK DONE AGAIN ON SEP. 2020. POOR QUALITY METAL AND PARTS WITH THIS VEHICLE BRAND AND DESIGN.
Suspension, Sep 8, 2020
FRONT RIGHT STRUT SPRING RELEASED FROM THE MOUNTING WITH A LOUD BANG AND WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE. THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT STRUTS.
Suspension, Sep 25, 2019
BROKEN COIL SPRING. COULD HAVE COLLAPSED ONTO TIRE WHILE MOVING. GARAGE FOUND THE PROBLEM AND HAD IT REPAIRED WITH NEW QUICK STRUTS.
Suspension, Wheels, Feb 4, 2018
THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING CRACKED FROM THE NEW YORK STATE SALT ON ROAD. THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ABOUT 25 MPH GOING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET . THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE , SOMEONE COULD OF BEEN HURT OR DEATH COULD OCCUR . I'M GLAD NO ONE WAS HURT OR WORSE . THE RECALL NUMBER IS HYUNDAI CAMPAIGN 947 SANTA FE .THE CASE NUMBER IS 10917499.
Suspension, Mar 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Suspension, Jan 25, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD NOISE FROM THE FRONT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
Suspension, Structure, May 10, 2015
PURCHASED 2011 SANTA FE W/ 29000 MILES ON 5/15/2015. NOTED EXCESSIVE RUST ON REAR SUSPENSION AND FRAME COMPONENTS, PARTICULARLY AT WELD JOINTS AND ON SUSPENSION MEMBERS - TO THE EXTENT THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLE SAFETY. HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AT TWIN CITY HYUNDAI IN KNOXVILLE AND RECEIVED EVASIVE ANSWER ABOUT HOW IT WAS A NEW YORK CAR AND THAT THE LEVEL OF CORROSION WAS BASICALLY TO BE EXPECTED. NO OFFER TO CONDUCT ANY REPAIR WORK. VEHICLE IS IN WARRANTY AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY CARED FOR IN ALL RESPECTS (INTERIOR, ENGINE BAY, AND OTHER BODY WORK IS EXCELLENT). I GREW UP IN COLORADO AND HAVE NEVER SEEN CORROSION THIS EXTENSIVE ON ANY VEHICLE AND DO NOT FIND THE DEALER RESPONSE ACCEPTABLE. CORROSION RESISTANCE PREPARATION DURING MANUFACTURE APPEARS TO BE INADEQUATE.
Suspension, Apr 2, 2015
2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE GLS (ALL WHEEL DRIVE) 2.4L ENGINE. MILEAGE = 61,339 TRAVELING AT APPROX. 40 MPH ON A SECONDARY PAVED ROAD THE EVENING OF 3/31/2015, HEARD A LOUD BANG AND GRINDING NOISE ORIGINATING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING, WHICH ALLOWED THE SPRING TO FALL DOWN AROUND THE STRUT AND COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE INSIDE AREA OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. SPRING HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OUT OF POCKET COST BECAUSE VEHICLE IS JUST OVER THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY LIMIT. CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ACTIVE RECALL FOR BROKEN COIL SPRINGS ON THE 2011 SANTA FE MODELS. HYUNDAI WOULD NOT COVER THE PARTS/LABOR TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM EVEN AS A GOOD FAITH EFFORT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 1,339 MILES PAST THE WARRANTY LIMIT. *TR
Suspension, Dec 28, 2014
I BOUGHT THIS 2011 HYUNDAI SANTE FE I HAVE A NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK REAR I HAVE CALLED AND BROUGHT THIS BACK 5 X AND KEPT BEING TOLD ITS WIND SO I CALLED CORP. AND FIELD A COMPLAINT AND GOT NO WHERE A GUY SHOWED UP AND READ THE REPORT HE CLAIMED HE WAS FROM CORP. AND THEN WE TOOK IT OUT AND HE STARTED TO TALK TO ME AND ASKED I ANSWER AT 30 MILES AND UP , AND HE SAID AGAIN ITS THE WIND AND IN SUMMER WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN IT WILL GO AWAY. SO I HIT MY BUTTON OPENED ALL WINDOWS AND IT WAS EVEN LOUDER AND THEN HE SAID THAT THE 208 AND 209 DUE THIS AND ITS THE WIND I SAID THIS IS A 211 NOT A 208 OR 209 AND THAT'S WHEN HE SAID GET IT BACK TO THE DEALERS AUTO FAIR AND HE SAID HIS FINAL DECISION WAS FINIAL I SAID NO WAY I ALSO TOLD HIM I HEARD TWO OTHER IN WAITING AREA THAT THEY HAD SAME PROBLEM AND WHEN THE MECHANIC SAID AND REPLACE THE REAR AXLE ON 2 VECH. THEN HE WAS FIRED FOR DOING THIS. THE GUY FROM CORP.?? JUST WALKED AWAY AND THE WAITING LOBBY WAS FULL AND HE HAD NO FURTHER COMMENT AND SAID HIS DECISION WAS FINAL .... ALSO WHEN I BOUGHT THIS VECH. I BE LEAVE IT WAS SOLD TO ME UNDER FALSE PRETENSES BECAUSE IT HAD 2 WRONG SETS OF TIRES ON IT AS WELL. *TR
Suspension, Wheels, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 15, 2014
I PERCHED IT ON SEPT. 9. 214 I REPORTED THIS IN SEPT 214 PROBLEM THE BACK WHEELS SOUND LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE AS SOON AS YOU PICK UP SPEED OF 50 TO 65 MILES HOUR THEY REPLACE TIRES AND STILL NO CHANGE I HAD THE TECH. TAKE A ROAD TRIP TO HERE IT AND HOW LOUD IT WAS ON HIGHWAY. THEN THEY THOUGHT IT WAS OUT OF LINIMENT SO THE DID THAT, AND STILL NO CHANGE, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WHEELS ARE WOBBLY AND IT WILL CONTINUE.SO. I WAS TOLD TO GIVE IT 2 WEEKS OR SO, BUT WHEN YOU GO ON HIGHWAY ITS LOUDER THEN VIBRATES AND WHEN YOU HIT THE BRAKES YOU CAN FEEL IT ALSO AND THE TECH. ALSO FELT IT, AND AT THIS POINT THEY STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK DO TO A FRIEND THAT RECOMMEND IT AND KNOW THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.AS MINE AND THEY ALSO COMPLAINED I BOUGHT THIS DO TO, I AM DISABLED AND NEED A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE AND NOT BIG PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOT YET MADE A PAYMENT ITS NOT DUE UNTIL OCT. 29,2014. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Mar 1, 2013
STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, MOVES AS IF IT LOOSE. I HAVE OWNED A TOTAL OF FOUR SANTA FE'S. THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT HAS A LOOSE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE. THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS THE STEERING SHAFT, OR A WORN OUT BEARING. *TR
Suspension, Feb 29, 2012, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH , THERE WAS A LOUD POP HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE EXPLODED FROM THE IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND LATER DIAGNOSED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Steering, Suspension, Latches/locks/linkages, Feb 8, 2011
VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT (THE SIDE I WANTED TO PASS ON) WHEN PASSING GEAR WAS USED. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR TO MY LEFT. THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL DUE TO TORQUE KNUCKLE STEERING. (IT HAPPENED WHEN HE DROVE MY SUV AND HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET USED TO IT!!! WE ALSO TRIED ANOTHER SUV AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, PLEASE NOTE; THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT BIGGER TIRES WOULD PROBABLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT THE SUV IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD NOT PAY FOR THEM HE DROPPED THE SUBJECT). I HAVE TRIED THE MANEUVER INDICATED WHEN THERE IS NO TRAFFIC AND IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF ANYONE WITHOUT MY QUICK REFLEXES. I HAD NOTICED THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO THE PASSING INCIDENT ON A STRAIGHT ACCELERATION, BUT BELIEVED IT MIGHT BE AN UNEVEN PAVEMENT CAUSING IT. )I AM NOT A MECHANIC, BUT THINK THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE STEERING AND THE DRIVE TRAIN THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 02/14/11 *BF THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. UPDATED PORTABLE 02/25/11