2010 Hyundai Santa Fe problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (56) · Power Train:automatic Transmission (43) · Engine (26)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Santa Fe model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
212 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2013-04-01 · campaign 13V113000 · 1,712,336 vehicles
Defect: 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, m
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Equipment 2011-10-06 · campaign 11E040000 · 2,254 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: WITHOUT THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION, THE MODULE CAN OVERHEAT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:driveline:driveshaft 2011-04-28 · campaign 11V261000 · 5,876 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (122)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2026-10-15 · 26-GI-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (pdw) sensor(s) that may trigger various dtcs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the pdw sensor(s) failing to detect nearby objects or triggering multiple false alarms. this condition may be a res
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DCS · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn), that have been identified in u.s. vehicles following prior
Engine 2026-03-26 · 26-01-033H TSB · Warranty Program/Extension
this tsb references the op codes to use for claim submission and the parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from tsb 22-01-023h-2 (dtc p1326 – engine bearing inspection/engine replacement) or the latest version.
Showing the 6 most recent of 122 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-16 · Structure:body“the vehicle is a 2010 hyundai santa fe with about 157,000 miles. hyundai issued service campaign 947 (tsb 17-01-005) for underbody corrosion on 2007–2010 santa fe models, but the campaign was never performed on this vehicle. when the vehicle was taken to an authorized hyundai dealer, the dealer inspected it and found the frame rusted out in multipl…”
2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other“the radiator fan remains on when the vehicle is turned off and requires the fan to be unplugged to disengage. if it is not unplugged it will continue to run until the battery is dead. if not caught at the time exiting the vehicle then i am left stranded until i can get the vehicle jumped but even with a dead battery if you plug up the fan again wil…”
2026-08-15 · Power Train“the vehicle’s transmission slips while driving on the highway at approximately 65–75 mph. the slipping occurs at highway speeds and appears to affect the vehicle’s ability to maintain consistent power and acceleration. problem the vehicle’s transmission slips while driving on the highway at approximately 65–75 mph. the slipping occurs at highway s…”
2026-08-01 · Engine“on xxx i was waiting at a light and the check engine light was blinking. when i started up, the car was very sluggish. it continued to be sluggish on my trip home - 5 miles. i brought it to meineke [xxx] [xxx]. they ascertained that the engine was shot. they flushed out the oil in the engine and there was lots of metal in the oil. they instructe…”
2026-03-25 · Equipment · 145,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owns a 2010 hyundai santa fe. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. no warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle failed to immediately start, but started after several attempts. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the starter, oil filter, and engine filter, and …”
2026-02-02 · Engine“i hadn't used the car in a few weeks (rarely leave the house because i work from home). i went to visit a friend on december 26th or 27th (don't remember exact date). on the way there the engine started having a knocking noise. on the way home after eating a meal with the friend, the knocking got louder, and the car was losing power. as i drove up …”
2026-01-23 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 223,000 mi“odometer fraud. the contact purchased a 2010 hyundai santa fe. the contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. the vehicle was a private sale. at the time of purchase, the mileage was 142,000. it was later discovered, during a vin check, that the mileage was 223,000. the mileage was last recorded in june 2025. the local police depa…”
2025-05-23 · Vehicle Speed Control“driving approximately 70-75mph on highway with cruise control set. car starts to make rattling sound & engine warning light goes on, car struggles to accelerate and hovers around 60mph. upon inspection of engine oil in car, fresh oil has been burned up quickly! added 1 quart. drove 45mins at 70-75mph. notice engine light on again. check engine oil.…”
2025-02-16 · Service Brakes“the engine locked down due to the improper power train, driveline, driveshaft. oil leaking and malfunction of power train, driveline, driveshaft caused motor to knock and lock down …”
2025-02-13 · Power Train“the battery warning light illuminated. the alternator was not holding power. i was on the freeway and the vehicle lost total power. after seeing a certified mechanic i was made aware of a oil leak from the valve gasket that was leaking on to the alternator wires and caused it to loose power. there is a recall for the same vehicle with the exact sam…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.