2010 Hyundai Santa fe problems

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The Hyundai Santa Fe (Korean: 현대 싼타페) is an automobile produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai since 2000. It is a five-door crossover SUV that either has front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. It is named after the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and was introduced for the 2001 model year as Hyundai's first SUV. The Santa Fe was a milestone in the company's restructuring program of the late 1990s because the SUV was a hit with American buyers. Between 2006 and 2012, the Santa Fe was positioned between the smaller Tucson compact crossover and the larger Veracruz.

The third-generation Santa Fe introduced in 2012 was available in two versions, which are regular (short) and extended long-wheelbase version. The short model was sold as the Santa Fe Sport in North America (three-row seating was not available) and simply Santa Fe in global markets (three-row seating was standard or optional), while the extended long-wheelbase model is called the Santa Fe in the US, Santa Fe XL in Canada and called the Hyundai Maxcruz in South Korea. The fifth and current generation was released in 2023 and omits diesel engines in favor of petrol hybrid powertrains.

As of 2022, the Santa Fe is positioned between the smaller Tucson – which the Santa Fe shares platform with – and the larger Palisade in Hyundai's global crossover SUV line-up.

2010 Hyundai Santa fe

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Common 2010 Hyundai Santa fe problems

Based on the sources provided, here are the common problems with the Hyundai Santa Fe 2010 based on complaints from owners:

  • Transmission Control Module Software:
    • Another issue that owners have faced with the Hyundai Santa Fe is related to the transmission control module software. Ensuring that the vehicle has the latest software updates for the transmission control module can help prevent transmission-related problems and ensure smooth shifting and overall performance.
  • Fuel Gauge Reading Incorrectly:
    • A recurring problem with the Hyundai Santa Fe, particularly in the 2007 model year, is the fuel gauge not reading correctly. This issue can lead to inaccurate fuel level readings, causing inconvenience and potential uncertainty for drivers.
  • Oil Leaks and High Oil Consumption:
    • Some model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe, including 2012 and 2013, have been associated with oil leaks and high oil consumption. These issues can result in engine damage, reduced performance, and the need for costly repairs, impacting the overall reliability and maintenance costs of the vehicle.
  • Engine Failure:
    • Engine failure has been a significant concern for Hyundai Santa Fe owners, especially in model years like 2012 and 2013. Engine failure can be a serious issue leading to complete breakdowns, expensive repairs, and potential safety hazards on the road, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance and early detection of any engine-related issues.

These common problems with the Hyundai Santa Fe 2010 based on owner complaints emphasize the importance of regular maintenance, prompt repairs, and awareness of potential issues to ensure the longevity and performance of the vehicle.

2010 Hyundai Santa fe engine

What problems does the 2010 Santa Fe have?

The most common problems found on the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe include the engine stalling while driving, a fuel gauge that doesn't work, and transmission failures. Overall, these problems are more severe than other SUVs from 2010, but repair costs are affordable compared to rivals.

Is the 2010 Santa Fe a reliable car?

They scored the highest reliability rating. I checked the “2010 Cars” and the “2011 Cars” magazines and found the 2010 and 2011 Santa Fe to be “Recommended”.

What is the most common problem with a Hyundai Santa Fe?

Some of the common issues reported by owners, according to RepairPal, include: Transmission Problems. Engine Issues. Suspension Problems.

How many miles can a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe last?

Hyundai Santa Fe

The average lifespan of this popular SUV is 200,000 to 250,000 miles or 13 to 17 years. It can probably reach beyond 250,000 miles if you're a mindful driver who keeps up with routine maintenance. In addition, the Santa Fe has a lower probability of major repairs than many of its competitors.

2010 Hyundai Santa fe car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Hyundai Santa fe problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Power train problems
  • Engine problems
  • Electrical system problems
  • Unknown or other problems
  • Vehicle speed control problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2010 Hyundai Santa fe vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

Latest 25 complaints 2010 Hyundai Santa fe

The NHTSA has received 248 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2010 Hyundai Santa fe. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2010 Hyundai Santa fe vehicles.

2024-08-15

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-08-13
  • VIN: 5NMSG3AB3AH
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: Transmission will not shift out of 1st. Gear .50000 miles this is second time in less than 2 months. Dealer replaced cable in top of transmission worked for 600 miles.
2024-07-03

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-07-03
  • VIN: 5NMSHDAG5AH
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 183,000.
2024-01-20

SUSPENSION PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-01-01
  • VIN: 5NMSH4AG4AH
  • Components: SUSPENSION
  • Summary: At any speed period, if i hit a pothole or those little ripple things on side of the country county roads, any of them causes my vehicle to jerk and makes a a sound like the entire right front end is going to fall apart at any moment and it either jerks my vehicle off the road on the right side or it either jerks the vehicle into the opposite lane towards on coming traffic. My truck has caused me to go completely off of the highway into the grass to avoid a collision...and anytime I hit the most tiniest of bumps it sounds Like the entire right side suspension is going to fall completely off and at high speeds it shakes uncontrollably...
2023-11-28

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-11-27
  • VIN: 5NMSKDAG2AH
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control and ABS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle later lost motive power after pulling into the driveway. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and transferred the contact to the dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 113,196.
2023-11-15

STEERING,SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-09-29
  • VIN: 5NMSH4AG4AH
  • Components: STEERING,SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: Whenever i hit a bump on the side of the road, the truck jerks really badly and if im not grasping the steering wheel with all my strength, it will jerk me off the highway from the bump making the entire car go off the road. Also, each bump i hit, i hear a very very loud metal on metal knocking sound from the right passenger side of the tire area. Not sure if it is a strut assembly or engine mount that wasn't correctly bolted down during manufacturing. Also, when i press the gas pedal, it sounds as if theres some type of cable thats being stripped or something. And whenever i am holding the steering wheel straight and firmly, the truck automatically has a mind of its on at times and will jerk the car to the right or to the left while im holding the wheel still. All mechanics have said that they don't see anything wrong with it but there's obviously something wrong with it and I am scared to drive it. It has got to be a manufacturers defect on those components of the vehicle. Please remedy this or replace my vehicle with one of the same or lesser valued cars . This truck is going to end up killing me or someone else or both ... Thanks
2023-10-26

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-09-27
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 5NMSK4AG8AH
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: My 2010 Hyundai Sante Fe caught fire on 9/27/23 while I was operating the vehicle and this fire ultimately caused my electrical systems to overheat and the wiring to melt. There was no indication that my alternator was about to fail (no battery light on my dash, no issues with starting my car) and I regularly maintenance my car with oil changes, tire rotations, and I redid my whole brake system in August 2023. My safety, the safety of my passenger, as well as the safety of ALL the patrons in the building that sat above the parking garage I was located in when the fire was burning were put at risk by this incident. My passenger acted quickly enough to put out the fire before anything more serious occurred, however according to my insurance we didn't let the fire burn long enough for there to be damage... even though my electrical harness is melted from it overheating due to the fire... The dealership/insurance have inspected my vehicle and say that the fire occurred because the alternator shorted out/failed however I believe this is false and Hyundai is covering their butts. When alternators fail the car doesn't just burst into flames, typically the car just fails to turn on since the alternator is no longer charging the battery... at least that's what I've read and heard from friends that are mechanics. Hyundai and Kia have been plagued by fire problems since 2015. The Center for Auto Safety successfully petitioned U.S. regulators to seek recalls in 2018 and says that the automakers have recalled more than 9.2 million vehicles for fires and engine problems. More than two dozen of the recalls involved over 20 models from the 2006 through 2021 model years and ALL are for fire risk. This is a KNOWN issue with Hyundai cars in general. My thought is that the same issues that are listed in the most recent Hyundai recall for the Sante Fe's from 2011-2015 is what occurred in my vehicle but Hyundai is refusing to take ownership of the issue.
2023-07-13

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-06-12
  • VIN: 5NMSG3AB9AH
  • Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: I am the original owner of a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. It currently has less than 100,000 miles on it as I drive it infrequently. On June 12, 2023, my airbag light lit on the display and has since remained. I immediately contacted the local Hyundai dealership and made the next available appointment. I was concerned because I had recently completed the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) service campaign on 4/3/2023. Initially, I took my vehicle to an auto repair facility where a diagnostic test determined my SUV had a B1620 error code and was advised to take it to a Hyundai dealership. My Hyundai appointment was on 6/23/2023. I shared the information about the error code with the technicians. The dealership confirmed I had a B1620 error code where the Supplemental Restraint System Control Module (SRSCM) shorted out. I also showed the dealership employees an Extended Warranty Notification letter I received from Hyundai about faulty clock springs, but the dealer stated the module was completely separate and not part of the recall. The repair estimate was quite costly at around $2,600. From my understanding, the SRSCM controls all safety features. The dealership informed me the air bag light/error code means my entire safety system is completely disabled. This is not a mechanical issue but rather a safety red flag.
2023-07-07

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-01-10
  • VIN: 5NMSG3AB7AH
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted and driven to the residence. The contact stated that the replacement of the knock sensor detection system (KSDS) was previously completed under an unknown recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
2023-06-12

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-10-21
  • VIN: 5NMSGDAB4AH
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the timing chain, the gaskets, and spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to a different independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the timing chain and the bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,550.
2023-05-17

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-02-15
  • VIN: 5NMSGDAB7AH
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that there was a winding noise coming from the front end of the vehicle underneath the hood. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the knock sensor needed to be replaced. The knock sensor was replaced; however, the failure persisted and had gotten worse. The contact returned the vehicle to the dealer who determined that the failure had caused the transmission to fail, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact was unable to have the vehicle repaired free of charge due to the warranty mileage being exceeded. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The appropriate failure mileage was 11,000.
2023-05-14

STEERING,SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-04-26
  • VIN: 5NMSH4AG4AH
  • Components: STEERING,SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES
  • Summary: When im driving down the road and the slightest bump is on yhe side of the road, the truck feels like its not connected to the framing or the wheels or something because when i hit the bump it jerks the wheels to the right and that's the only side it does it on and it does it so abruptly at times it almost pushes me into another car or it jerks the steering wheel out of my hands. Im not sure if theres a recall thats causing this or not but my mom has a vehicle like mine but a 2011 model and hers does the same thing on the right side.
2023-05-01

STRUCTURE,TIRES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-04-08
  • VIN: 5NMSH4AG4AH
  • Components: STRUCTURE,TIRES
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. Additionally, the contact self-inspected the vehicle and noticed and excessive amount of corrosion on the subframe. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
2022-10-24

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-10-03
  • VIN: 5NMSK4AG2AH
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: The contact's mother owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that upon a cold start, the vehicle would make an abnormal, clunking sounds while shifting gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the transmission was replaced. Recently, the contact stated that the failure had recurred, and the check engine warning light briefly appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was diagnosed and showed low pressure in the transmission sensor. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the mechanic could not diagnose the failure. The dealer drained the transmission fluid and discovered metal shavings inside the transmission fluid. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer also stated that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
2022-09-16

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-08-24
  • VIN: 5NMSG3AB1AH
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was initially taken to the dealer to have a manufacturer recall performed for P966. The contact then stated that on multiple occasions after the recall was performed while driving approximately 20-30 MPH, she heard a loud knocking noise at the hood of the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that she was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure recurred. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The manufacture was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 207,628
2022-07-24

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-07-24
  • VIN: 5nmsgdab6ah
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: My engine blew. No warning lights were on. The acceleration started sounding weird and so I slowed it down. It started running at high rpms and then it started clanking and parts flew out from behind my car from then engine while in interstate and now my engine is blown. There wasn't much warning and no warning lights at all except my tire light which is always on even though tires are filled and don't lose air
2022-05-10

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-03-26
  • VIN: 5NMSK4AG6AH
  • Components: STRUCTURE
  • Summary: The back driver side child safety lock is stuck between on and off and the door will not open. I am an Uber driver. If there was an accident a passenger might get trapped inside.
2022-02-28

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-05-01
  • VIN: 5NMSG3AB2AH
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: On April 22,2021 I took my Hyundai Santa Fe to McGrath Hyundai Serv Ctr for routine oil change. I paid for this oil chge and was given a MultiPoint Inspection rpt detailing my car was in good condition needing only routine maintenance updates. Mileage was documented 46,008 mi. My car was in excellent condition, regularly maintained at Hyundai service centers. 9 days later my engine failed without any warning. I had only driven about 30 mi after service.This is a safety issue as the failure could've occurred while I was driving. I towed the car back to the serv ctr where I was told I would need a new engine. There was no reason ever given for the sudden failure other than that this was a bad engine. I called Hyundai Corp Care to ask for help. I was told my 100,000/10yr warranty had expired 6 mos. earlier and there was NO recall. I later found this not to be true as NHTSA had done an investigation earlier causing Hyundai to recall 1000's of Santa Fe's for the EXACT reason that my engine failed. My VIN is not included in this recall but the problem was exactly the same. I read in the NHTSA report this recall applied to engines manufactured before 2011. After many phone calls/emails, Hyundai Corp agreed to a "good will" offer to replace the engine for 80%. I was told they would remove the bad engine and drop in a new one. However, there was faulty communication between Hyundai Corp and Hyundai service center. My hands were tied. 175 days later I was returned my car with a remanufactured short block. Approximately 2 mos later my oil light began to flicker. I returned to serv ctr where I was told I now need to manually check my oil regularly. The service engine light no longer works as it should. The warning light no longer works for other safety issues also. Hyundai was not truthful in owning up to the existence of the engine safety issue. They should have owned my problem and repaired as part of the recall. I no longer feel safe driving my car.
2022-01-25

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-01-25
  • VIN: 5nmsk3ab1ah
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: My paint is peeling on my SUV . The hood and side by my windshield along with the top by the sun roof
2021-08-18

EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-07-06
  • VIN: 5NMSG3AB6AH
  • Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the driver’s side front wheel felt wobbling. The contact stated that the TPMS warning light was illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V113000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.
2021-07-27

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-07-03
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 5NMSGDAB7AH
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: The contact owned a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact was calling from an insurance company and stated that while the driver was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to lose motive power and decelerated inadvertently. There was smoke coming from the air vents and flames were seen coming from the front wheel wells. After exiting the vehicle, flames engulfed the vehicle and the vehicle was destroyed. The fire department was called to the scene and a report was taken before the vehicle was towed away. No injuries were reported. The cause of the failure was not determined. Later the insurance company concluded that the fire was caused by a faulty engine. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
2021-07-12

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-07-10
  • VIN: 5NMSG3AB2AH
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
2021-06-14

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-06-04
  • VIN: 5NMSHDAG6AH
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: The problem is that the vehicle sometimes hesitates to move forward, and then suddenly accelerates quickly and roughly. It happens when the vehicle is stopped as in traffic. It sometimes makes a clunking noice, it feels like someone hit me from behind. I have taken it to the dealership before a couple years ago, when this happened and they re-programmed it. It was fine for awhile then it happened again, so I took it to the dealership again, they did an inspection….they are saying now it needs a $1300 part, it will cost over $1600.
2021-06-07

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-03-08
  • VIN: 5NMSGDAB0AH
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V261000 (Power Train) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
2021-05-10

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2020-02-04
  • VIN: 5NMSG3AB8AH
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT JUST SHUT OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO A SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME ENGINE HAD A HOLE IN THE BLOCK FROM A CONNECTING ROD. THAT CAME OFF THE CRANKSHAFT .VEHICLE ONLY HAS 104358 MILES ON IT AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED WITH FREQUENT OIL CHANGES.
2021-05-09

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-05-01
  • VIN: 5NMSK4AG2AH
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: THIS CAR HAS STALLED AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, USUALLY AS WE ARE DEACCELERATING AND IN A DOWNHILL POSITION (IE: DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN A MOUNTAIN, COMING TO A STOPLIGHT GOING DOWN A HILL, ETC.). IT HAS A NEW ENGINE AS OF SUMMER 2020. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN A GENERAL DIAGNOSTICS CHECK-UP WITH NO RESULTS. WE HAVE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE FOR A SOLUTION AND SEE MANY OTHERS REPORTING SIMILAR STALLING CONCERNS, BUT WHEN WE PUT OUR VIN INTO THE RECALL SYSTEM, THERE ARE NO RECALLS AFFILIATED WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR DRIVES GREAT OTHERWISE, BUT THE STALLING IS VERY CONCERNING.

2010 Hyundai Santa fe recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 2010 Hyundai Santa fe.

2013-04-01
  • Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor Company
  • Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: 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.
  • Remedy: 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.
2011-10-06
  • Manufacturer: CURT MFG. INC.
  • Components: EQUIPMENT
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: WITHOUT THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION, THE MODULE CAN OVERHEAT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
  • Remedy: 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.
2011-04-28
  • Manufacturer: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
  • Components: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
  • Remedy: 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.

Negative 2010 Hyundai Santa fe car reviews

  1. Quinton Kozey 2025-01-02

    Just wanted to give you a heads up that the local dealership has the final say on whether your car needs to be serviced under normal or severe conditions. It's worth noting that this could potentially double the cost of ownership. This information comes from a response I received from Hyundai.

  2. Emmanuel Doyle 2024-10-15

    Hi there! I hope you're doing well. I wanted to share my experience with my 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe that I purchased back in February of that year. Unfortunately, I've been experiencing a few issues with it since day one. Specifically, I've noticed a fast idle upon starting (1500 rpm), hard shifting, A/C that won't work when idling and then no A/C at all, and a 'thumping' in the cabin of the vehicle (right about center console location). I've taken it to the service department multiple times, but unfortunately, the fast idle and hard shifting still exist. However, the A/C has been fixed, which is great news. Recently, the service department mentioned that the transmission may have to be replaced, but they would have to get the car to 'relearn' something or other (what??). I'm planning on going back to the dealership soon, and I'm hoping to get a new transmission or a new car. I'm feeling a bit unhappy about the situation, but I'm hopeful that we can come to a resolution. Thank you for listening!

  3. Granville Kihn 2024-10-09

    Hello fellow buyers, I understand the struggle of finding the perfect purchase. After extensive research, I decided to go with the Santa Fe due to its unbeatable features and value for money, improved mileage, and warranty. While I love the truck in almost every way, I have experienced some issues with the transmission. As some others have mentioned, it can slam into gear and lurch forward unpredictably. Additionally, the mileage is not quite up to the EPA estimates. With 25k km on mine, I never see below 12 L/100 km, while the EPA estimates are 7.6/100 km hwy and 10.1/100 km city. Despite these issues, I have had the transmission checked twice and will be taking it in for a third time in two days. Thank you for your understanding.

  4. Nils Lemke 2024-08-06

    If you're considering purchasing a 2010 Santa Fe Limited, I wanted to share our experience with the car. We did encounter some issues, such as a hard shift from a slow start. Despite the dealership initially attributing it to a new electronic transmission, the problem persisted and we had to take it in several times before they replaced the transmission. Fortunately, that resolved the issue. We also had trouble with the A/C, but the service department couldn't find anything wrong and it eventually started working again. The latest problem is with the satellite radio, which has stopped working and will need to be replaced. While we've had some difficulties, we appreciate the dealership's efforts to address them. We may not purchase another Hyundai vehicle, but we hope this information helps you make an informed decision.

  5. Kole Wiegand 2024-07-29

    This car is very comfortable and provides a nice ride on long trips. However, there have been some occasional transmission problems. When driving in town or traffic, the transmission sometimes bangs into 3rd gear. Despite explaining how to duplicate the issue, the dealer has refused to give enough time to test drive for it to occur. As a result, they have been unable to duplicate the problem. Unfortunately, my wife is now hesitant to take the car into the city. It's worth noting that this issue is not unique to this car.

Positive 2010 Hyundai Santa fe car reviews

  1. Grover Kuphal 2024-10-14

    Congratulations on your new purchase! The Santa Fe sounds like an excellent choice for your growing family. It's great to hear that you were impressed with the high quality and luxury features, as well as the unbeatable price and big warranty. It's always tough when considering different options, but it sounds like the Santa Fe was the perfect fit for you. And how wonderful that your brother also loves his Hyundai Tucson! It seems like you'll be a happy Hyundai family. Enjoy your new car!

  2. Tillman Mills 2024-10-11

    My wife and I recently purchased our first SUV, and we are absolutely loving it! We considered several smaller SUVs, but ultimately, the Hyundai won us over. While the engine is a bit underpowered and has some lag compared to other SUVs in its class, the trade-off for better gas mileage is well worth it. The ride is firm but not overly harsh, and the steering is precise with very little under or oversteer. Although the sound system could use some improvement, we are overall very happy with our purchase and can't wait for our first long trip!

  3. Everett Walter 2024-08-15

    Congratulations on your new Hyundai! It sounds like you made a great choice after a lot of careful consideration. Your recent trip to Helen, Ga sounds like it was a success, and it's great to hear that the 6 cylinder engine performed so well on the hills. It's also impressive that you were able to achieve exceptional gas mileage by driving responsibly. The XM radio is a nice feature, although it's a shame that it cut out on the shaded tree roads. It's normal for the accelerator to take a little time to get used to, but it's good to hear that the car is generally quiet and comfortable. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!

  4. Kaley White 2024-06-29

    I'm thrilled with my decision to purchase the Santa Fe after driving it for two days. Although I was hesitant to consider a Hyundai after owning three Hondas, I did a lot of research and discovered that the Santa Fe has great reliability and consumer reviews. I'm so glad I gave it a chance! The exterior and interior styling of the Santa Fe are really impressive, and the V6 engine has a lot of power, even though I'm driving it easy during the break-in period. The only downside I've noticed so far is that the suspension is a bit tight, and I can feel and hear road bumps in the cabin at times. However, I'm coming from a car, so it might just take some getting used to driving an SUV.

  5. Weston Mosciski 2024-06-10

    As a field claims adjuster for an insurance company, I have the opportunity to examine wrecked cars on a daily basis. I have recently noticed that Hyundai's build quality has improved vastly, and I have taken note of how well they hold up in crashes. When my wife and I received a letter from our local dealer offering added incentives for Toyota owners to trade their vehicles in, we decided to check out the Santa Fe. We were immediately sold on the looks, the quality of the interior, and the performance, and we traded in our 07 Rav4 right then. I highly recommend not being put off by Hyundai's prior reputation, as the fit and finish is at least equal to Honda and Toyota, and the warranty is excellent. It feels like a Lexus inside!

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 2010 Hyundai Santa fe problems:

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Review, Problems, Reliability, Value, Life ...
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Review, Problems, Reliability, Value, Life ...
https://www.vehiclehistory.com/report/hyundai/santa-fe/2010

Aug 25, 2022 ... The most common problems found on the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe include the engine stalling while driving, a fuel gauge that doesn't work, and ...

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems and Complaints - 7 Issues
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems and Complaints - 7 Issues
https://repairpal.com/2010-hyundai-santa-fe/problems

Problem with your 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe? Our list of 7 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Is there a problem with the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe? - Maintenance ...
Is there a problem with the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe? - Maintenance ...
https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-there-a-problem-with-the-2010-hyundai-santa-fe/56342

Oct 13, 2010 ... I did find a recall for some 2010 Santa Fe models. A misaligned intermediate shaft in the transmission can make noise, wear out and damage the ...

Transmission Problems With New 2010 Santa Fe | Hyundai Forums
Transmission Problems With New 2010 Santa Fe | Hyundai Forums
https://www.hyundai-forums.com/threads/transmission-problems-with-new-2010-santa-fe.107512/

Mar 18, 2010 ... I have had the same problem with mine. When the temperatures were colder it would shift so hard that it felt like I got rear ended. I had a case ...

Common Hyundai Santa Fe 2010 Problems - Q&A
Common Hyundai Santa Fe 2010 Problems - Q&A
https://www.justanswer.com/hyundai/9jix8-hyundai-santa-fe-hyundai-santa-fe-2010-cylinder.html

Feb 11, 2016 ... 2. After replacing the spark plugs 3 times I still had the problem. 3. The spark plugs were changed out ever 3 months, yet they looked as if ...

Other years of Hyundai Santa fe

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Santa fe 2011
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175

3

18

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Santa fe 2012
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338

1

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hyundai santa fe 2013 photo
Santa fe 2013
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589

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hyundai santa fe 2014 photo
Santa fe 2014
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hyundai santa fe 2016 photo
Santa fe 2016
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218

3

19

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