2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Complaints and Recall Information
The 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE has 10 complaints and 3 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report engine and powertrain failures including oil leaks affecting vehicle components and resulting in total power loss. Brake system malfunctions and engine warning lights are also common.
Common Issues- Alternator failures. Oil leaks from the valve gasket damage alternator wires causing battery warning lights and loss of power on the freeway.
- Engine lockups. Oil leaks and malfunction in the powertrain, driveline, or driveshaft cause the engine to knock and lock down.
- Brake lock incidents. Several owners report brakes locking unexpectedly during use.
- Engine misfires. Cylinders 3 and 4 misfire, leading to engine rattling, struggling acceleration, and intermittent engine warning lights.
- Excessive oil consumption. Engine burns oil quickly, requiring frequent top-offs during highway driving.
- RPM fluctuations. Engine RPM needle moves erratically when cruise control is engaged.
- Blue smoke emissions. Bluish smoke appears from the exhaust during highway driving under cruise control.
In addition to complaints, three recalls address safety and mechanical defects affecting wiring, powertrain components, and brake systems.
Recalls- Tow package wiring harness. NHTSA recall 11E040000 affects 2,254 vehicles. The wiring harness for towing is not water-tight, allowing moisture to disable circuit protection. This can cause the module to overheat and possibly start a fire. The manufacturer will replace the wiring harness free of charge. No Do Not Drive advisory issued.
- Intermediate shaft and output gear. Recall 11V261000 concerns 5,876 vehicles with 2.4L engines and automatic transmissions. Misalignment causes noise and wear on the intermediate shaft and right side output gear. Damage can lead to loss of motive power and increased crash risk. Hyundai dealers will replace these parts for free. No Do Not Drive advisory issued.
- Stop lamp switch. Recall 13V113000 affects over 1.7 million vehicles including 2010 Santa Fe models. A faulty stop lamp switch can prevent brake lights from illuminating and disable cruise control deactivation by the brake pedal. The defect can also cause transmission shifter problems and ESC warning lights. Hyundai will replace the switch at no cost. No Do Not Drive advisory issued.
Owners of 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE vehicles with recurring engine or brake issues or incomplete recall repairs should consider reviewing their rights under state lemon laws. Persistent safety defects and unresolved repairs may provide legal remedies.
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Summary
2010
Model Year
10
Total Complaints
3
Total Recalls
1720466
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
1712336 vehicles affected
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
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.
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.
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
5876 vehicles affected
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
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.
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
2254 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT
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.
Complaints
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
ID: 2094093VEHICLE 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. Had quickly burned through 1qt! Add new quart of oil. Let car rest overnight. Driving 70mph without use of cruise control. Then use cruise control. After a bit car engine sounds of rattling & struggling to accelerate. RPM gauge seen going up & down. Through rear view mirror I see lots of bluish smoke. Pull over to let engine rest. Check oil = still 3/4. Use engine dectection device. Indicates that cylinders 3 &4 misfiring. Reset car warning indicator with my detection device. Finish drive going 60mph to arrive at destination without car engine warning going back on.
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
ID: 2094092ENGINE
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. Had quickly burned through 1qt! Add new quart of oil. Let car rest overnight. Driving 70mph without use of cruise control. Then use cruise control. After a bit car engine sounds of rattling & struggling to accelerate. RPM gauge seen going up & down. Through rear view mirror I see lots of bluish smoke. Pull over to let engine rest. Check oil = still 3/4. Use engine dectection device. Indicates that cylinders 3 &4 misfiring. Reset car warning indicator with my detection device. Finish drive going 60mph to arrive at destination without car engine warning going back on.
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
ID: 2065677FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Brakes locked
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
ID: 2065676SERVICE BRAKES
Brakes locked
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
ID: 2065675POWER TRAIN
Brakes locked
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
ID: 2065671ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
ID: 2065670SERVICE 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
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
ID: 2065669ENGINE
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
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
ID: 2065085POWER 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 same issues, however my vehicle is not on the list of vehicles affected by this recall.
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
ID: 2065084ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 same issues, however my vehicle is not on the list of vehicles affected by this recall.