2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Electrical Problems

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 changed the oil. On a hot day, there was a loud sound coming from the vehicle, and it was noticed that the unoccupied vehicle was attempting to start independently. The contact unlocked the vehicle and opened the vehicle door, put the keys in the ignition, and continued to crank for approximately four minutes. The accelerator pedal was pumped, and the vehicle stopped. There was smoke coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle eventually stopped. There were flames coming from the vehicle. The contact called 911, an independent mechanic, her father, and the fire department. The Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire and disconnect the battery. The mechanic determined that the engine cover was burned. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact indicated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11E040000 (Equipment). The insurance company referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11727026

Incident

Mar 11, 2026

Mileage

145,000 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 Department was notified of the fraud. However, due to insufficient information about the seller, no report was filed.

NHTSA ID

11712911

Incident

Jan 22, 2026

Mileage

223,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11643002

Incident

Feb 10, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11642620

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11551974

Incident

Sep 27, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11415740

Incident

May 1, 2021

Mileage

120,000 mi

REAR TAIL LIGHTS RETAIN MOISTURE AND WATER, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION AND SHORT OUT WHEN BULBS ARE REPLACED. THIS ISSUE IS VISIBLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED ME TO BE PULLED OVER BY POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL AS IT CAN CAUSE UNSAFE BRAKING CONDITIONS DUE TO NO BRAKE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE. BRAKE LIGHT BULB WILL BE REPLACED BUT AS SOON AS IT RAINS OR ANY CONDENSATION COLLECTS IN THE HOUSING, IT CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHT TO NOT ILLUMINATE UPON PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL.

NHTSA ID

11277364

Incident

Oct 30, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER FAILED PERIODICALLY. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH PAINT ON THE NEGATIVE CONNECTOR TO THE ENGINE FROM BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC RESOLVED THE FAILURE BY SANDING DOWN THE AREA BY THE CONNECTOR TO METAL ON METAL. THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11142331

Incident

Oct 10, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

SMOKE COMING FROM TURN SIGNAL SWITCH

NHTSA ID

11089618

Incident

Apr 20, 2018

ENGINE STALL DURING STATIONARY CRANKING AND DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AFTER SHAKING NOISE HEARD. RELATED TO RECALL 49.

NHTSA ID

10978646

Incident

Apr 11, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE TURN SIGNAL "CLICKING NOISE" STARTED WORKING CONTINUOUSLY AND INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER AND THE ASSOCIATED LIGHTS ON THE PANEL. ELECTRICAL SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FROM THE AREA NEAR THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR HANDLE. I REMOVED THE 10 AMP FUSE TO INTERRUPT THE POWER TO THE TURN SIGNAL AND THE SMOKING STOPPED. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND DID NOT CHANGE UNDER ANY DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID

10970469

Incident

Apr 3, 2017

Mileage

117,776 mi

PASSENGER REAR DOOR (RIGHT REAR) LOCK ACTUATOR MECHANISM FAILURE. DOOR IS LOCKED AND **CANNOT BE UNLOCKED OR OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CAR**, WHETHER BY MANUAL OR KEY FOB METHOD. MANUAL DOOR LOCK BUTTON (ON RIGHT REAR DOOR) INSIDE CAR DIFFICULT TO ACTUATE, DOOR HANDLE ACTUATION (CABLE?) SEEMS LIKE IT MAY BE DETACHED (VERY EASY TO ACTUATE DOOR HANDLE, NO RESISTANCE). WORKED FINE, UNTIL IT FAILED WITH NO WARNING. TRIED TO OPEN RIGHT REAR DOOR AND WAS UNABLE TO. I RARELY USE THIS DOOR, SO IT MAY HAVE FAILED PRIOR TO WHEN I NOTICED IT. APPROX 59,000 MILES WHEN PROBLEM NOTICED. *SERIOUS* SAFETY ISSUE IF DOOR MALFUNCTIONS WITH PASSENGERS IN CAR--THE DOOR IS 100% USELESS--AND IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANY OF THE DOORS I ASSUME.

NHTSA ID

10899461

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

59,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 40K MILES ON IT AND IT NOW HAS 63K MILES. SINCE I HAVE HAD IT, I HAVE REPLACED THE RADIO DISPLAY, SPEAKER, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW CONTROLS, STARTER AND A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS. THE CLEAR COAT IS ALSO COMING OFF ALL THE DOOR HANDLES AND IT IS FADING THE PAINT. I NOTIFIED HYUNDAI AND THEY DID NOT ADDRESS ANY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10864079

Incident

May 9, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND I WAS REAR ENDED @ 65 MPH. VEHICLE SUFFERED $14,000 IN DAMAGE WITH A BENT FRAME. THE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE IS NOW DIMINISHED DRASTICALLY AND IT IS REPORTED IN CAR FAX REPORT. APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS LATER VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR FAULTY BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. I SHOULD NOT SUFFER FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO NEGLIGENT PARTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED AND INSTALLED ON THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10836772

Incident

Feb 27, 2012

Mileage

30,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, THE BLINKER SWITCH STARTED FRANTICALLY CLICKING, I THAN HEARD ELECTRICAL SPARKS FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAN SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE THE BLINKER SHAFT WAS LOCATED. HYUNDAI HAS HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 2 WEEKS, LEAVING ME AND MY 8 MONTH OLD CARLESS. THE DEALERSHIP AND COOPERATE HAS SAID THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE, AND HAS NOT GIVEN ME A COURTESY CALL OR VEHICLE UPDATES. I LOOKED ON THIS WEBSITE, SAFECAR.ORG AND INDEED, I FOUND SOMEONE WHO HAS ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUE (PLEASE SEE NHTSA ID NUMBER 10629458). I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY WITH THE OTHER RECALLS IN PLACE.

NHTSA ID

10732467

Incident

Jun 26, 2015

Mileage

50,000 mi

YESTERDAY WHILE DECELERATING AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP SIGN, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE AGAIN. I TOOK TO MY DEALER TODAY (NEXT AM) DUE TO MY CONCERN. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND ASKED TO EXTEND MY WARRANTY AND MENTIONED MY CAR HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM DESCRIPTION MENTIONED IN THE ONLINE 929 HYUNDAI CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER SAID NO CODE HISTORY OR CODE IS SHOWING AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE BUT TO WAIT AND SEE IF PROBLEM REAPPEARS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR IF AGAIN COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF WHILE IN OPERATION COULD BECOME MORE OF A FATAL RESULT. WOULD LIKE HYUNDAI TO EXTEND THE ONLINE 929 CAMPAIGN TO MY VEHICLE WHICH IS SAME YEAR AND MODEL OR SOME OTHER WAY TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM THANKS

NHTSA ID

10661756

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

60,570 mi

SANTA FE BLINKER SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. I HAVE A VIDEO AS EVIDENCE OF THE SMOKE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. HYUNDAI REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO ME AND MY FAMILY. BLINKERS STARTED STAYING ON AT ALL TIMES WHEN IGNITION WAS ON. BLINKERS WOULD GO LEFT AND GO RIGHT, BUT WHEN IN THE CENTER POSITION THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL STAYED ON OR THE AUDIBLE PART OF THE BLINKERS COULD BE HEARD WITH NO SIGNAL LIGHT. SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE VEHICLE SMELLED AND STILL SMELLS OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I TOOK A VIDEO THAT CLEARLY SHOWS SMOKE COMING FROM THE BLINKER SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE ASK IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE VIDEO. I CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TOLD THEM AND I ALSO ASKED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE CARE OF IT. BOTH REFUSED AND SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 4,755 MILES AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING EVEN THOUGH MY FAMILY WAS IN CLEAR DANGER. THEY CHARGED ME $179 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THEIR PARTS AND IS A DANGER IN BOTH BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT FROM FAULTY SIGNALS AND INTENTIONS BEING SENT TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629458

Incident

Aug 24, 2014

Mileage

64,755 mi

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, WHEN THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND PULL OVER. PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND CONTINUE DRIVING WITH NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE GOT THE CAR. SINCE IT IS SPORADIC, DEALER CANNOT FIND WHAT IS WRONG. WORRIED THAT INCIDENT MIGHT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND GET REAR-ENDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621330

Incident

Aug 9, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR SHUTS OFF WHEN IT RAINS. WARM AIR BLOWS THROUGH THE VENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607603

Incident

Jun 29, 2014

Mileage

83,000 mi

VEHICLE WHEN STARTING FROM STOP, HESITATES THEN ACCLERATES FAST. SOMETIMES MORE SO LEFT TURN BUT ALSO STRAIGHT AHEAD. ALMOST RAN THROUGH GARAGE DOOR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. ALSO LAST NIGHT I TRIED TO ACCLERARATE TURNING LEFT FROM STOP SIGN. VEHICLE SCARES ME, THE WAY IT IS WORKING. APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ID

10544871

Incident

Jul 3, 2013

Mileage

89,453 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10511252

Incident

Mar 4, 2013

WHILE SITTING IN CRAWLING TRAFFIC OR COMING TO A SLOW STOP AT A STOP SIGN, ON OCCASION THE CAR WILL LOSE ALL ELECTRICAL POWER (LIGHTS, RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTING GOES BLACK) AND THE ENGINE THEN STALLS OUT. THE GAS TANK IS TYPICALLY HALF FULL OR BELOW BUT NEVER ON EMPTY. I HAVE TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE RUNS FINE BEFORE AND AFTER THE INCIDENTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE TIMES A MONTH SINCE JUNE 2011 AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENTS. THE CAR'S POWER ALSO SEEMS TO DIM WHEN APPLYING THE BREAKS DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON OCCASION. THE HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND RADIO TOUCH SCREEN GO DIM WHEN BREAK IS APPLIED. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE ALREADY AND COMPLAINED BUT NOTHING WAS DONE. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPEAT THE EVENT, THEY CLAIMED THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT I LEAVE THE CAR STALLED OUT AND HAVE IT TOWED IN. I EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR WILL START AGAIN ONCE IN PARK OR NEUTRAL, THEREFORE A TOW TRUCK WILL NOT TOW IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447809

Incident

Jun 6, 2011

Mileage

18,000 mi

WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR TRAFFIC LIGHTS, TURNS OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC LANES, WHEN THE BRAKE IS RELEASED AND THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED, AT RANDOM TIMES THE CAR HESITATES AND ALL POWER IS LOST MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE SEEMS AS IF IT HAS OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF STALLING OUT. AT FIRST, IT FEELS AS IF ALL POWER HAS BEEN LOST AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STEERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HOWEVER, THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RE-ENGAGES AND THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, AND THE ENGINE APPARENTLY DOES NOT "DIE," SINCE THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR AN IGNITION RE-START. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS SPORADICALLY (ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK--BUT SOMETIMES ONCE OR MORE IN THE SAME DAY). THE VEHICLE STARTS WELL, IDLES WELL AND OTHERWISE PERFORMS IN AN OKAY FASHION. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CAR DID NOT DO THIS FOR THE FIRST 20,000 OR SO MILES. ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS, THIS "STALLING OUT" HAS ALMOST CREATED AN ACCIDENT SITUATION. *KB

NHTSA ID

10426280

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

20,800 mi

INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHERE THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT WORK - DEPRESSING IT DOES NOT CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REV AT ALL. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, THEN NO POWER AS VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 15 MPH BEFORE IT STARTED WORKING. OTHER SYMPTOMS WHEN THIS OCCURS ARE AS FOLLOWS: WITH HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS STUCK "ON". IF HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF, SELECTING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL CAN CAUSE VARIOUS DASH LIGHTS TO BLINK, AND ENGINE LOSES POWER IN SYNCH WITH THE BLINKING LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

10421948

Incident

Aug 21, 2011

Mileage

28,531 mi

WHEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE FROM STOPPED POSITION THERE IS A NOTABLE PAUSE. (1-3 SECONDS??)THIS THEN CAUSES YOU TO PUSH ACCELERATOR FURTHER ,THEREBY CAUSING A MUCH MORE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I AM USED TO IT BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE CAR WAS NEW, BUT SOMEONE COULD GET IN TROUBLE. HYUNDAI SERVICE SAYS ITS BECAUSE THE PEDAL IS SENDING A POSITION OF PEDAL THROUGH AN ELECTRONIC SIGNAL TO FUEL METERING SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

10414229

Incident

Jul 6, 2011

Mileage

11,000 mi