2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Powertrain (other) Problems

Brakes locked

NHTSA ID

11643004

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

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.

NHTSA ID

11608666

Incident

Aug 13, 2024

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

NHTSA ID

11555182

Incident

Sep 29, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11530935

Incident

Jan 10, 2023

Mileage

170,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11526548

Incident

Oct 21, 2021

Mileage

108,550 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11522411

Incident

Feb 15, 2022

Mileage

11,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11490666

Incident

Oct 3, 2022

Mileage

63,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11419895

Incident

Mar 8, 2021

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

NHTSA ID

11395959

Incident

Feb 10, 2021

Mileage

167,000 mi

THE CAR MAKES A JERKING SOUND WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN IT'S HOT. IT ALSO JERKS LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO GO INTO WHILE DRIVING ON OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ID

11383441

Incident

Nov 3, 2020

WHEN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD BANGING NOISE LOSING POWER FOR A MOMENT AND THEN VIOLENTLY SNAPPING BACK INTO GEAR. IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE SOMEBODY IS HITTING YOU FROM BEHIND. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE ACCELATION/DECELERATION IS TIGHTENING UP RIGHT BEFORE IT HAPPENS. FEELS VERY SCARY SOMETIMES AND I'M WORRIED TO DESTROY THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT WITH 153K MILES ON IT AND IT HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. ACCORDING TO DEALER ITS A SMALL EMISSION LEAK.

NHTSA ID

11361597

Incident

Sep 2, 2020

Mileage

153,796 mi

I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AND SINCE I BOUGHT IT 2 YEARS AGO WHEN I START IT AND LET IT WARM UP THEN I PUT IN REVERSE IT JERKS VIOLENTLY THEN I WOULD PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT WAS IN NEUTRAL THEN ANOTHER VIOLENT JERK TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING IT WILL CHANGE GEARS VERY ROUGH LIKE SOME HIT ME . I KNOW HYUNDAI KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOESN'T EXPAND THE RECALL . I CHECKED MY VIN # AND NO RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION JUST A HAND FULL .

NHTSA ID

11361326

Incident

Sep 20, 2020

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTING GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER INVER GROVE HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 1290 50TH ST E, INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN 55077, (888) 706-5928, AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V261000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

NHTSA ID

11355627

Incident

Sep 13, 2020

Mileage

154,000 mi

WHEN TRAVELING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND UPON ACCELERATION THERE'S LOSS OF POWER FOR A SPLIT SECOND, AND THEN IT'S BUMPING REAL HARD. IT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A BUMPING NOISE, CLUNKING NOISE OR THUMPING NOISE. MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN BETWEEN 50-70 MPH. ALSO, THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR LOCK HAS BEEN WORKING OFF AND ON. IT FINALLY HAS STOPPED OPENING THE DOOR ENTIRELY. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE YET TO DIAGNOSE AN ISSUE AFTER TWO INSPECTIONS. AS OF 7/21/20 THE VEHICLE IS STILL HAVING THESE ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11340723

Incident

Mar 5, 2019

IN NOV 2012 AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED WITH 38,000 MILES, WE NOTICE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SHORTLINE HYUNDAI IN AURORA, CO. TO HAVE THEM INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND TEST DRIVE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE DURING THEIR INSPECTION, NO CODES. WE STILL NOTICED THE ISSUE FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS. FAST FORWARD TO NOV. 2014 - WE DECIDED TO TRY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN CENTENNIAL, CO. ARAPAHOE HYUNDAI. THE VEHICLE HAD 52,000 AT THIS POINT. THEY CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION HAD A HARSH ENGAGEMENT IN HIGHER GEARS, STILL NO CODES. THEY STATED THE FLUID WAS LOW AND TOPPED OFF THE FLUID. THROUGH THE FOLLOWING YEARS THE ISSUE WAS STILL PRESENT. FEB 2018 THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRES AND THE ISSUE AT THIS POINT IS VERY NOTICEABLE. 5TH GEAR WOULD HESITATE UP SIFTING TO 6TH GEAR, ALONG WITH A DELAYED REACTION ON A DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH TO 4TH. ONCE THE DOWNSHIFT ENGAGED THERE WAS A HARD BAND INTO 4TH.JUNE 2018, 79,850 MILES - FEELING BRUSHED OFF BY THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERS, WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN NEED OF CHANGE, SO WE CHANGED THE FLUID. THE FLUID CHANGE EASED THE HARSH SHIFTING SLIGHTLY. AS OF TODAY FEB. 2020, 91,150 MILES - THE TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE DRIVE FINE UNTIL IT HITS 5TH GEAR. THE DOWNSHIFT IS NOW VERY HESITANT WITH AN EXTREME BANG ONCE IT ENGAGES 4TH. THERE HAS BEEN AN KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. HYUNDAI HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, OTHER THAN PUTTING A BAND-AID ON THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11307516

Incident

Nov 7, 2012

Mileage

91,150 mi

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THEN VIOLENTLY KICKS INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN STARTING OUT. IT WILL ALSO SLIP WHILE DRIVING ALONG AND THEN KICK BACK INTO GEAR WITH A BANG SOUND. THESE SLIPS SEEM TO OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD( JUST STARTED AND TEMPERATURE GAGE READS AT OR NEAR C). I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND THEY TELL ME THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM RECURS AT LEAST WEEKLY.

NHTSA ID

11269733

Incident

Oct 19, 2019

Mileage

20,000 mi

DEALER REFLASHED (UPGRADED?) THE COMPUTER DURING AN UNRELATED DOOR LOCK REPAIR. AFTERWARDS, THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AT LOW SPEED/COASTING, THEN REENGAGES VIOLENTLY. WHEN REQUESTED TO RESTORE THE COMPUTER TO THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PROGRAM, THE DEALER SAID IT CANNOT BE DONE. THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSEQUENT REFLASHES INSTALLED TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, BUT TO NO AVAIL. DEALER SAYS "THE COMPUTER JUST HAS TO LEARN MY DRIVING HABITS". IT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF THE DISENGAGEMENT, THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES, THEN A SUDDEN ENGAGEMENT OCCURS.

NHTSA ID

11268484

Incident

May 15, 2011

Mileage

5,000 mi

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 7 MONTHS AGO WITH JUST OVER 62K MILES. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO FASTER THAN 30 ON THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD US WE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND CD AXLE. AFTER RESEARCH THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS MODEL'S TRANSMISSION. OURS WAS BUILT 3 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL BUT IS DOING THE SAME THING. SAFETY ISSUE AND A QUALITY HYUNDAI SHOULD STAND BEHIND AND REPAIR. WE HAVE THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT FROM THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID

11268269

Incident

Oct 7, 2019

Mileage

72,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS 107K MI AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (SYMPTOMS: UPSHIFTING LAG AND "THUNK" WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AT 15-25MPH). ACCORDING TO DEALER, IT CAN NOT BE RE-BUILT DUE TO DESIGN AND MUST BE REPLACED. CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL-CARED FOR AND DRIVEN LESS THAN 10,000/MI/YR FOR THE LAST 8+ YEARS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME 2010 SANTA FE TRANSMISSIONS BUT DEALER SAYS OURS WAS NOT IMPACTED. WE FEEL THAT A TRANSMISSION THAT FAILS AFTER 107K GENTLE MILES MUST HAVE A DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA ID

11265400

Incident

Sep 26, 2019

Mileage

107,000 mi

MOSTLY SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR OR BACKING UP , YOU GET A VERY HARD BANG , AS IF YOU HIT SOMETHING. CITY STREET MOSTLY TURNING.

NHTSA ID

11230469

Incident

Jun 27, 2019

Mileage

121,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WIESNER HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 1645 INTERSTATE 45 N, CONROE, TX 77304, (936) 523-6300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AXEL AND DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

11210394

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

92,000 mi

SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS CAR, THE TRANSMISSION BANGS HARD WHEN SHIFTING GEARS OCCASIONALLY. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE SHOP 3 OR 4 TIMES BUT THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY TESTED IT AND IT'S FINE. NOW I'M ALMOST OUT OF MY WARRANTY AND I'M AFRAID THEY TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO GO. I READ THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS?

NHTSA ID

11193388

Incident

Feb 2, 2019

I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE UTIL. I BELIEVE I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY "ALL WHEEL DRIVE COUPLER". MY WIFE USES THIS VEHICLE. CURRENTLY WE ARE EXPERIENCING LOUD BANGS THAT FEEL LIKE WE ARE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING. IT IS IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THIS ONLINE I SEE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I AM WONDERING WHY THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL. I FEEL MY WIFE AND CHILD ARE IN DANGER WHILE RIDING IN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC BY CALLING FOR A RECALL WITH THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11161089

Incident

Dec 10, 2018

Mileage

95,000 mi

CAR WOULD NOT GO OUT OF NEUTRAL. SNOW. ESC AND AWD LIGHTS ON.

NHTSA ID

11154725

Incident

Nov 15, 2018

Mileage

87,200 mi