2010 Hyundai Santa Fe: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe: 2 recalls, 259 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
Recalls
2 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #11V261000 · 2011 · 5,876 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Damage to the transmission May cause loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #13V113000 · 2013 · 1,712,336 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment Equipment recall #11E040000 · 2011 · 2,254 vehicles
What's wrong: The units are not water-tight and moisture can seep into the converter module and defeat the module's internal circuit protection.
Why it matters: Without the circuit protection, the module can overheat possibly resulting in a fire.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 6 mention a fire, 7 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (109): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (62), noise or vibration (30), stalls / loses power (20).
- Engine (37): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (16), warning light on (9), noise or vibration (8).
- Electrical (28): the most common themes are electrical failure (11), stalls / loses power (9), fire / smoke (7).
- Other / unknown (23): the most common themes are electrical failure (5).
The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe has 259 owner complaints, ranking #10 of 26 Santa Fe model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 295). Complaints peaked in 2010 (44 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 41,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2009 (358 complaints, 2 recalls), 2011 (181 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 21 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 22 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 22 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recalls for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
Owners have filed 259 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (109), engine (37), electrical (28).
What gas mileage does the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 5 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.