2010 Hyundai Santa Fe problems and complaints

Owners have filed 258 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most-reported areas: Power Train (109), Engine (37), Electrical System (28).

Key takeaways

  • 258 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 8 involve a crash, 6 a fire, 7 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Power Train10942%
Engine3714%
Electrical System2811%
Unknown Or Other229%
Vehicle Speed Control218%
Suspension145%
Service Brakes114%
Structure114%
Fuel/Propulsion System104%
Air Bags93%
Fuel System93%
Engine And Engine Cooling93%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe 4-DR w/SABNot ratedNot ratedNot rated4/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Power Train - filed 2026-08-15

The vehicle’s transmission slips while driving on the highway at approximately 65–75 mph. The slipping occurs at highway speeds and appears to affect the vehicle’s ability to maintain consistent power and acceleration. Problem The vehicle’s transmission slips while driving on the highway at approximately 65–75 mph. Th...

Engine - filed 2026-08-01

On XXX I was waiting at a light and the check engine light was blinking. When I started up, the car was very sluggish. It continued to be sluggish on my trip home - 5 miles. I brought it to Meineke [XXX] [XXX]. They ascertained that the engine was shot. They flushed out the oil in the engine and there was lots of me...

Engine - filed 2026-04-01

Engine fire

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More for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.