2011 Hyundai Santa Fe problems and complaints
Owners have filed 181 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most-reported areas: Engine (64), Electrical System (25), Vehicle Speed Control (24).
Key takeaways
- 181 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 12 involve a crash, 8 a fire, 9 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 64 | 35% |
| Electrical System | 25 | 14% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 | 13% |
| Service Brakes | 23 | 13% |
| Power Train | 21 | 12% |
| Steering | 20 | 11% |
| Suspension | 16 | 9% |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 8% |
| Structure | 10 | 6% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 | 4% |
| Air Bags | 7 | 4% |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV 4WD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 4/5 |
| 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train,engine - filed 2026-04-09
My 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe (approx. 153,000 miles) developed a new stalling and engine-dying-at-idle condition immediately following a knock sensor replacement performed by a Hyundai dealership. Prior to this repair, the vehicle ran normally with no stalling or idle issues. The vehicle was originally brought in for diag...
Structure - filed 2025-12-10
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear chassis was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The independent...
Engine - filed 2025-09-26
CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. With no prior indications, the engine seized while driving on side street at 25mph. Engine blew hole in block and dumped engine parts, including piston rod, piston and engine block remnants, and oil on street. Very dangerous as power steering stopped and was unable to turn. Very low miles, ...
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More for the 2011 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.