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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Hyundai SANTA FE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

181 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

44,100 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 149 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 181 complaints (35.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior4424.3%
Steering behavior3418.8%
Engine operation2815.5%
Electrical and battery issues116.1%
Transmission and shifting63.3%
Fuel system concerns10.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
64
Electrical System
25
Vehicle Speed Control
24
Power Train
20
Steering
19
Service Brakes
17
Suspension
16
Exterior Lighting
11
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine64
Electrical System25
Vehicle Speed Control24
Power Train20
Steering19
Service Brakes17
Suspension16
Exterior Lighting11

Engine: 64; Electrical System: 25; Vehicle Speed Control: 24; Power Train: 20; Steering: 19; Service Brakes: 17; Suspension: 16; Exterior Lighting: 11

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
43
25,000 to 49,999
34
50,000 to 74,999
21
75,000 to 99,999
15
100,000 to 149,999
31
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00043
25,000 to 49,99934
50,000 to 74,99921
75,000 to 99,99915
100,000 to 149,99931
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 43; 25,000 to 49,999: 34; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 5

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 32 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011
8
2012
18
2013
28
2014
20
2015
20
2016
6
2017
13
2018
14
2019
16
2020
12
2021
8
2022
3
2023
4
2024
6
2025
4
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20118
201218
201328
201420
201520
20166
201713
201814
201916
202012
20218
20223
20234
20246
20254
20261

2011: 8; 2012: 18; 2013: 28; 2014: 20; 2015: 20; 2016: 6; 2017: 13; 2018: 14; 2019: 16; 2020: 12; 2021: 8; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 6; 2025: 4; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 28 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10412636 · 2011-07-11 (July 11, 2011)

ON MAY 26TH 2011 AROUND 6:20 PM WHEN I DROVE ON A LOCAL DOWN HILL ROAD WHICH IS ABOUT 400 YARD LONG, AT A SPEED ABOUT 20 MPH, MY CAR LOST BRAKE AND POWER STEERING. I SUPPOSED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHEN I PRESSED MY BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR CAN'T STOP AND THE PEDAL WAS VERY HEAVY, AND I CAN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER. MY CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. I KEPT STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD AND MY CAR FINALLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET GRADUALLY. WHEN I LOOKED, I NOTICED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT WERE ON. I T…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10412636 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10447468 · 2012-02-10 (February 10, 2012)

STOPPED ON A SLOPE 5-20 FT. LONG (UP OR DOWN), REMOVE RIGHT FOOT FROM BRAKE PEDAL TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC- SANTA FE WILL BARELY MOVE FORWARD REGARDLESS HOW MUCH ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR "PUMPED" THEN: SUDDENLY WILL SPIN FRONT TIRES-ACCELERATING VERY RAPIDLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED A MINIMUM OF 25 TIMES. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER A BUSY STREET, ROAD OR HIGHWAY. DEALER UNABLE TO FIND CODE ERRORS NOR COULD THEY DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. COMPLAINED TO DEALER SERVICE TWICE ABOUT THIS …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10447468 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10382013 · 2011-02-08 (February 8, 2011)

VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT (THE SIDE I WANTED TO PASS ON) WHEN PASSING GEAR WAS USED. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR TO MY LEFT. THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL DUE TO TORQUE KNUCKLE STEERING. (IT HAPPENED WHEN HE DROVE MY SUV AND HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET USED TO IT!!! WE ALSO TRIED ANOTHER SUV AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, PLEASE NOTE; THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT BIGGER TIRES WOULD PROBABLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT THE SUV IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD NOT PAY FOR THEM HE DRO…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,375 miles reported. Look up ODI 10382013 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10449746 · 2012-02-29 (February 29, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH , THERE WAS A LOUD POP HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE EXPLODED FROM THE IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND LATER DIAGNOSED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449746 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10460671 · 2012-06-05 (June 5, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 15,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460671 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10593638 · 2014-05-23 (May 23, 2014)

CAR IS STOPPED AND IN THE GARAGE BUT THE FAN WILL NOT SHUT OFF WITHOUT DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 26,893 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593638 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10692375 · 2015-03-05 (March 5, 2015)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE DIED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER REPLACING IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692375 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10373998 · 2011-01-03 (January 3, 2011)

I PURCHASED A HYUNDAI, NOT EVEN ONE MONTH AGO. DECEMBER 12TH 2010. VIN [XXX] HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2011 IT IS SUPPOSED TO GET 20-26 MILES PER GALLON. WHILE DRIVING THE HIGHWAY FROM FLORIDA TO NC IT GOT 15 MILES TO THE GALLON. ON THE WAY BACK THE SAME THING. IN ADDITION THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RIGHT, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT AND MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE SEVERAL TIMES. WE DID NOT THINK WE WOULD GET HOME. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER AND REPORTED IT TO HYUNDAI. THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10373998 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10490879 · 2013-01-03 (January 3, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN PARK ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING IT TO ROLL AWAY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10490879 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10375329 · 2011-01-09 (January 9, 2011)

2011 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ NEW VEHICLE HAS DISCHARGED HEAVY FUEL FUMES AND ODORS OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE CREATING A POSSIBLE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE/EXPLOSION AND CAUSING OBNOXIOUS IF NOT HAZARDOUS BREATHING. 12/31/2010 SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED 01/01/2011 AT START-UP, THERE WAS A "POP" AND ENGINE STARTED. REPLICATED AT DEALERSHIP AND RAW GAS WAS SMELLED. DEALER KEPT VEHICLE FOR SERVICE SHOP TO OPEN ON 01/03/2011. 01/03/2011 DEALER REPLACED PURGE CONTROL VALVE (P/N 28910-3C100). TOOK VEHICLE, SMELLED GAS FUMES IN G…

Owner-reported narrative. 101 miles reported. Look up ODI 10375329 at NHTSA ↗