2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. This model year has 256 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
Considering a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 108 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 45 | 1 | 3 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 28 | 2 | 4 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 22 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 21 | 2 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 11 | 2 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 9 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Gasoline | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 256 most recent complaints
Engine fire
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to immediately start, but started after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent m…
I hadn't used the car in a few weeks (rarely leave the house because I work from home). I went to visit a friend on December 26th or 27th (don't remember exact date). On the way there the engine started having a knocking noise. On the way home after eating a meal with the friend,…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 142,000. It was later discovered, during a VIN check, that the mileage was 223,…
Driving approximately 70-75mph on highway with cruise control set. Car starts to make rattling sound & engine warning light goes on, car struggles to accelerate and hovers around 60mph. Upon inspection of engine oil in car, fresh oil has been burned up quickly! Added 1 quart. Dro…
The engine locked down due to the improper power train, driveline, driveshaft. Oil leaking and malfunction of power train, driveline, driveshaft caused motor to knock and lock down
Brakes locked
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 …
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.
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was …
At any speed period, if i hit a pothole or those little ripple things on side of the country county roads, any of them causes my vehicle to jerk and makes a a sound like the entire right front end is going to fall apart at any moment and it either jerks my vehicle off the road on…
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control and ABS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle later lost motive power after pulling into the driveway. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the…
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…
My 2010 Hyundai Sante Fe caught fire on 9/27/23 while I was operating the vehicle and this fire ultimately caused my electrical systems to overheat and the wiring to melt. There was no indication that my alternator was about to fail (no battery light on my dash, no issues with st…
I am the original owner of a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. It currently has less than 100,000 miles on it as I drive it infrequently. On June 12, 2023, my airbag light lit on the display and has since remained. I immediately contacted the local Hyundai dealership and made the next avai…
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 k…
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 ve…
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 rep…
When im driving down the road and the slightest bump is on yhe side of the road, the truck feels like its not connected to the framing or the wheels or something because when i hit the bump it jerks the wheels to the right and that's the only side it does it on and it does it so …
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. Additionally, the contact self-inspected the vehicle and noticed and excessive amount of corrosion on the subframe. The TPMS warning light was i…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Recalls for 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe has 256 NHTSA owner complaints, 8 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (108 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (108 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (45 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (28 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe has 8 crash-related complaints and 6 fire reports out of 256 total NHTSA complaints. 7 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?▾
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The largest issue: EQUIPMENT. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Santa Fe reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.