CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe apparently has a problem with the engine stalling while driving.

In a 2-page letter to Santa Fe owners from August 2014, Hyundai claims the engine stalling only occurs under a "specific set of operating conditions".

However a class action lawsuit filed around the same time details multiple claims from Sante Fe owners that claim the engine stalling happens at any time, under any conditions.

Although the model year range in the lawsuit is 2010-2012, the stalling complaint trend hasn't shown up in our data for the 2010 model year. Both the 2011 & 2012 Santa Fe model years DO show a significant defect trend of the engine stalling.

Currently we're not rating the 2010 Santa Fe as "bad" or "poor". Just be aware of this potentially serious problem.

2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,231 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe suspension problems

suspension problem

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2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments

problem #13

Sep 292022

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 metal knocking sound from the right passenger side of the tire area. Not sure if it is a strut assembly or engine mount that wasn't correctly bolted down during manufacturing. Also, when i press the gas pedal, it sounds as if theres some type of cable thats being stripped or something. And whenever i am holding the steering wheel straight and firmly, the truck automatically has a mind of its on at times and will jerk the car to the right or to the left while im holding the wheel still. All mechanics have said that they don't see anything wrong with it but there's obviously something wrong with it and I am scared to drive it. It has got to be a manufacturers defect on those components of the vehicle. Please remedy this or replace my vehicle with one of the same or lesser valued cars. This truck is going to end up killing me or someone else or both... Thanks

- Clayton, AL, USA

problem #12

Apr 262023

Santa Fe

  • miles
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 abruptly at times it almost pushes me into another car or it jerks the steering wheel out of my hands. Im not sure if theres a recall thats causing this or not but my mom has a vehicle like mine but a 2011 model and hers does the same thing on the right side.

- Clio, AL, USA

problem #11

Mar 032019

Santa Fe

  • miles
I've had the brakes replaced, alignment done, rotors checked, and it still shakes like something isn't right, and it's scaring me, I'm handicap, and I feel like my front end is gonna come apart or my car is gonna flip, when I'm driving down the road it's doing just fine but when I go to press on my brakes to slow down my car is shaking like I'm going through an earthquake or tornado, and it also seems to have this problem like when you push push the gas to get speed so you could jump on the highway it like jerks a little better she is a little hard to be able to catch up and it's never done that before

- Shawnee, OK, USA

problem #10

Nov 092017

Santa Fe

  • 128,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Tie rod and front suspension. When turning it makes a clunking sound. I've had to get suspension and toe road changed 3 times within 6 months

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #9

Apr 042018

Santa Fe

  • 50,000 miles
My 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe limited AWD 3.5L, with approx. 60,000 miles, was making noise in the front end when I went over bumps or rough terrain. A local dealer told me it was most likely the end links going from the struts to the stabilizing bar. Two shocks were leaking so I had the struts (front) and shocks (rear) replaced along with the end links. On a test drive it was still making a clunking noise so I research the Hyundai forums for possible causes. There were four possible causes, one which had been corrected, the end links, the lower control rod, the connection mounts between the frame and the body, and the front and rear engine mounts. Upon inspecting the engine mounts I found the front engine mounts bolt, a 12mm X 5 inch bolt, missing. Apparently when the car was engineered the bolt wasn't secured with a locking nut or cotter pin so when the nut loosened and vibrated off the bolt, the bolt also vibrated out of the mount. I actually remember when this occurred, at around 50,000 miles. I remember a loud bang under the car and in the rear view mirror I saw a bolt tumbling down the highway. I thought I had run over it with a wheel. I took the car into the Hyundai dealer at 56,652 miles for an oil change and "12-point inspection" and "multi-point inspection" and the mechanic didn't discover the missing front engine mount bolt. (I found it myself when I took the car to a local car shop for the strut and shock replacement.) I then went to the Hyundai dealer and told them what I discovered. The part number for the bolt is 21920-2B000, and the part number for the nut is 13396-12007K. There was no description as to the size of the bolt, the thread of the bolt and nut, nor whether the nut was a locking nut. I had the local mechanic make the repair with a 12mm X 5" galvanized bolt with washers, lock washer and a 12mm nylon locking nut. I consider this a safety issue.

- Kalama, WA, USA

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problem #8

Mar 032017

Santa Fe

  • 90,000 miles
I was driving over a set of well kept railroad tracks at a low speed when I heard a loud bang. I subsequently discovered my drivers front spring broke. This also destroyed my tire from the car basically collapsing onto it while I drove to a place I could safely park. Hyundai refused to see my car until the next week so I had my local tire place fix the broken spring along with replacing the other side as I was now terrified that the same thing would happen on the other side. Hyundai corporate refused to cover my expenses as the local dealer did not do the work. The tire store said they see this all time from cheap chinese steel used. This could have been a catastrophe had I been in heavy traffic or driving at a high rate of speed and I believe this needs to be examined as Hyundai in 2011 had put sometime of membrane on my springs to prevent rust per a recall.

- Manhattan, IL, USA

problem #7

Aug 072016

Santa Fe

  • 180,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. While slowing down to a stop from 25 mph, a knocking sound emitted from the engine. In addition, the gear shifter failed to go into the drive and reverse position and the engine felt as if it had detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the axle, transmission strip, power train, and drive shaft failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V261000 (power train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

- Covington, LA, USA

problem #6

Jul 262016

Santa Fe

  • 60,000 miles
Front driver's side coil spring has broken at 60000 miles. Prior service campaign 926 - spring protector installation had been performed at 8600 miles. The broken spring was first noticed after experiencing low frequency rattling noise while going over bumps.

- Dunlap, IL, USA

problem #5

May 152015

Santa Fe

  • 53,000 miles
Right front axle..tire rod broke and I crashed into a building. It's the right front side that is defective.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #4

Aug 222014

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 117,000 miles
While driving heard a load noise in the front left of the car, then a rubbing noise. Upon inspection it was determined that the front left spring coil had broken. The tip of the broken spring was right up against my tire. If driven any further the spring could have shredded the tire and caused an accident.

- Genoa, IL, USA

problem #3

Mar 042014

Santa Fe

  • 76,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would make a loud clanking noise from the rear end. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 76,000.

- Chillicothe, OH, USA

problem #2

Nov 212012

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
Rear tires exhibit extensive "cupping" which suggests defective suspension parts at the rear of the vehicle. Inferior parts or design are suspected as the defect appears bilaterally.

- Graham, NC, USA

problem #1

May 032012

Santa Fe

  • miles
Front spring broke. Creates potential to cause loss of control at highway speeds. Read many instances of this on Hyundai vehicles. Company only replaces broken spring, refusing to change out other side proactively.

- Easton, NH, USA

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