94 complaints reported

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
94
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2024

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2024
Jul 2023

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 knock sensor detection system (KSDS) was previously completed under an unknown recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2023
May 2023

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 replaced; however, the failure persisted and had gotten worse. The contact returned the vehicle to the dealer who determined that the failure had caused the transmission to fail, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact was unable to have the vehicle repaired free of charge due to the warranty mileage being exceeded. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The appropriate failure mileage was 11,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2022
Oct 2022

The contact's mother owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that upon a cold start, the vehicle would make an abnormal, clunking sounds while shifting gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the transmission was replaced. Recently, the contact stated that the failure had recurred, and the check engine warning light briefly appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was diagnosed and showed low pressure in the transmission sensor. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the mechanic could not diagnose the failure. The dealer drained the transmission fluid and discovered metal shavings inside the transmission fluid. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer also stated that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2022
Dec 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2021
Jul 2021

The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V261000 (Power Train) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2021
Dec 2020

THE CAR MAKES A JERKING SOUND WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN IT'S HOT. IT ALSO JERKS LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO GO INTO WHILE DRIVING ON OCCASIONS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2020
Sep 2020

WHEN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD BANGING NOISE LOSING POWER FOR A MOMENT AND THEN VIOLENTLY SNAPPING BACK INTO GEAR. IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE SOMEBODY IS HITTING YOU FROM BEHIND. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE ACCELATION/DECELERATION IS TIGHTENING UP RIGHT BEFORE IT HAPPENS. FEELS VERY SCARY SOMETIMES AND I'M WORRIED TO DESTROY THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT WITH 153K MILES ON IT AND IT HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. ACCORDING TO DEALER ITS A SMALL EMISSION LEAK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2020
Sep 2020

I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AND SINCE I BOUGHT IT 2 YEARS AGO WHEN I START IT AND LET IT WARM UP THEN I PUT IN REVERSE IT JERKS VIOLENTLY THEN I WOULD PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT WAS IN NEUTRAL THEN ANOTHER VIOLENT JERK TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING IT WILL CHANGE GEARS VERY ROUGH LIKE SOME HIT ME . I KNOW HYUNDAI KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOESN'T EXPAND THE RECALL . I CHECKED MY VIN # AND NO RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION JUST A HAND FULL .

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2020
Sep 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTING GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER INVER GROVE HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 1290 50TH ST E, INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN 55077, (888) 706-5928, AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V261000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2020
Jun 2020

IN NOV 2012 AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED WITH 38,000 MILES, WE NOTICE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SHORTLINE HYUNDAI IN AURORA, CO. TO HAVE THEM INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND TEST DRIVE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE DURING THEIR INSPECTION, NO CODES. WE STILL NOTICED THE ISSUE FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS. FAST FORWARD TO NOV. 2014 - WE DECIDED TO TRY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN CENTENNIAL, CO. ARAPAHOE HYUNDAI. THE VEHICLE HAD 52,000 AT THIS POINT. THEY CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION HAD A HARSH ENGAGEMENT IN HIGHER GEARS, STILL NO CODES. THEY STATED THE FLUID WAS LOW AND TOPPED OFF THE FLUID. THROUGH THE FOLLOWING YEARS THE ISSUE WAS STILL PRESENT. FEB 2018 THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRES AND THE ISSUE AT THIS POINT IS VERY NOTICEABLE. 5TH GEAR WOULD HESITATE UP SIFTING TO 6TH GEAR, ALONG WITH A DELAYED REACTION ON A DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH TO 4TH. ONCE THE DOWNSHIFT ENGAGED THERE WAS A HARD BAND INTO 4TH.JUNE 2018, 79,850 MILES - FEELING BRUSHED OFF BY THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERS, WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN NEED OF CHANGE, SO WE CHANGED THE FLUID. THE FLUID CHANGE EASED THE HARSH SHIFTING SLIGHTLY. AS OF TODAY FEB. 2020, 91,150 MILES - THE TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE DRIVE FINE UNTIL IT HITS 5TH GEAR. THE DOWNSHIFT IS NOW VERY HESITANT WITH AN EXTREME BANG ONCE IT ENGAGES 4TH. THERE HAS BEEN AN KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. HYUNDAI HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, OTHER THAN PUTTING A BAND-AID ON THE ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2012
Oct 2019

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THEN VIOLENTLY KICKS INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN STARTING OUT. IT WILL ALSO SLIP WHILE DRIVING ALONG AND THEN KICK BACK INTO GEAR WITH A BANG SOUND. THESE SLIPS SEEM TO OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD( JUST STARTED AND TEMPERATURE GAGE READS AT OR NEAR C). I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND THEY TELL ME THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM RECURS AT LEAST WEEKLY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2019
Oct 2019

DEALER REFLASHED (UPGRADED?) THE COMPUTER DURING AN UNRELATED DOOR LOCK REPAIR. AFTERWARDS, THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AT LOW SPEED/COASTING, THEN REENGAGES VIOLENTLY. WHEN REQUESTED TO RESTORE THE COMPUTER TO THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PROGRAM, THE DEALER SAID IT CANNOT BE DONE. THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSEQUENT REFLASHES INSTALLED TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, BUT TO NO AVAIL. DEALER SAYS "THE COMPUTER JUST HAS TO LEARN MY DRIVING HABITS". IT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF THE DISENGAGEMENT, THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES, THEN A SUDDEN ENGAGEMENT OCCURS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2011
Oct 2019

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 7 MONTHS AGO WITH JUST OVER 62K MILES. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO FASTER THAN 30 ON THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD US WE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND CD AXLE. AFTER RESEARCH THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS MODEL'S TRANSMISSION. OURS WAS BUILT 3 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL BUT IS DOING THE SAME THING. SAFETY ISSUE AND A QUALITY HYUNDAI SHOULD STAND BEHIND AND REPAIR. WE HAVE THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT FROM THE DEALERSHIP.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2019
Sep 2019

MOSTLY SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR OR BACKING UP , YOU GET A VERY HARD BANG , AS IF YOU HIT SOMETHING. CITY STREET MOSTLY TURNING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2019
May 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WIESNER HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 1645 INTERSTATE 45 N, CONROE, TX 77304, (936) 523-6300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AXEL AND DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2010
Feb 2019

SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS CAR, THE TRANSMISSION BANGS HARD WHEN SHIFTING GEARS OCCASIONALLY. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE SHOP 3 OR 4 TIMES BUT THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY TESTED IT AND IT'S FINE. NOW I'M ALMOST OUT OF MY WARRANTY AND I'M AFRAID THEY TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO GO. I READ THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2019
Jan 2019

VEHICLE HAS 107K MI AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (SYMPTOMS: UPSHIFTING LAG AND "THUNK" WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AT 15-25MPH). ACCORDING TO DEALER, IT CAN NOT BE RE-BUILT DUE TO DESIGN AND MUST BE REPLACED. CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL-CARED FOR AND DRIVEN LESS THAN 10,000/MI/YR FOR THE LAST 8+ YEARS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME 2010 SANTA FE TRANSMISSIONS BUT DEALER SAYS OURS WAS NOT IMPACTED. WE FEEL THAT A TRANSMISSION THAT FAILS AFTER 107K GENTLE MILES MUST HAVE A DESIGN FLAW.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2019
Dec 2018

I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE UTIL. I BELIEVE I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY "ALL WHEEL DRIVE COUPLER". MY WIFE USES THIS VEHICLE. CURRENTLY WE ARE EXPERIENCING LOUD BANGS THAT FEEL LIKE WE ARE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING. IT IS IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THIS ONLINE I SEE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I AM WONDERING WHY THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL. I FEEL MY WIFE AND CHILD ARE IN DANGER WHILE RIDING IN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC BY CALLING FOR A RECALL WITH THIS ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2018
Nov 2018

CAR WOULD NOT GO OUT OF NEUTRAL. SNOW. ESC AND AWD LIGHTS ON.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2018
Sep 2018

VEHICLE HESITATES AND HAS NO FORWARD MOTION FOR PERHAPS 2-3 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND THEN ACCELARATING, THEN BACKING OFF AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE RISK IS THAT YOU CAN NOT MOVE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. CITY DRIVING, ON AND OFF THE THROTTLE MOST OF THE TIME DURING A SLOW SPEED LEFT TURN. TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO GO INTO NATURAL BECAUSE IT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR TO GO INTO, SUSPECT IT IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE/ DRIVING STYLE AS WIFE DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM . LOCAL DEALER WAS PROVIDED INFORMATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ISSUE STILL EXISTS. COMMENTS ON INVOICES: 100371 / 101673 / HYCS414425

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2012
May 2018

TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTS DOWN WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO GET KILLED BY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. CONSTANT SLIPPAGE BETWEEN GEARS WHILE MOVING, CAUSING LOUD HARD BANGING NOISES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2018
Mar 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PRIDE HYUNDAI AUTO SALES & SERVICE INC (680 HWY 6 W, BATESVILLE, MS 38606, 662-563-5464) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V261000 (POWER TRAIN) IN 2011, BUT IT FAILED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2018
Jan 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO PARK, BUT CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARD. THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CAME TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT FAILED TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CORRECT GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OUTPUT GEAR OR TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V261000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT CALLED COLONIAL HYUNDAI (2200 WALTHALL CENTER DR, CHESTER, VA 23836, (804) 414-2020) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR THE RECALL IN 2011. THE CONTACT ALSO CALLED PEARSON HYUNDAI (9530 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE RICHMOND, VA 23235, (804) 276-03600) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V261000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT CALLED A THIRD DEALER (WEST BROAD HYUNDAI, 8903 W BROAD ST, RICHMOND, VA 23294, (804) 755-7777) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,801.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2018
Jan 2018

DRIVING SANTA FE AT 55MPH AND IT SLOWED TO A STOP. TRANSMISION WAS OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE. CAN NOT DRIVE VEHICLE NOW AS IT WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2018

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe has 94 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.