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2011 Hyundai Santa FEProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 181 owner complaints about the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

2011 Hyundai Santa FE
63
CarFlaw IndexSolid year42% below the Santa FE median · #20 of 24 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints18127 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage48kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE has problems

181 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine647
Electrical system253
Vehicle speed control244
Power train211
Steering203
Service brakes171
Suspension161
Exterior lighting145
Structure103
12 other systems497

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2011 Hyundai Santa FE recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Brake lights: switch

Recall 13V-113 · Apr 1, 2013 · 1,712,336 vehicles

Risk. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Disc: caliper

Recall 10V-613 · Dec 9, 2010 · 1,785 vehicles

Risk. AS A RESULT, BRAKE FLUID WILL LEAK, FOLLOWED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATING THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS LOW AND SHOULD BE CHECKED,…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.

Mileage at failure

When do engine problems start?

48kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 50 engine complaints. 70% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
16under 30k miles35under 100k miles15100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2011 vs. every other Santa FE year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Santa FE median. How we score

'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2011 Hyundai Santa FE safety ratings

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 4 stars (16.9% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
5 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Non-crash Vehicle FiresDP18003 · closed May 10, 2019
    Led to recall 18V-934
  2. Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesDP21003 · closed Jun 20, 2023
    No recall
  3. Loss of Motive PowerDP22003 · closed Dec 12, 2023
    No recall
  4. Steering Shaft Universal Joint FailurePE12029 · closed Jun 26, 2013
    No recall
  5. Non-crash Vehicle FiresPE19003 · closed Dec 22, 2021
    Led to recall 20V-393
In owners' words

What Santa FE owners report

Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 11730232 · Apr 9, 2026
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…
Complaint 11689997 · Sep 26, 2025
The contact owned a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed a burning odor and the vehicle stalled. The contact idled the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and exited the vehicle. The vehicle burst into flames…
Complaint 11639951 · Jan 31, 2025 · 280,000 miles

Own a 2011 Santa FE?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.