Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently
- Summary
- Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
- Consequence
- Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
INTERMEDIATE DRIVESHAFT
- Summary
- HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 SANTA FE 2WD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 15, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 5, 2010. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY SUFFER FROM NOISE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WHIRRING/WHINING NOISE AND CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
- Consequence
- DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (259)
259 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 259 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 109 | 42.1% |
| Engine | 37 | 14.3% |
| Electrical system | 28 | 10.8% |
| Unknown or other | 23 | 8.9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 21 | 8.1% |
| Suspension | 14 | 5.4% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 4.2% |
| Structure | 11 | 4.2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 10 | 3.9% |
| Air bags | 9 | 3.5% |
How 2010 compares with other Santa Fe years
Best and worst Santa Fe years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 106 | 1 |
| 2007 | 683 | 7 |
| 2008 | 541 | 4 |
| 2009 | 358 | 2 |
| 2010 | 259 | 2 |
| 2011 | 181 | 2 |
| 2012 | 353 | 1 |
| 2013 | 605 | 3 |
| 2014 | 493 | 3 |
| 2015 | 254 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 23 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 386 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 23 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2010 Santa Fe for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe FAQ
How many recalls does the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 13V113000 (brake), 11V261000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
Owners filed 259 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (109), Engine (37), Electrical system (28) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 20 city, 28 highway and 23 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2010 Santa Fe compare with other years?
Among the 2006–2015 Hyundai Santa Fe model years at least five years old, the 2006 drew the fewest complaints (106) and the 2007 the most (683). The 2010 drew 259. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.