2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Engine Problems

Your engine caught fire while the vehicle was in use. This is a serious safety hazard that requires immediate professional inspection and repair to identify the cause of the fire and prevent it from happening again.

Your engine developed a knocking noise after sitting unused for several weeks, and the knocking became louder as you drove, accompanied by loss of power. When climbing a hill, you heard a loud bang and saw blue-white smoke from under the car before the engine died completely. You recently discovered your engine was subject to a recall (Campaign 966) for this exact problem.

Your engine lost power while driving with no warning light, and a mechanic diagnosed complete engine failure requiring replacement. The vehicle is no longer running and needs an engine overhaul or replacement to be drivable again.

After having a recall repair done on your Santa Fe, you heard a loud knocking noise from under the hood while driving at 20-30 mph, and the engine stalled. The car restarted but the problem happened again, and your check engine light came on. The dealer diagnosed a complete engine failure that requires a full engine replacement.

My engine blew. No warning lights were on. The acceleration started sounding weird and so I slowed it down. It started running at high rpms and then it started clanking and parts flew out from behind my car from then engine while in interstate and now my engine is blown. There wasn't much warning and no warning lights at all except my tire light which is always on even though tires are filled and don't lose air

On April 22,2021 I took my Hyundai Santa Fe to McGrath Hyundai Serv Ctr for routine oil change. I paid for this oil chge and was given a MultiPoint Inspection rpt detailing my car was in good condition needing only routine maintenance updates. Mileage was documented 46,008 mi. My car was in excellent condition, regularly maintained at Hyundai service centers. 9 days later my engine failed without any warning. I had only driven about 30 mi after service.This is a safety issue as the failure could've occurred while I was driving. I towed the car back to the serv ctr where I was told I would need a new engine. There was no reason ever given for the sudden failure other than that this was a bad engine. I called Hyundai Corp Care to ask for help. I was told my 100,000/10yr warranty had expired 6 mos. earlier and there was NO recall. I later found this not to be true as NHTSA had done an investigation earlier causing Hyundai to recall 1000's of Santa Fe's for the EXACT reason that my engine failed. My VIN is not included in this recall but the problem was exactly the same. I read in the NHTSA report this recall applied to engines manufactured before 2011. After many phone calls/emails, Hyundai Corp agreed to a "good will" offer to replace the engine for 80%. I was told they would remove the bad engine and drop in a new one. However, there was faulty communication between Hyundai Corp and Hyundai service center. My hands were tied. 175 days later I was returned my car with a remanufactured short block. Approximately 2 mos later my oil light began to flicker. I returned to serv ctr where I was told I now need to manually check my oil regularly. The service engine light no longer works as it should. The warning light no longer works for other safety issues also. Hyundai was not truthful in owning up to the existence of the engine safety issue. They should have owned my problem and repaired as part of the recall. I no longer feel safe driving my car.

The contact owned a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact was calling from an insurance company and stated that while the driver was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to lose motive power and decelerated inadvertently. There was smoke coming from the air vents and flames were seen coming from the front wheel wells. After exiting the vehicle, flames engulfed the vehicle and the vehicle was destroyed. The fire department was called to the scene and a report was taken before the vehicle was towed away. No injuries were reported. The cause of the failure was not determined. Later the insurance company concluded that the fire was caused by a faulty engine. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT JUST SHUT OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO A SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME ENGINE HAD A HOLE IN THE BLOCK FROM A CONNECTING ROD. THAT CAME OFF THE CRANKSHAFT .VEHICLE ONLY HAS 104358 MILES ON IT AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED WITH FREQUENT OIL CHANGES.

102,734 MILES AND THE CAR STARTED TO JUMP WHILE DRIVING. FELT LIKE RPM WOULD NOT SHIFT. AFTER MULTIPLE MECHANICS LOOKED AT IT, CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. DUE TO BEING A SECOND OWNER, ONLY BY 1500 MILES HYUNDAI WOULD NOT COVER. THE 2WD WERE RECALLED, BUT NOT THE AWD. CLEARLY THERE ARE ISSUES WITH ALL MAKES. THEN AFTER FIXING THAT THE PURGE VALVE SOLENOID NEEDED REPLACED AND THEN THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT THESE RECALLS WERE NOT ACTIVE FOR THE AWD. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE DRIVING ON ANY ROAD AND WE ARE LUCKY THE CAR DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS STARTED 9/18/2020 AND WORK COMPLETE 01/05/2021

ENGINE SEIZED.

ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR I EXPERIENCE A LURCHING. AT TIME IT JUST WON'T ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS ON SEVERAL OCCASION THIS YEAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, THE VEHICLE RATTLED AND MADE ABNORMAL NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDWEST SUPERSTORE (LOCATED AT 1100 E 30TH AVE, HUTCHINSON, KS 67502, (620) 662-6631), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,194.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SPORADICALLY REVVED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN STARTED, THE ENGINE WOULD REV TO 40 MPH. ALSO, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEIGH VALLEY HYUNDAI (675 STATE AVE, EMMAUS, PA 18049, (610) 967-6500), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,868.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTOR STARTED KNOCKING AND SPUTTERING, AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. BOB KING HYUNDAI (1601 SILAS CREEK PKWY, WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27127, (336) 724-2861) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

ENGINE STOPPED AND ROD KNOCKING STARTED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY

THE ENGINE WAS GONE ON MY CAR

AS I AM DRIVING MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MY ENGINE STALLS WITH NO WARNING SIGN.. VERY DANGEROUS LUCKILY I WASN'T HIT.. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WENT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS JUST THE BATTERY AND NOBODY CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.. SNAP THE PICTURE AFTER EVERYTHING HAPPENED THEN I GET A LIGHT. THANK GOD ME AND MY KIDS WASN'T HIT OR KILLED.

ORIGINAL NHTSA REPORT #10621330. ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE MAKING RIGHT TURNS. SEVERAL OCCURRENCES IN 2010, SEP 2014, JAN 2015, SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL IN MAY 2015. ANOTHER OCCURRENCE IN JUNE 2015. NOW TODAY, MARCH 7, 2017 IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN WHILE MAKING RIGHT TURN. PUT CAR IN PARK AND ENGINE RESTARTED.

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY - THE TEMPERATURE OUTDOORS HAS TO BE COOL AND DAMP. SAFETY RISK FOR KIDS AND MYSELF TO HAVE ENGINE STALL. LIGHTS GO OUT AND CRUISE IF ON KICKS OFF. ENGINE WILL RESTART ITSELF, BUT AFTER IT HAPPENS - ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON UNLESS I ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE STALLING HAS HAPPENED FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS, BUT NO ONE CAN FIND THE ISSUE

(1)ON 11/01/2016 MY WIFE HEADING TO WORK EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO PULLOVER TO A SAFE SPOT TO RESTART ENGINE. (2) 0N 11/12/2016 WE WERE HEADED TO THE STORE STOPPED AT LIGHT THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN WHILE IN DRIVE THAT WAS SECOND INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED. 11/14/2016 THE CAR WAS AT FUTURE HYUNDIA CONCORD CA FOR INSPECTION, ACCORDING TO DEALER NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. IS THERE ANY HISTORY CONCERNING ENGINE SHUTOFF ?

OIL PUMP FAILURE AT 90,000 MILES CAUSING MOTOR TO BE REPLACED. HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THERE WERE NO AVAILABLE MOTORS TO REPLACE THE ONE IN MY CAR.

THE ENGINE THREW A ROD AND IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM THEY HAVE IN THEIR 2.4L ENGINE THAT WAS RECALLED. 470,000 OF THEM. NOW THEY WON'T FIX MY ENGINE.

1. STARTER GEAR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE DEALER SHIP AND WAS TOLD MANY OF THESE CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. 2. WHEN RAINING AND DRIVING DOWN CITY STREETS, OR HIGHWAY MY CAR WILL TRY TO STALL OUT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEN IT WILL LOSE STEERING, RPMS WILL FLUCTUATE. WHEN CHECKED IT SAID IT WAS THE ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR.

YESTERDAY WHILE DECELERATING AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP SIGN, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE AGAIN. I TOOK TO MY DEALER TODAY (NEXT AM) DUE TO MY CONCERN. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND ASKED TO EXTEND MY WARRANTY AND MENTIONED MY CAR HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM DESCRIPTION MENTIONED IN THE ONLINE 929 HYUNDAI CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER SAID NO CODE HISTORY OR CODE IS SHOWING AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE BUT TO WAIT AND SEE IF PROBLEM REAPPEARS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR IF AGAIN COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF WHILE IN OPERATION COULD BECOME MORE OF A FATAL RESULT. WOULD LIKE HYUNDAI TO EXTEND THE ONLINE 929 CAMPAIGN TO MY VEHICLE WHICH IS SAME YEAR AND MODEL OR SOME OTHER WAY TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM THANKS

I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE STALLMENT ISSUE WITH MY 2010 SANTA FE LIMITED SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2010. MY LAST 4 INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE NOR FIND ANY CODES FOR IT. THEY HAVE PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING FIXES ON MY CAR IN 4 SEPARATE ATTEMPTS WITH NO LUCK: - REPLACE THROTTLE BODY (2013) - REPLACE MAIN POWER CABLE - REPLACE COMPUTER'S MAIN BOARD - UPDATE SOFTWARE THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE. LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A DOWNHILL RAMP TO ENTER THE FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. I CAN STILL HEAR THE CONCRETE TRUCK'S BRAKE SOUND IN MY EARS WHEN IT DESPERATELY MANAGED TO STOP AND AVOID COLLISION. I DON'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE. I HAVE ALSO LOST MY CONFIDENCE IN THE DEALER'S ABILITY TO PERMANENTLY FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN AND HIGH HUMIDITY, GOING SOUTH ON ROUTE 95, A/C COOLING STOPPED WORKING AND ONLY WARM AIR WAS BLOWING THROUGH THE VENTS. STOPPED WORKING FOR OVER AN HOUR, UNTIL I STOPPED FOR GAS IN FT. PIECE. WHEN I RESTARTED, IT BEGAN TO WORK AND WORKED FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT STOPPED. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER ON JUNE 3. DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND WOULD DO NOTHING. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON JUNE 13 WHILE DRIVING. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND HE AGAIN SAID HE COULD NOT REPRODUCE IT AND WOULD DO NOTHING. I REPORTED IT HYUNDAI WOULD SAID IT COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED AND WOULD DO NOTHING. I FOUND NUMEROUS INSTANCES, ON THE INTERNET, OF PEOPLE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS TOLD UNLESS I COULD REPRODUCE ON MY VEHICLE, NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. I HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND HOPE THE CAR DEALER IS OPEN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO NEITHER REPLICATE NOR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,800. UPDATED 08/11/14*LJ THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 08/19/14

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN THE RAIN FROM SAVANNAH GA TO JACKSONVILLE FL, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE APX 80 DEGREES, WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON. AIR CONDITIONING ABRUPTLY CEASED BLOWING COLD AIR AND STARTED BLOWING HOT, HUMID AIR, WHICH FOGGED ALL WINDOWS FROM THE INSIDE. SUDDENLY LOWERED VISIBILITY CAUSES DRIVING HAZARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE WITH THIS VEHICLE WHEN (1) IT IS HOT OUTSIDE, (2) THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON, (3) IT IS RAINING, (4) THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR APX 30 TO 45 MINUTES. REMEDY IS TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, WAIT 5-10 MINUTES, THEN RESTART CAR. AIR WORKS NORMALLY FOR ANOTHER 30-45 MINUTES THEN SAME PROBLEM RE-OCCURS, BUT PULLING TO THE SIDE OF AN INTERSTATE ALSO CAUSES A SAFETY PROBLEM. THERE IS AN ONLINE LITANY OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE AT HTTP://ANSWERS.EDMUNDS.COM/QUESTION-2010-SANTA-FE-WITH-AIR-CONDITIONER-PROBLEM-104733.ASPX. HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EXISTS, TOLD ME THIS MORNING THEY HAD NEVER RECEIVED A COMPLAINT ON IT BEFORE, AND LOCAL DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ASSISTING THE CONTACT WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,650.

IN RAINY HUMID CONDITIONS, THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WILL SHUT DOWN CAUSING WARM AIR TO BLOW INSIDE THE CAR CABIN. THIS IMMEDIATELY CAUSES THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE CAR. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF, LET IT REST FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN TURN BACK ON THE AIR COMPRESSOR WILL WORK AGAIN BUT ONLY FOR THE SHORT TIME. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AGAIN IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S HUMID AND RAINING OUTSIDE. AFTER NUMEROUS SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THIS IS HAPPENING TO. HYUNDAI HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL TO FIX THIS! *TR

THE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IN MY 2010 SANTA FE LIMITED WOULD OCCASIONALLY STOP RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR, USUALLY DURING HEAVY RAIN OR HUMID CONDITIONS. EVEN WITH THE A/C SWITCH AND INDICATOR LIGHT ON, THE COMPRESSOR WOULD STILL NOT ACTIVATE UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS CYCLED. THIS CAUSED THE INTERIOR WINDOWS TO FOG UP HEAVILY AND NOT CLEAR, LEADING TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH ONE INSTANCE MY OUTWARD VISIBILITY BEING REDUCED TO ALMOST ZERO AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH AS I HAD NOWHERE TO PULL OVER. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE CONDITION TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE IN THE DASH. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RESURFACED SINCE. *KB

WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR TRAFFIC LIGHTS, TURNS OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC LANES, WHEN THE BRAKE IS RELEASED AND THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED, AT RANDOM TIMES THE CAR HESITATES AND ALL POWER IS LOST MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE SEEMS AS IF IT HAS OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF STALLING OUT. AT FIRST, IT FEELS AS IF ALL POWER HAS BEEN LOST AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STEERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HOWEVER, THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RE-ENGAGES AND THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, AND THE ENGINE APPARENTLY DOES NOT "DIE," SINCE THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR AN IGNITION RE-START. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS SPORADICALLY (ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK--BUT SOMETIMES ONCE OR MORE IN THE SAME DAY). THE VEHICLE STARTS WELL, IDLES WELL AND OTHERWISE PERFORMS IN AN OKAY FASHION. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CAR DID NOT DO THIS FOR THE FIRST 20,000 OR SO MILES. ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS, THIS "STALLING OUT" HAS ALMOST CREATED AN ACCIDENT SITUATION. *KB

WHEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE FROM STOPPED POSITION THERE IS A NOTABLE PAUSE. (1-3 SECONDS??)THIS THEN CAUSES YOU TO PUSH ACCELERATOR FURTHER ,THEREBY CAUSING A MUCH MORE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I AM USED TO IT BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE CAR WAS NEW, BUT SOMEONE COULD GET IN TROUBLE. HYUNDAI SERVICE SAYS ITS BECAUSE THE PEDAL IS SENDING A POSITION OF PEDAL THROUGH AN ELECTRONIC SIGNAL TO FUEL METERING SYSTEM.

2010 SANTA FE GL - ABOUT 60% OF STARTING HAS A JERK/KICK. IT'S LIKE SOMETHING ENGAGED SUDDENLY. TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND SHOWED NO ABNORMAL READINGS. ON AUG. 19/2010, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 110 KM/HR THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AS IF SOMETHING HIT THE CAR FROM BEHIND. I THOUGHT THE TRUCK BESIDE ME LOST A WHEEL AND STRUCK MY CAR. HAD TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DO A VISUAL INSPECTION WHICH REVEALED NOTHING. MY CAR HAD 7,000 KM AT THAT TIME. *TR