2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Reliability
The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe has 260 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and engine. Compared with other Santa Fe model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Santa Fe's typical year, while the 2008 drew 541 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
260
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
8
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 model year, filed between 2010 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 109 | 42% |
| Engine | 37 | 14% |
| Electrical system | 28 | 11% |
| Unknown or other | 23 | 9% |
| Speed control / throttle | 21 | 8% |
| Suspension | 14 | 5% |
| Body structure | 12 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 4% |
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2010 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V261000 | Apr 28, 2011 | Powertrain / transmission — driveline / driveshaft | 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… |
| 11E040000 | Oct 6, 2011 | Equipment | Curt manufacturing is recalling certain tow package wiring harnesses, part number 55538, that connect tow vehicle lighting circuits to trailer lighting circuits sold for use on certain model year 2009 through 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. The units are not… |
| 13V113000 | Apr 1, 2013 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | 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,… |
How the 2010 compares with nearby Santa Fe years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Santa Fe analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 541 | 6 | Fuel / propulsion system | Avoid |
| 2009 | 359 | 3 | Fuel / propulsion system | Caution |
| 2010 (this page) | 260 | 3 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2011 | 181 | 3 | Engine | Solid |
| 2012 | 355 | 1 | Engine | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe reliability FAQ
Is the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe has 260 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and engine. Compared with other Santa Fe model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Santa Fe's typical year, while the 2008 drew 541 complaints.
What are the most common 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe are powertrain / transmission (109), engine (37), electrical system (28), unknown or other (23). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe, including 11V261000 (powertrain / transmission — driveline / driveshaft) and 11E040000 (equipment). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe compare with the 2009 and 2011 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2009 has 359 complaints and 3 recalls (caution); the 2011 has 181 complaints and 3 recalls (solid). The 2010 has 260 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Hyundai Santa Fe research
Other Hyundai Santa Fe model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2010 Santa Fe, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.