There are 22 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
About this date had accidentair bags failed to go off for any off us
While driving about 35mph a fast ticking sound came from the turn signal/steering column area then it started smoking so I turned on the turn signal and it stopped ticking I almost panicked. Incident has happened 2 more time's but I put on the turn signal quickly before it overheated and it did not smoke. The car has not been to a service center or dealer and there we no warning lights on or prior symptoms
WHEN TRYING TO START THE TRUCK USING THE REMOTE STARTER THE AREA WHERE THE TURNING SWITCH IS STARED TO SMOKE AND THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRE WAS SMELT AND THE SOUND LIKE MY HAZARD LIGHT WAS HEARD I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF THEN TURN IT BACK ON THE NOISE WAS GONE. THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY( PARK) AND THE TURNING SWITCH WAS NOT BEING USED, AND THE HEADLIGHT WAS OFF . I WAS TRYING TO WARM THE TRUCK UP.
NORMAL DRIVING TURN SIGNAL LEVER STARTED TICKING BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE BASE CONTINUES TO TICK INTERMITTENTLY AND SMOKES IN MOTION WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY
THIS IS TO MAKE AWARE OF POTENTIAL/ POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE CAUSE IN SOME HYUNDAI VEHICLES. I OWN A 2011 SANTA FE. AT LESS THAN 70K MILES THE OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER AND LEAK OIL. DEALERSHIP INDICATED I RUINED ENGINE AND I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS DUE TO BLA BLA BLA. I TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THEY FOUND AND REPLACED DEFECTIVE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH HYUNDAI #9475037000 WHICH LEAKED OIL ONTO TOP ENGINE, CREATED A LARGE POOL OF HOT OIL THAT SAT THERE HIDDEN UNDER OTHER COMPONENTS. ( FIRE HAZARD ). THEN- AT 130K MILES IT HAPPENED AGAIN. REPEAT REPLACEMENT OF GENUINE DEFECTIVE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH AND HOT OIL ON ENGINE (FIRE HAZARD) CONTACTED HYUNDAI TO EXPLAIN THE FIRE HAZARD DEFECTIVE OIL SWITCH ISSUE. ALL THEY COULD SAY WAS TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP. WELL I DID JUST THAT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED SO WHY GO BACK AND GO THRU THE SAME BS. THE 2 SWITCHES FAILING AND HIDDEN OIL POOLS ON A HOT ENGINE SHOULD BE A RED FLAG AND MAYBE AN ANSWER TO ALL THE PAST CAR FIRES REPORTED HERE. INCLUDED IS PHOTO OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT WHERE REPLACED. NOTE- THE SWITCH LOCATION IS IN THE V CAVITY UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AND IF IT STARTS SPEWING HOT OIL OUT THERE'S NO WAY SEE IT. *TR
SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE , HARNESS OR MODULE , ALLOWS THE COMPUTER TO OVERHEAT SUDDENLY , THROUGH 3 BATTERS AND 2 ALTERNATORS IN 4 MONTHS LAST ALTERNATOR LASTED 2 DRIVES... CAR DIES NANCY DEPRESSIVE LIGHT SHOW AND DIED THEN THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR IS FRIED. HYUNDIA DEALERSHIP REFUSING TO CHECK HARNESS OR MODULE BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T LISTED IN RECALL ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS IN THE RECALL. THE CAR HAS DIED 4 TIMES REQUIRING TOWING. THE CAR DIED WHEN DRIVING AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES . CAR HAS BRAND NEW BATTERY. STARTER WORKS FINE. IT DIED IN THE MIDDLE IF A STREETCEACH TIME TWICE WAS AT NIGHT. AND I AM A DISABLED WOMAN WHO USES A WHEELCHAIR. MONDAY JUNE 24TH WAS THE MOST RECENT TIME AT 1 PM IN 104 DEGREE HEAT FOR 5 HOURS WITH A HEART CONDITION WHICH WAS DOUBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE BATTERY DIED EVENTUALLY LEAVING ME WITH NO HAZARDS. WHAT TO CHARGE ME TO REPLACE A 3 RD ALTERNATOR WITHOUT CHECKING HARNESS OR MODULE A SCAM!
BLINKERS KEEP GOING ON BY THEMSELVES. SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS RUNNING WHETHER DRIVING OR IN PARK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THE BRAKES BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKES AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
AFTER SIGNALING LANE CHANGE/TURN FROM HIGHWAY, TURN SIGNAL SWITCH CONTINUED CLICKING WHEN TURN WAS COMPLETED AND TURN SIGNAL WAS IN OFF POSITION. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT VENT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, STARTED THE VEHICLE, CLICKING CONTINUED, TURN SIGNALS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION, LEFT SIGNAL WAS FLASHING. I REMOVED FUSE BOX COVER INSIDE VEHICLE AND SMELLED THE ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND WAS ADVISED THERE IS NO RECALL INVOLVING SIGNALS.
CAR WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 10 MILES AND THEN PARKED INSIDE AN ATTACHED GARAGE. NO ISSUES WERE PRESENT DURING THE DRIVE. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND KEY REMOVED FROM VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR HAD PASSED THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE. FLAMES WERE VISIBLE BEHIND THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HARMED. THE FIRE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE AND HOME. FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT EXTERNAL TO THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHILE ON A LONG TRIP ABOUT 100 MILES INTO THE DRIVE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 78 MPH THE STEERING COLUMNS (FROM THE TURN SIGNAL SIDE) STARTS SMOKING AND IT SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL WIRING BURNING. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN BUT DID NOT STOP IN FEAR OF BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. AT THE SAME TIME THE TURN SIGNAL STARTED MAKING THIS VERY FAST CLICKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE TURN SIGNAL WAS STUCK ON, BUT IT WAS NOT ON. NO IDIOT LIGHTS EVER CAME ON TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES THE SMOKE FINALLY STOPPED THE THE SMELL WENT AWAY. HOWEVER THE FAST TURN SIGNAL CLICKING NOISE CONTINUED OFF AND ON FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE NEXT 250 MILES HOME WITH THE CLICKING NOISE. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN WHEN I STOPPED FOR GAS AND IT STARTED JUST FINE. I PLAN TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY MORNING TO HAVE THE ISSUE DIAGNOSED. JUST AFTER THIS HAPPENED I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP FOR ADVISE ON WHAT TO DO AND HE THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. MY BIGGEST FEAR WAS THAT THE INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE AND I WAS GOING TO BE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE WITH NO HELP. NOT TO MENTION THE FEAR ON ME CATCHING ON FIRE AS THE STEERING COLUMN IN RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY BODY. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. PLEASE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.
LED SCREEN ON A/C AND MILEAGE BACK LIGHTING FLICKERING ON AND OFF. VERY DISTURBING AT NIGHT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON ANY CAR 2011. LCD BLUE SCREENS ARE SHORTING OUT. MID PANEL RADIO DOWN TO A/C CONTROLS AND ODOMETER SCREEN. DEALER WANTS 2,000 REPLACE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A 7 YEAR OLD CAR AND MECHANIC SAYS HE SEES IT ALL THE TIME ON MANY MODELS OF HYUNDAI.
DIRECTIONAL WAS BLINKING FAST AND WAS NOT ON THEN SMOKE CAME FROM STEERING WHEEL.
CENTER INFORMATION CONSOLE (RADIO/NAVIGATION) CONSOLE SCREEN IS BLACK IN COLD WEATHER UNTIL IT THAWS OUT. MAKE RADIO AND NAVIGATION UNUSABLE UNTIL IT THAWS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF SOMEONE IS TRAVELLING AND THE CAR GETS COLD THEY'LL BE UNABLE TO NAVIGATE. IMAGINE GETTING UP FOR AN EMERGENCY TO GO SOMEWHERE AND THE SCREEN IS BLACK PREVENTING YOU FROM TRAVELLING OR YOU'RE TRAVELLING AND STOP FOR A REST AND THE VEHICLE GETS COLD PREVENTING YOU FROM CONTINUING UNTIL IT THAWS OUT. IF SOMEONE HAD AN EMERGENCY AND NEEDED TO FIND A HOSPITAL OR IN CASE OF DIABETIC NEEDED TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO EAT AND THEY COULDN'T BECAUSE THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WAS FROZEN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE DIED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER REPLACING IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
CAR IS STOPPED AND IN THE GARAGE BUT THE FAN WILL NOT SHUT OFF WITHOUT DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE WIRING WAS RECONNECTED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500. MA 10/15/2015 THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/05/16.*JB
2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND CAR DIED. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE SLOWED DOWN TO GO AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. HE COULD BARELY GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. TECH SUPPORT, RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY, SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, ON MARCH 1, 2014, WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE NOT OPERABLE. HE LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE RE-STARTING IT. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, AND AFTER A THOROUGH EXAMINATION, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
I WAS SHOWING MY NEW/USED 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE TO SOME FRIENDS WHEN WE HEARD A POP AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. NO ONE ELSE WAS AROUND THE VEHICLE AND WHERE IT WAS PARKED THERE WAS NO WHERE SOMEONE COULD HAVE SHOT THE WINDOW WITH A PELLET GUN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. EARLIER IN THE MORNING I HAD THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER ON TO CLEAR LIGHT FOG OFF THE REAR WINDSHIELD. IT WAS ONLY ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES UNTIL I SHUT IT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 22 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026