2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Electrical System Problems

The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to immediately start, but started after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the starter, oil filter, and engine filter, and changed the oil. On a hot day, there was a loud sound coming from the vehicle, and it was noticed that the unoccupied vehicle was attempting to start independently. The contact unlocked the vehicle and opened the vehicle door, put the keys in the ignition, and continued to crank for approximately four minutes. The accelerator pedal was pumped, and the vehicle stopped. There was smoke coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle eventually stopped. There were flames coming from the vehicle. The contact called 911, an independent mechanic, her father, and the fire department. The Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire and disconnect the battery. The mechanic determined that the engine cover was burned. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact indicated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11E040000 (Equipment). The insurance company referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 142,000. It was later discovered, during a VIN check, that the mileage was 223,000. The mileage was last recorded in June 2025. The local Police Department was notified of the fraud. However, due to insufficient information about the seller, no report was filed.

The engine locked down due to the improper power train, driveline, driveshaft. Oil leaking and malfunction of power train, driveline, driveshaft caused motor to knock and lock down

My 2010 Hyundai Sante Fe caught fire on 9/27/23 while I was operating the vehicle and this fire ultimately caused my electrical systems to overheat and the wiring to melt. There was no indication that my alternator was about to fail (no battery light on my dash, no issues with starting my car) and I regularly maintenance my car with oil changes, tire rotations, and I redid my whole brake system in August 2023. My safety, the safety of my passenger, as well as the safety of ALL the patrons in the building that sat above the parking garage I was located in when the fire was burning were put at risk by this incident. My passenger acted quickly enough to put out the fire before anything more serious occurred, however according to my insurance we didn't let the fire burn long enough for there to be damage... even though my electrical harness is melted from it overheating due to the fire... The dealership/insurance have inspected my vehicle and say that the fire occurred because the alternator shorted out/failed however I believe this is false and Hyundai is covering their butts. When alternators fail the car doesn't just burst into flames, typically the car just fails to turn on since the alternator is no longer charging the battery... at least that's what I've read and heard from friends that are mechanics. Hyundai and Kia have been plagued by fire problems since 2015. The Center for Auto Safety successfully petitioned U.S. regulators to seek recalls in 2018 and says that the automakers have recalled more than 9.2 million vehicles for fires and engine problems. More than two dozen of the recalls involved over 20 models from the 2006 through 2021 model years and ALL are for fire risk. This is a KNOWN issue with Hyundai cars in general. My thought is that the same issues that are listed in the most recent Hyundai recall for the Sante Fe's from 2011-2015 is what occurred in my vehicle but Hyundai is refusing to take ownership of the issue.

THIS CAR HAS STALLED AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, USUALLY AS WE ARE DEACCELERATING AND IN A DOWNHILL POSITION (IE: DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN A MOUNTAIN, COMING TO A STOPLIGHT GOING DOWN A HILL, ETC.). IT HAS A NEW ENGINE AS OF SUMMER 2020. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN A GENERAL DIAGNOSTICS CHECK-UP WITH NO RESULTS. WE HAVE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE FOR A SOLUTION AND SEE MANY OTHERS REPORTING SIMILAR STALLING CONCERNS, BUT WHEN WE PUT OUR VIN INTO THE RECALL SYSTEM, THERE ARE NO RECALLS AFFILIATED WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR DRIVES GREAT OTHERWISE, BUT THE STALLING IS VERY CONCERNING.

REAR TAIL LIGHTS RETAIN MOISTURE AND WATER, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION AND SHORT OUT WHEN BULBS ARE REPLACED. THIS ISSUE IS VISIBLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED ME TO BE PULLED OVER BY POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL AS IT CAN CAUSE UNSAFE BRAKING CONDITIONS DUE TO NO BRAKE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE. BRAKE LIGHT BULB WILL BE REPLACED BUT AS SOON AS IT RAINS OR ANY CONDENSATION COLLECTS IN THE HOUSING, IT CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHT TO NOT ILLUMINATE UPON PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER FAILED PERIODICALLY. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH PAINT ON THE NEGATIVE CONNECTOR TO THE ENGINE FROM BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC RESOLVED THE FAILURE BY SANDING DOWN THE AREA BY THE CONNECTOR TO METAL ON METAL. THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

SMOKE COMING FROM TURN SIGNAL SWITCH

ENGINE STALL DURING STATIONARY CRANKING AND DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AFTER SHAKING NOISE HEARD. RELATED TO RECALL 49.

THE TURN SIGNAL "CLICKING NOISE" STARTED WORKING CONTINUOUSLY AND INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER AND THE ASSOCIATED LIGHTS ON THE PANEL. ELECTRICAL SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FROM THE AREA NEAR THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR HANDLE. I REMOVED THE 10 AMP FUSE TO INTERRUPT THE POWER TO THE TURN SIGNAL AND THE SMOKING STOPPED. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND DID NOT CHANGE UNDER ANY DRIVING CONDITIONS.

PASSENGER REAR DOOR (RIGHT REAR) LOCK ACTUATOR MECHANISM FAILURE. DOOR IS LOCKED AND **CANNOT BE UNLOCKED OR OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CAR**, WHETHER BY MANUAL OR KEY FOB METHOD. MANUAL DOOR LOCK BUTTON (ON RIGHT REAR DOOR) INSIDE CAR DIFFICULT TO ACTUATE, DOOR HANDLE ACTUATION (CABLE?) SEEMS LIKE IT MAY BE DETACHED (VERY EASY TO ACTUATE DOOR HANDLE, NO RESISTANCE). WORKED FINE, UNTIL IT FAILED WITH NO WARNING. TRIED TO OPEN RIGHT REAR DOOR AND WAS UNABLE TO. I RARELY USE THIS DOOR, SO IT MAY HAVE FAILED PRIOR TO WHEN I NOTICED IT. APPROX 59,000 MILES WHEN PROBLEM NOTICED. *SERIOUS* SAFETY ISSUE IF DOOR MALFUNCTIONS WITH PASSENGERS IN CAR--THE DOOR IS 100% USELESS--AND IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANY OF THE DOORS I ASSUME.

I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 40K MILES ON IT AND IT NOW HAS 63K MILES. SINCE I HAVE HAD IT, I HAVE REPLACED THE RADIO DISPLAY, SPEAKER, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW CONTROLS, STARTER AND A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS. THE CLEAR COAT IS ALSO COMING OFF ALL THE DOOR HANDLES AND IT IS FADING THE PAINT. I NOTIFIED HYUNDAI AND THEY DID NOT ADDRESS ANY ISSUE.

SANTA FE BLINKER SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. I HAVE A VIDEO AS EVIDENCE OF THE SMOKE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. HYUNDAI REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO ME AND MY FAMILY. BLINKERS STARTED STAYING ON AT ALL TIMES WHEN IGNITION WAS ON. BLINKERS WOULD GO LEFT AND GO RIGHT, BUT WHEN IN THE CENTER POSITION THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL STAYED ON OR THE AUDIBLE PART OF THE BLINKERS COULD BE HEARD WITH NO SIGNAL LIGHT. SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE VEHICLE SMELLED AND STILL SMELLS OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I TOOK A VIDEO THAT CLEARLY SHOWS SMOKE COMING FROM THE BLINKER SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE ASK IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE VIDEO. I CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TOLD THEM AND I ALSO ASKED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE CARE OF IT. BOTH REFUSED AND SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 4,755 MILES AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING EVEN THOUGH MY FAMILY WAS IN CLEAR DANGER. THEY CHARGED ME $179 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THEIR PARTS AND IS A DANGER IN BOTH BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT FROM FAULTY SIGNALS AND INTENTIONS BEING SENT TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, WHEN THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND PULL OVER. PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND CONTINUE DRIVING WITH NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE GOT THE CAR. SINCE IT IS SPORADIC, DEALER CANNOT FIND WHAT IS WRONG. WORRIED THAT INCIDENT MIGHT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND GET REAR-ENDED. *TR

THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR SHUTS OFF WHEN IT RAINS. WARM AIR BLOWS THROUGH THE VENTS. *TR

VEHICLE WHEN STARTING FROM STOP, HESITATES THEN ACCLERATES FAST. SOMETIMES MORE SO LEFT TURN BUT ALSO STRAIGHT AHEAD. ALMOST RAN THROUGH GARAGE DOOR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. ALSO LAST NIGHT I TRIED TO ACCLERARATE TURNING LEFT FROM STOP SIGN. VEHICLE SCARES ME, THE WAY IT IS WORKING. APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND I WAS REAR ENDED @ 65 MPH. VEHICLE SUFFERED $14,000 IN DAMAGE WITH A BENT FRAME. THE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE IS NOW DIMINISHED DRASTICALLY AND IT IS REPORTED IN CAR FAX REPORT. APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS LATER VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR FAULTY BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. I SHOULD NOT SUFFER FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO NEGLIGENT PARTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED AND INSTALLED ON THIS VEHICLE.

INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHERE THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT WORK - DEPRESSING IT DOES NOT CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REV AT ALL. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, THEN NO POWER AS VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 15 MPH BEFORE IT STARTED WORKING. OTHER SYMPTOMS WHEN THIS OCCURS ARE AS FOLLOWS: WITH HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS STUCK "ON". IF HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF, SELECTING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL CAN CAUSE VARIOUS DASH LIGHTS TO BLINK, AND ENGINE LOSES POWER IN SYNCH WITH THE BLINKING LIGHTS.

WHILE SITTING IN CRAWLING TRAFFIC OR COMING TO A SLOW STOP AT A STOP SIGN, ON OCCASION THE CAR WILL LOSE ALL ELECTRICAL POWER (LIGHTS, RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTING GOES BLACK) AND THE ENGINE THEN STALLS OUT. THE GAS TANK IS TYPICALLY HALF FULL OR BELOW BUT NEVER ON EMPTY. I HAVE TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE RUNS FINE BEFORE AND AFTER THE INCIDENTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE TIMES A MONTH SINCE JUNE 2011 AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENTS. THE CAR'S POWER ALSO SEEMS TO DIM WHEN APPLYING THE BREAKS DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON OCCASION. THE HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND RADIO TOUCH SCREEN GO DIM WHEN BREAK IS APPLIED. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE ALREADY AND COMPLAINED BUT NOTHING WAS DONE. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPEAT THE EVENT, THEY CLAIMED THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT I LEAVE THE CAR STALLED OUT AND HAVE IT TOWED IN. I EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR WILL START AGAIN ONCE IN PARK OR NEUTRAL, THEREFORE A TOW TRUCK WILL NOT TOW IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR