2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Transmission & Powertrain Problems
The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe logged 109 transmission and powertrain complaints, 42% of its 258 total complaints for the year — the highest share of any model year listed. A related recall (11V261000) covers a right-side output gear and intermediate shaft issue on 2WD automatic 2.4L models.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 109
- 42% of 258
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 10,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Vehicle lunges forward several inches on startup while still in park, even with foot off the pedal.
- A loud bang or knock occurs at startup, sometimes jerking the vehicle, with dealers unable to duplicate or diagnose the noise.
- Transmission hesitates or jerks when shifting between low gears, particularly 2nd to 3rd, at low speeds.
- Vehicle stalls or dies unexpectedly while driving, including while idling at lights or turning.
- Owners report difficulty upshifting and downshifting along with clanging and banging noises from the drivetrain.
- One owner reported sudden loss of power at 70 mph on the highway, requiring the vehicle to coast to the shoulder.
When 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Apr 23, 2010, latest Aug 15, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
- NHTSA 11V261000Apr 28, 2011Transmission & Powertrain5,876 vehicles
Power train: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 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.
Risk: 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.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Santa Fe model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many transmission complaints does the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
- NHTSA lists 109 transmission and powertrain complaints for the 2010 Santa Fe, making up 42% of all 258 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a transmission recall for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe?
- Yes. Recall campaign 11V261000, reported April 28, 2011, covers 2WD automatic 2.4L Santa Fe models built from October 15, 2009 through March 5, 2010, for an intermediate shaft issue causing noise. The remedy is a free replacement of the right side output gear and intermediate shaft.
- At what mileage do 2010 Santa Fe transmission problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 10,500 miles at failure for transmission and powertrain complaints on the 2010 Santa Fe.
- Does the 2010 Santa Fe transmission issue involve crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA records 0 crashes and 0 fires tied to this problem area, but 1 injury has been reported.
- How does the 2010 Santa Fe compare to other years for transmission complaints?
- The 2010 model year's 42% share of complaints tied to transmission and powertrain is far higher than other years shown, such as 2011 at 12% and 2017 at 17%.