YearToAvoid

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

13/100

#14 most-complained of 16 Santa Fe years

The 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe ranks 14th out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 13 and a "Best" verdict relative to other Santa Fe years. It has 181 complaints, 2 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with Engine issues as the top problem area (87 complaints, 48% share).

Complaints
181
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
12 / 8
Injuries / deaths
9 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
20 city / 26 hwy

Top 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine87 (48%)
  2. Electrical System37 (20%)
  3. Brakes27 (15%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain21 (12%)
  5. Steering20 (11%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires18 (10%)
  7. Structure & Body11 (6%)
  8. Fuel System8 (4%)
  9. Airbags7 (4%)
  10. Other7 (4%)

What owners report

  • Engine emits a loud banging noise and then catches fire while driving at highway speed.
  • A rear tire loses pressure or explodes accompanied by a loud pop, followed by the vehicle stalling and being struck by another car.
  • Owners describe an "odd" feeling in the steering shortly before losing control of the vehicle on the highway.
  • While shifting into park in a parking lot, the vehicle suddenly lunges forward at high speed despite braking, striking a wall.
  • The brake warning light fails to illuminate and the brakes fail to engage while entering a parking area at low speed, leading to a crash.
  • Smoke and a fast clicking sound come from behind the steering wheel near the turn signal, described by owners as a known electrical issue.
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints: complaints filed per quarter192011 Q12012 Q42014 Q32016 Q32018 Q22020 Q12022 Q32024 Q3
250 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2013 Q2 (19).

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 13V113000Apr 1, 2013Electrical System1,712,336 vehicles

    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, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

    Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

  2. NHTSA 10V613000Dec 9, 2010Brakes1,785 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper

    Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2011 santa fe vehicles manufactured from september 28, 2010, through november 25, 2010. Some of the rear brake calipers may not have been properly machined.

    Risk: As a result, brake fluid will leak, followed by illumination of the malfunction indicator light indicating the brake fluid level is low and should be checked, then a soft or spongy brake pedal feel, and if not serviced, reduced braking power which could increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear calipers and replace it if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on december 17, 2010. Owners may contact hyundai roadside assistance at 1-800-243-7766.

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Santa Fe years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Good27258223
2011Best13181222
2012Caution60353122
2013Avoid87605320.5

All Hyundai Santa Fe years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
Among Santa Fe model years, 2011 ranks 14th out of 16 with a complaint index of 13, earning a "Best" verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Engine problems are the top complaint area, accounting for 87 of 181 complaints (48%), followed by Electrical System issues at 37 complaints (20%) and Brakes at 27 complaints (15%).
Does the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2011 Santa Fe: one for a stop lamp switch in the electrical system (campaign 13V113000) and one for improperly machined rear brake calipers (campaign 10V613000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
At what mileage do 2011 Santa Fe engine problems typically appear?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 38,550 miles at failure for engine-related complaints on the 2011 Santa Fe.
How does the 2011 Santa Fe compare to other years like 2013 or 2017?
The 2011 Santa Fe has a much lower complaint index (13) than the 2013 model (87, rated Avoid) or the 2017 model (100, rated Avoid), making 2011 a relatively strong year.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.