YearToAvoid

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 21 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe, 12% of that year's 181 total complaints. The median mileage at failure was 22,700. One crash and one injury are recorded, with no related recalls tied to this complaint area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
21
12% of 181
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
22,701 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe the engine stalling or losing power mid-turn, often accompanied by loss of power steering and braking.
  • Some drivers report the gas pedal becoming unresponsive right after the check engine light comes on, even though the engine keeps running.
  • Several complaints describe the gear shifter sticking or refusing to move out of drive into reverse or neutral on repeated attempts.
  • Owners report hesitation when accelerating from a stop, with the vehicle creeping slowly instead of gaining power.
  • One owner reported the vehicle rolling away after shifting out of gear on its own while parked on an incline.

When 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 3, 2011, latest Apr 9, 2026.

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Jan 2011Aug 2012Jan 2013May 2013Mar 2014Mar 2017
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2011 to Apr 2026; peak May 2013 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Santa Fe model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010109 (42%)
  2. 201121 (12%)
  3. 201224 (7%)
  4. 201352 (9%)
  5. 201436 (7%)
  6. 201522 (9%)
  7. 201621 (9%)
  8. 2017163 (17%)
  9. 201810 (9%)
  10. 201935 (18%)
  11. 202026 (12%)
  12. 202150 (30%)
  13. 202257 (29%)
  14. 202344 (21%)
  15. 202442 (28%)
  16. 202521 (16%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA lists 21 complaints in the Transmission & Powertrain category for the 2011 Santa Fe, making up 12% of the 181 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe?
No related recalls are listed for this complaint area in the NHTSA data provided.
At what mileage do transmission problems typically show up on the 2011 Santa Fe?
The median mileage at failure among reported cases was 22,700 miles.
Did any transmission complaints involve crashes or injuries?
Yes, NHTSA data records one crash and one injury among the 2011 Santa Fe's Transmission & Powertrain complaints.
How does the 2011 Santa Fe compare to other years for this problem area?
The 2011 model's 21 complaints and 12% share are lower than 2010's 109 complaints (42% share) and 2017's 163 complaints (17% share), suggesting 2011 is less affected than some other Santa Fe years.

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.