2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Santa Fe 2011

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe repairs by problem area

Engine (19%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (13%)

Brakes and Traction Control (6%)

Suspension and Steering (29%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (19%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (8%)

Other (4%)

Chart based on 95 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe.

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe repair cost distribution

$2500+ (1%)

$1000 - $2499 (5%)

$500 - $999 (11%)

$100 - $499 (19%)

< $100 (64%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 74 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe

Engine not specified

Hyundai Santa Fe in Pennsylvania, United States
Aug 2015 - Aug 2017
Mar 2015

120000 mi

US $150
Cleaned fuel system as was not running correctly. After simple cleaning no problems. 

Return to top

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

276-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in North Carolina, United States
Sep 2011 - Jun 2021
Dec 2012

17000 mi
ESC light intermittently came on,. Brake light switch replaced. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Manitoba, Canada
Aug 2016 - Sep 2018
Oct 2016

42660 mi

C $1300
VVT & timing chain & tensions.During start up when cold only the VVT was clattering loud noise and the timing chain was rattling. After warm up could not heat the valve train noise anymore. Dealer paid for parts only under good will. 
Jun 2017

60760 mi

C $60
I changed the front brake pads but found they still has 30% of braking lining left. I was told by CTC that my front brake pad linings were very low while I bought new tires at 95,000 kms. 
Jun 2018

82460 mi

C $1100
Rear brake were still seizing, calipers were seizing. Replace both calipers and rotors. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Wisconsin, United States
Jul 2011 - Jun 2018
Oct 2015

73700 mi

US $530
Oil light would flicker at low RPMs. Oil pressure switch was replaced. 
Aug 2016

88000 mi

US $185
Had problems with the blinkers randomly making clicking noise even when the blinkers weren't being used. Dealer replaced multi-function switch in the steering column. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Ontario, Canada
Sep 2011 - Dec 2012
Dec 2012

24800 mi
Brake sensor wasn't working. Car would occasionally be unable to move from neutral to reverse, or vice versa. Turning car off for a few minutes would reset the sensor, allowing you to move to reverse 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Wisconsin, United States
Jul 2011 - Jun 2022
Sep 2011

9000 mi
Added rubber boots over exposed shocks to keep dirt & grime from causing seals to fail. 
May 2015

59300 mi
Battery light came on. Just managed to drive to nearest dealer. Left with him. Alternator had failed. Took 1 day to get part. Repaired under warranty. 
Jun 2015

61000 mi
Was rattling, so I took it in. Repaired under warranty. 
Feb 2016

71000 mi
The timing chain tensioner system runs off of oil pressure. Lost pressure when engine off. Caused chain to rattle badly. (check valve in system failed) 
Mar 2016

73000 mi
Lower connecting rod bearing failing (noises on startup caused me to bring in). Entire engine replaced. 
May 2016

74000 mi

US $900
Replaced worn struts 
Jun 2022

121000 mi

US $1400
Struts 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Ontario, Canada
Jun 2013 - Aug 2016
Aug 2013

54460 mi
Intermittent rough shifting. Replaced transmission on warranty. 
Sep 2014

77500 mi

C $150
Washer fluid pump leaked 
Mar 2015

88040 mi

C $185
lower front ball joint driver's side replaced - too much play - required for safety check; required wheel alignment; rear brake pads replaced; brake fluid flushed Left tie rod end changed plus wheel alignment 
Oct 2015

101020 mi

C $118
Replaced signal relay - constantly clicking rapidly 
Feb 2016

110060 mi

C $225
Replaced front left lower ball joint 

Return to top

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

276-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in Nova Scotia, Canada
Oct 2012 - Nov 2013
Apr 2012

22947 mi
Car would not start periodically. Immobilizer Module replaced. Car would not start periodically. Immobilizer Module replaced. Antenna Coil replaced. Keys reprogrammed. 
Mar 2013

38440 mi
Leather seems to be peeling on driver's door arm rest. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Connecticut, United States
Mar 2014 - Mar 2017
Sep 2015

23000 mi
Rt rear headrest would not fold down when putting rear seats down for larger cargo. Removed rear seat & headrest. Opened headrest repaired internals, reinstalled. Works fine now with the modifications I made. CHEAP PLASTIC PARTS FAILED! 110-V power outlet blows fuse when switch depressed. Appears to be a faulty switch. Switch on order non-stock part. Will not know if successful until part arrives and I install it! Out of Warranty. Replaced switch with new one, still blows fuse when turned on, direct short in system obviously so will not be getting it fixed as not under warantee but it should be! 
Jul 2016

29000 mi
Throttle was hitting a dead spot and would almost stop when accelerating from stop or hard from slow Speed. Dealer said it was a recall, which I never got! Updated software and cleaned carbon out of throttle body and hopefully intake manifold. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Maryland, United States
Nov 2013 - Mar 2018
Jan 2015

37200 mi
I was told that my problem was a possible drive shaft. After trying a temporary drive shaft the noise was still there. Then I was told it was possibly the transfer case. Well that did not solve the problem. Hyundai has not responded back yet. The transfer case was replaced. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Quebec, Canada
- Aug 2011
Aug 2011

1116 mi

C $171
replacing a ground wire because vehicule won't start 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Pennsylvania, United States
Jan 2021 - Jun 2022
Feb 2022

111000 mi

US $1900
Replace intake manifold 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2011 - Dec 2017
Oct 2017

65720 mi

C $350
Oil pressure sensor failure 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2012 - Apr 2013
Aug 2012

12400 mi
1st trip to dealer to have this repaired. Still sqeaking New alternator installed. Under warranty Rattle/squeak in roof liner. Hyundai never was able to repair this. Second of three trips to daler for this. No success 
Hyundai Santa Fe in British Columbia, Canada
Apr 2017 - Sep 2017
Jun 2017

41540 mi

C $168
Replace R front axle Hyundai paid for parts ( new Hyundai part 2 year warranty) 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Ohio, United States
Nov 2015 - Aug 2017
Sep 2016

63000 mi

US $100
Bought used with a maintenance package and $100 deductible. Repair total was $200. Right front steering required repair. Car would jump around on the road. Part was replace and total alignment was done. Now it finally steers like an SUV. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Indiana, United States
Feb 2012 - Jun 2022
Jun 2015

40000 mi

US $500
On turns and excelleration the rear would thump and then shutter. They replaced AWD coupeling under warranty. Said it would have been $1500 otherwise. 
Sep 2021

68000 mi

US $750
REBUILD FRON SUSPENSION 
Hyundai Santa Fe in British Columbia, Canada
Jul 2011 - Nov 2017
Mar 2015

70680 mi

C $500
replace alterntor 
Hyundai Santa Fe in New Brunswick, Canada
Aug 2011 - Jun 2016
Jun 2012

13640 mi
Yellow engine light fixed by replacing the o2 senor under warranty. 
Jul 2013

29120 mi
Leaking strut on the drivers front ruined a tire by wearing the inside shoulder bald. 
Apr 2014

40180 mi
Spring noise during low speed turns. Strut bearing was bad and replaced. 
Aug 2014

44680 mi
Yellow check engine light solved by brake switch replacement. Subject of a recall. 
Dec 2014

49600 mi
Front and rear bushings replaced because of clunking noise. 
Nov 2015

60520 mi
Timing chain cover reseal. Leak noticed by dealer during an oil change. Traction control light intermittently coming on. 
Apr 2016

65720 mi

C $60
Oil light coming on. Oil pressure sensor replaced. Both front strut coil springs broke. Upon dealer inspection the driver strut bearing was also bad. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2011 - Jun 2022
Sep 2014

44640 mi
Water collecting in the passenger side rear tail light. Dealer fixed under warrenty 
Jun 2016

59520 mi

C $500
Driver side auto door lock stopped working 
Sep 2021

88660 mi

C $1400
Rear shocks replaced and mounting needed to be repaired. 
May 2022

90520 mi

C $2000
Replaced parts [tie-rod ends] 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Quebec, Canada
Jul 2011 - Nov 2016
Oct 2012

21700 mi
Transmission started 'kicking' while shifting from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd, reprogrammed. 
Nov 2012

22400 mi
Transmission 'kicked' considerably from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th, then 'check engine' light. 
Apr 2013

26540 mi
Significant oil leak after previous work on transmission. 
Jun 2013

29140 mi
Leaking joint. 4th trip for the same repair. 
Mar 2014

35960 mi

C $45
You could feel the passenger door going up and down with your elbow when running over potholes. They adjusted the door and striker. door and striker'. 
May 2014

37820 mi
Steering had become harder and harder. Dealer replaced front strut bearings. Didn't test drive. Problem still present at delivery. Car had to go back in. Problem was with universal joint. 
Dec 2014

43400 mi
Oil pressure sensor replaced. 
Nov 2015

50220 mi
Bad shock replaced 
Feb 2016

51460 mi
Alternator replaced 
Mar 2016

53320 mi
Universal joint replaced (2nd time in less than two years) 
Aug 2016

56420 mi

C $25
Shock replaced. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in New York, United States
Jul 2011 - May 2016
Mar 2012

5000 mi
Insulation added to stop creaking in cabin. 

Return to top

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

175-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in District of Columbia, United States
Jul 2011 - Aug 2014
May 2012

14000 mi
Starter stayed on after the car was turned on. Eventually it started to overheat and fail. 
Feb 2013

24000 mi
Starter took too long to start the car -- battery was found defective and replaced. 
Jul 2014

29000 mi
Check engine light went on, dealer diagnosed a faulty intake manifold. Part ordered, replaced after sold to a co-worker. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Tennessee, United States
Nov 2011 - Sep 2014
Aug 2012

14000 mi
Brake switch went bad causing the traction control light to come on. It caused the car not to shift into park. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Ontario, Canada
Feb 2015 - Jan 2022
Apr 2017

69440 mi
BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRING STRUT MOUNT 
Jan 2022

96100 mi
RECALL 

Return to top

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

175-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in Maine, United States
Jul 2011 - Sep 2015
Feb 2013

34000 mi
Rear door would not open, suddenly. It felt funny for a month or so and then quit. 
Apr 2014

55000 mi
Loud intermittent exhaust noise under the hood. Sounded as though exhaust became disconnected from header. Would last for 10 minutes and stop. Did not effect use of vehicle. 
Jun 2014

60000 mi

US $84
tie rod end replacement and bolt replacement for strut 
Sep 2014

65000 mi

US $544
right rear wheel bearing started humming 
Mar 2015

75000 mi

US $2800
Pinion bearing on drivers side shot.  Tie rod ends replaced. 
Sep 2015

78000 mi

US $235
lost rear main seal. Had left ball joint replaced and alignment 
Hyundai Santa Fe in British Columbia, Canada
Jun 2016 - Apr 2017
Aug 2016

39960 mi
Steering column leak 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Idaho, United States
Feb 2013 - Oct 2014
Oct 2014

53000 mi
Power steering issue, covered under warranty. 
Hyundai Santa Fe in New York, United States
Oct 2011 - Jun 2013
May 2013

20600 mi
recalled. car was hesitating and surging 
Hyundai Santa Fe in Panama
Aug 2011 - Jun 2018
Nov 2011

11160 mi
The radio screen had troubles with the colors and sometimes letters do not appear. 
Dec 2011

11780 mi
One of the Back seats didn't fold. 
Jan 2013

23560 mi
Problem: The Shifting stick sometimes got stuck on parking, even if you were pressing the brake to free it. Solution: They changed the chip. 
May 2013

27900 mi
Unstable in idle and sudden loss of power while driving at low speed (around 20-30km/h) 
Jun 2013

30380 mi
Unstable in idle and sudden loss of power while driving at low speed (around 20-30km/h). Problem with the catalytic converter and they replaced it. 
Feb 2018

86800 mi

US $200
Change of break pads. 

Return to top

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

175-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in Sri Lankia
Jul 2011 - Jun 2018
Jan 2012

5800 mi
Seat belt on the driver's seat malfunctioned 
Apr 2016

40800 mi

$300
The power steering developed stffness, when turning to the right, the steering seems stiff and extra effort needed. 
Dec 2017

77500 mi

$200
Front brakes were replaced 

Return to top

2010.5 Hyundai Santa Fe 4dr SUV

turbocharged 194hp 2.2L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual AWD

Hyundai Santa Fe in New South Wales, Australia
Jun 2013 - Jul 2014
Jul 2013

22520 mi
clutch developed a rattling and banging and the clutch peddle was hammering when you placed your foot on it. It also developed a harsh vibration when accelerating, even lightly. it is in at the moment having the clutch and flywheel replaced. 

Return to top

See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Hyundai models.

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.