Home · 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev · Complaints

What 181 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (181)Crash / fire / injury (20)Engine (64)Electrical system (25)Speed control (24)Brakes (22)Transmission & drivetrain (21)Steering (20)Suspension (16)Lights (14)Body & structure (10)Engine & cooling (8)

14 of 181 complaints match · Lights · clear filters

Dec 3, 2024Lights

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V113000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the part to do the recall repair was on a national back order. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11628498

Jan 7, 2024Electrical systemLightsAirbagsCrash

About this date had accidentair bags failed to go off for any off us

NHTSA ODI 11563989

Jan 18, 2021Electrical systemLights

NORMAL DRIVING TURN SIGNAL LEVER STARTED TICKING BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE BASE CONTINUES TO TICK INTERMITTENTLY AND SMOKES IN MOTION WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI 11388680

Jun 1, 2020Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO MOISTURE INSIDE THE LIGHT FIXTURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI 11326818

Sep 16, 2019LightsBody & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER WAS COLLECTING IN THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WINNER HYUNDAI (591 S DUPONT HWY, DOVER, DE 19901, (302) 877-2489) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SEAL FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 11255907

Aug 16, 2019Lights

WATER IN SIDE FRONT HEAD LIGHT AND INSIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT.. CLEAR COAT COMING OFF

NHTSA ODI 11244470

Sep 4, 2017LightsFire

WHILE DRIVING,I SIGNALED A TURN AND SMOKE CAME FROM BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL.MY BLINKER WORKED BUT WAS MAKING A FAST CLICKING SOUND AS IF THE BLINKER WAS GOING OUT.THE NOISE WILL NOT STOP AND THE SMOKE IS INTERMITTENT.CONTACTED HYUNDAI BECAUSE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM PER THE INTERNET BUT THEY ACTED LIKE THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT.

NHTSA ODI 11021322

Oct 9, 2015BrakesLightsAirbagsSpeed controlCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PERIOD OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS FROM THE AIR BAG AND A NECK INJURY WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/12/16*LJ UPDATED 4/18/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI 10781147

Jul 23, 2015Lights

THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS HAVE A VERY SHORT RANGE. THERE IS A DEFINITE HORIZONTAL CUT OFF JUST A FEW FEET OFF THE GROUND. ANY THING ABOVE THE CUT-OFF LINE IS NOT ILLUMINATED AT ALL, NIGHT VISIBILITY IS FAR TOO SHORT JUST A FEW FEET BEFORE THE CAR. DIFFICULT TO SEE PEOPLE CROSSING THE ROAD AT NIGHT OR ANY OBJECTS, CREATING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. EXAM OF THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY REVEALS A DEFINITE CUT-OFF OF THE UPPER PART OF THE REFLECTOR CONE, REDUCING THE AVAILABLE LIGHT. THE HIGH BEAM CONE IS ROUND, HAVING NO SUCH CUT-OFF. DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT BECAUSE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA ODI 10736102

Feb 12, 2015Lights

THIS IS NOT ABOUT AN INCIDENT. THE CAR HAS VERY WEEK HEAD LIGHTS, I USE MY HIGH BEAM AT ALL TIME. NEVER GOT ANY SIGNAL FROM ON COMING CAR THAT MY HIGH BEAM ARE ON, AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 2 YEARS. I CHANGES THE BULBS AND NO CHANGE. I WENT TO 2 DEALERSHIPS, ONE IN DE AND ONE IN MD , AND THE ANSWER I GOT WAS THAT ALL HYUNDAI HAS PROBLEM WITH WEAK LIGHTS. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND GOT A STUPID ANSWER "THE DEALER KNOWS EVERYTHING, WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION TO GIVE YOU" (MY CASE # WAS 7661319). I CAN'T SEE WHEN I DRIVE, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE 55W AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IF I'LL USE STRONGER WATT IT MAY MELT THE WIRES AND WILL COST ME A OF MONEY TO FIX. I WONDER IF I AM THE ONLY DRIVER WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM AND IF THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO FIX IT. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10683034

Sep 19, 2013LightsBrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING AREA AT 10 MPH, THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE AS THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A CRASH HOWEVER, CRASHED INTO AN ICE EMBANKMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH HANDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) LETTER WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 10544404

Sep 4, 2013BrakesLightsAirbagsBody & structureCrash

FIRST OF ALL I KNOW OUR 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IS NOT MADE IN USA, IT IS A KOREAN 2.4 L, 7 SEATER BOUGHT IN PANAMA. I WROTE TO THE HYUNDAI COMPLAINT WEBSITE AND THEY VERY POLITELY ANSWERED THAT THE CAR WAS A NON-US MODEL AND THEY SENT ME A LINK TO A WEBSITE WHERE I COULD FILE THE COMPLAINT. I DID IT BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ANSWER, YET. MY FIRST PROBLEM AFTER THE CRASH WAS THE UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS FOR REPAIRING THE CAR. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH OUR LOCAL CONSUMER AUTHORITY HERE IN PANAMA. OUR CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR MORE THAN 9 MONTHS, ITS RUNNING NOW BUT STILL SOME PARTS MISSING. THE ISSUE IS THAT AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK FROM THE SHOP I RECEIVED A CALL FROM OUR LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER (PETROAUTOS) TELLING ME ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN OF THE FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH (JUST AS IN THE US MODELS) AND THAT I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. SO I LOOKED UP IN INTERNET AND I FIND SEVERAL RECALLS RELATED TO THE BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE SWITCH. SO IM WONDERING IF THIS WAS RELATED TO THE CRASH BECAUSE I ALWAYS HAD MY DOUBTS OF WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I BRAKED THAT DAY. FINALLY THERE WAS A CRASH AND ALTHOUGH I KNOW THIS MAY ONLY BE FOR YOUR INFORMATION OR FILES, AND THAT YOU CAN'T HELP ME; PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT FOR YOUR EVALUATIONS. THANKS.

NHTSA ODI 10541823

May 20, 2013Transmission & drivetrainLightsBrakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF DRIVE INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10512783

Apr 29, 2013Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10509824

Working with the data? Download all 181 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev verdict →