2011 Hyundai Santa FE Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

64Engine complaints

35.4%Of all 181 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE64 · 35.4%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25 · 13.8%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL24 · 13.3%

POWER TRAIN20 · 11%

STEERING19 · 10.5%

Share of the 181 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE overview page.

What owners report

“CAR WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 10 MILES AND THEN PARKED INSIDE AN ATTACHED GARAGE. NO ISSUES WERE PRESENT DURING THE DRIVE. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF…”NHTSA complaint 11080980 — filed 03/22/2018

“ON SATURDAY 6/3/17 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A BABY SHOWER WHEN I HEARD A METAL SOUNDING NOISE TOWARDS THE FRONT OF MY CAR AFTER…”NHTSA complaint 10994011 — filed 06/08/2017

“ENGINE STALLED TWICE DURING 35MPH DRIVE HOME THIS EVE, MAKING STEERING AWAY FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC EXTREMELY CHALLENGING AND TERRIFYING. OCCURRED ON #3 AND #4 OF…”NHTSA complaint 10991302 — filed 05/23/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE: 64 of 181 complaints on file (35.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE have in total?

181 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 12 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, 9 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.