Model year guide

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 159 on record.

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints256
Combined23 mpg
Typical price$10,162

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls 3

Equipment NHTSA Campaign #11E040000 · 06/10/2011

CURT MANUFACTURING IS RECALLING CERTAIN TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESSES, PART NUMBER 55538, THAT CONNECT TOW VEHICLE LIGHTING CIRCUITS TO TRAILER LIGHTING CIRCUITS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES. THE UNITS ARE NOT WATER-TIGHT AND MOISTURE CAN SEEP INTO THE CONVERTER MODULE AND DEFEAT THE MODULE'S INTERNAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION.

Fix: CURT MANUFACTURING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESS. THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MANUFACTURING AT 1-715 831-8713.

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch NHTSA Campaign #13V113000 · 01/04/2013

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 2…

Fix: 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.

Power Train:driveline:driveshaft NHTSA Campaign #11V261000 · 28/04/2011

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 SANTA FE 2WD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 15, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 5, 2010. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY SUFFER FROM NOISE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WHIRRING/WH…

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 256 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Equipment
Test all accessories — sunroof, climate, seats, electronics — for proper operation.

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe MPG & running costs

Combined23 mpg
City20 mpg
Highway27 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,710

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe worth?

Low
$8,000
Typical price
$10,162
High
$12,750

From 156 comparable 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,550
Depreciation (5 yrs)$7,050
Total$20,600
Per mile$0.27

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($10,162) with the same model 5 model-years older ($3,109), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe trims & engines on record

Trims
GLS · SE · Limited · Sport Popular / Sport Leather / Sport Tech / Sport Turbo / Sport Turbo leather
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.5L 6-cyl · 2.0L

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles on record

Other Hyundai Santa Fe model years

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe — frequently asked questions

Does the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Based on 256 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, electrical system, power train.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe at about 23 mpg combined (20 city / 27 highway).

How much is a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe worth?

Comparable 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe listings run roughly $8,000–$12,750, typically around $10,162 (from 156 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.