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Engine coolingPart report

2011 Hyundai Santa FE Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
8about this part
Share
4%of 181 total for the year
Median mileage
16,800miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE, 4% of the 181 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 16,800 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“On june 11, 2014 my 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe ( 55051 miles) started making a whining sound when the car is first started. I took the car into a Hyundai dealer and they discovered that the pulley idler needed to be replaced. Fortunately my car is still under warranty. On june 27th, 2014 my Hyundai Santa Fe (55376 miles), check engine light came on. The car did not want to accelerate. Above 20 MPH. I took the car back to the dealer and they discovered the 55376 po638 lost communication and had to replace the throttle sensor. …”

NHTSA complaint #10611353, filed 2014-07, 55,369 miles

“Driving slowly in traffic down a hill my steering wheel, gear shift and brakes locked up. Immediately my generator light came on my dashboard. I managed to pull over and somehow get the car in park. I turned the car off and realized through my manual my generator light was on. I opened the hood and couldn't see anything. When turning the car back on the light went off and everything was fine. That monday I took the car to my dealership where I bought it and they told me they checked everything. Put the car up to a computer, drove it around, test everything couldn't find anything. …”

NHTSA complaint #10453272, filed 2012-03, 7,600 miles

“On may 26th 2011 around 6:20 pm when I drove on a local down hill road which is about 400 yard long, at a speed about 20 MPH, my car lost brake and power steering. I supposed to stop at a stop sign and make a left turn. When I pressed my brake pedal, my car can't stop and the pedal was very heavy, and I can't turn the steering wheel either. My car kept going straight. I kept stepping on the brake pedal very hard and my car finally stopped in the middle of street gradually. When I looked, I noticed check engine light and oil light were on. I then turn off my car and rest a while. …”

NHTSA complaint #10412636, filed 2011-07, 2,900 miles

“Vehicle has stalled in traffic when driving under 10mph and also when at a standstill at a four way intersection. Took the vehicle to Hyundai dealership 5.13.2013 and a throttle body part was ordered and installed 5.21.2013. Vehicle again stalled twice at low speed and on 10.11.2013 (mileage 37,710) an ECM upgrade was done. Yesterday,10.26.2013, the car stalled again.”

NHTSA complaint #10549692, filed 2013-10, 31,095 miles

“Twice, the engine has shut off, while trying to accelerate from an idle or stopped position. Luckily, both incidents were in an empty parking lot. The engine simply stopped running and I had to put it into parking gear, and restart the engine.”

NHTSA complaint #10525493, filed 2013-07, 26,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202411%
202331%
202073%
201921%
201833%
2017232%
201642%
201510%
201431%
201361%
201262%
201184%
201093%
200972%
2008102%
2007193%
200655%
200573%
2004227%
2003217%
2002148%
20013316%

Other parts of the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE

Engine
64 complaints
Electrical system
25 complaints
Vehicle speed control
24 complaints
Brakes
22 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
21 complaints
Steering
20 complaints
Suspension
16 complaints
Exterior lighting
14 complaints
Body and structure
10 complaints
Fuel system
8 complaints
Air bags
7 complaints
Electronic stability control
7 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology