2011 Hyundai Santa FE Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 8%of 181 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE, 8% of the 181 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
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.
“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 complaint #11021322, filed 2017-09, 110,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10541823, filed 2013-09, 31,000 miles“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 complaint #11388680, filed 2021-01, 132,200 miles“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 complaint #11326818, filed 2020-06, 83,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10781147, filed 2015-10, 40,000 milesRelated recalls
- 13V113000Apr 1, 2013Hyundai 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…Covers: Hyundai Santa FE 2007–2011, Tucson 2006–2011, Sonata 2007–2011 +9 more
Related service bulletins
- 11025476Nov 6, 2025This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp…
- 10178175Jul 14, 2020This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to moisture accumulation in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. The…
- 10037909Jan 1, 2011Hyundai: turn signal is not cancelling due to a misaglined multi-function switch. 2011 santa fe.
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 1% |
| 2023 | 3 | 1% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 3 | 1% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% |
| 2018 | 2 | 2% |
| 2017 | 4 | 0% |
| 2016 | 2 | 1% |
| 2015 | 9 | 4% |
| 2014 | 11 | 2% |
| 2013 | 16 | 3% |
| 2012 | 14 | 4% |
| 2011 | 14 | 8% |
| 2010 | 7 | 3% |
| 2009 | 9 | 3% |
| 2008 | 11 | 2% |
| 2007 | 43 | 6% |
| 2006 | 9 | 8% |
| 2005 | 5 | 2% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 2 | 1% |
| 2002 | 2 | 1% |
| 2001 | 3 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2011 Hyundai Santa FE
64 complaintsElectrical system
25 complaintsVehicle speed control
24 complaintsBrakes
22 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsSteering
20 complaintsSuspension
16 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsElectronic 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 Nov 1, 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