Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
ABS and traction control lights always on. Dealership stated a faulty right rear wheel bearing sensor faulty was the cause and needed to be replaced. This caused a problem with the ABS and traction control systems. Hyundai has issued a recall for ABS/traction control for my vehicle's make model year, but not my exact trim.
While operating vehicle at normal speed on the right side of the road, there was another vehicle closer to the middle of the road in opposing traffic on a two lane road. As I swerved a bit to the right in an effort to give the opposing vehicle more room, I went too far to the brim of the road. As I tried to correct it, I lost total control of the steering of the vehicle, causing me to drive straight across the other side of the road and into a tree. The vehicle went head onto into the tree, bounced off, and slid backwards down into a drainage culvert. There was melting snow on the brim of the road, but the road itself had no weather related problems that would cause me to lose control of the vehicle. Upon further inspection of the vehicle, it was noted that the steering was locked, turned to the left at 10:00 position, and both steer tires were pointed straight ahead. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH, the contact stated smoke was coming from the steering column. The contact drove the vehicle back to their residence. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to local dealer (horne Hyundai 1360 e auto center dr, apache junction, az 85119 [phone]) where it was diagnosed with needing turn signals to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
I purchased this car brand new, and I have been having problems from the beginning. I was told at first that it was a defective automatic starter which was removed, and was never replaced for fear of experiencing such an episode. I would be driving, and suddenly the car will shut off. I would have people honking, and cursing at me for almost causing an accident. Several times I had to swerve to avoid hitting pedestrians when the car stalls. I have taken the car back to the dealership with no avail, because the problem does not happen when they have the car. I only drive the car for short distances for fear of getting stuck on the highway etc. Recently my son borrowed my car and was almost killed on the road when the car stalled with him. Luckily, he was able to steer the vehicle to the side of the road. Needless to say, he refused to drive the car back home for fear of losing his life. …
While driving at a rate of less than 5-10 mpg in heavy traffic on the 105 west freeway. The car suddenly lost power steering abilities and all power in the vehicle without notification lights or any other strange peculiarities. Both the check engine and oil lights went on. I managed to pull over with whatever residual power remaining as not to impede traffic but it was a terrifying struggle. The gears were also locked and unable to shift. I turned off the ignition and restarted the car. All the lights on the dashboard cleared and there are no diagnostics on the computer that reflect this problem. It is unknown what is causing the issue. Months prior (6 months) I was driving at a higher rate of speed (approx 30 MPH) on the same freeway, early morning, and the same problem also happened. This could have caused me to be rear ended badly or worse.
The vehicle was moving about 35mph on a street when the power steering high pressure line failed, we were traveling on a straight road and by the time I heard the whining of the pump, the power steering fluid had leaked out and of course we lost power steering. The failure was due to corrosion of the the metal pipe where the it couples to the flexible hose from the pump. Fortunately this only resulted in having to drive home without power steering. The high pressure line was replace by a local shop. The vehicle has 67K miles on it and has not been used in any extreme corrosive environment. I contacted Hyundai to report this as well, waiting for a response.
Nothing has happened so far, my complaint is that every 4-6 months, I need to buy parts for my Santa Fe. It starts with a knock on the right front end of the car. I need to get to work, so I take my time getting there. I also was about to get on the highway, and the spring broke on the on ramp. I see all the horror stories about this model Hyundai with issues with the front end . I can send you repair bills of what parts have been replaced over the last 5 years.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. While making a right turn, the steering wheel seized. There were no warning indicators illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000. Updated 10/5/18
I noticed my steering wheel had play in it and when braking would severly shake.. Took to Hyundai dealer and they stated I needed a coupler and intermediate shaft and bolts to be replaced. My vehicle has roughly 77,000 miles.I had to pay for repair since this was a safety issue. Now there is a recal regarding power steering. I have had this car for over 2 years with nothing but saftey concerns.
My multi stalk switch is smoking and constantly clicking as if my blinker is on. It also causes my signal lights to come on and stick. This is happening the whole time the car is running. It first started smoking yesterday while I was driving on the highway, and it also smokes when the car is parked. I believe this to be a huge hazard because I am afraid it will start a fire.
NHTSA investigations
Steering Shaft Universal Joint Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE12-029 based on one complaint alleging that a fastener became loose in the steering shaft of a model year (MY) 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicle and related Early Warning Reporting field report data.In it's response to ODI's information request letter for PE12-029, Hyundai identified a total of four incidents of steering shaft universal joint failure in early production…
Steering complaints in other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the steering of the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe, 11% of the model year's 181 complaints. The component named most often is electric power assist system (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 54,000 miles, and 31% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 4 injuries and 1 death to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.