2013 Hyundai SANTA FE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
605 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
55,135 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 356 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 273 of 605 complaints (45.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 92 | 15.2% |
| Braking behavior | 76 | 12.6% |
| Engine operation | 68 | 11.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 38 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 2.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 273 |
| Steering | 95 |
| Unknown Or Other | 56 |
| Power Train | 51 |
| Electrical System | 50 |
| Service Brakes | 45 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 32 |
| Suspension | 23 |
Engine: 273; Steering: 95; Unknown Or Other: 56; Power Train: 51; Electrical System: 50; Service Brakes: 45; Fuel/Propulsion System: 32; Suspension: 23
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 133 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 41 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 54 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 53 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 62 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 133; 25,000 to 49,999: 41; 50,000 to 74,999: 54; 75,000 to 99,999: 53; 100,000 to 149,999: 62; 150,000 and above: 13
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (133). 249 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 72 |
| 2014 | 47 |
| 2015 | 31 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 41 |
| 2018 | 29 |
| 2019 | 50 |
| 2020 | 57 |
| 2021 | 63 |
| 2022 | 59 |
| 2023 | 58 |
| 2024 | 61 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2012: 4; 2013: 72; 2014: 47; 2015: 31; 2016: 22; 2017: 41; 2018: 29; 2019: 50; 2020: 57; 2021: 63; 2022: 59; 2023: 58; 2024: 61; 2025: 10; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 92 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 76 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 68 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10472770 · 2012-08-28 (August 28, 2012)
THE CAR WANTS TO GO ANYWHERE BUT STRAIGHT. ANY UNEVEN PAVEMENT, WIND GUSTS OR CARS PASSING BY CAUSE THE CAR TO REQUIRE A STEERING CORRECTION. AT SPEEDS OVER FIFTY MILES PER HOUR STEERING INPUT IS REQUIRED NINETY PERCENT OF THE TIME TO KEEP THE CAR WITHIN THE DRIVING LANE. THE DEALER CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS TO SPECIFICATION AND NORMAL. THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE I'VE EVER DRIVEN INCLUDING SEVERAL MOTOR HOMES. *TR *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10472770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10498104 · 2013-02-14 (February 14, 2013)
VEHICLE WILL NOT FILL PAST 3/4 TANK. IF YOU STAY AT PUMP AND KEEP CLICKING IT WILL OVERFLOW AND EVENTUALLY FILL BUT, THEN ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS AND MUST TO RETURN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. MANY PARTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX BUT NOTHING WORKS. ELECTRONIC STEERING EXCEPTIONALLY VAGUE IN ANY OF THREE SETTINGS, TRAILER CONNECTOR NOT FUNCTIONING. VEHICLE ENGINE ALMOST CUTS OFF AT TIMES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 52 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10500859 · 2013-02-28 (February 28, 2013)
WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DESCRIBE HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE ONLY DISCERNIBLE PATTERN IS THAT IT HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM REST OR FROM SLOW SPEED. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 15 TIMES IN THE FIRST 800 MILES OF DRIVING. WHEN I BEGIN TO ACCELERATE SLOWLY FORWARD FROM REST OR FROM A SLOW FORWARD ROLL THERE IS NO RESPONSE. IT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE HAS STALLED, BUT HASN'T. CONTINUING TO PUSH DOWN BRINGS NO RESULT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY A 2 TO 5 SECOND DELAY, THE RPMS BEGIN TO BUILD UP RAPIDLY. THE FIRST TWO OR THREE TIMES IT HAPPENED I SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503948 · 2013-03-21 (March 21, 2013)
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AROUND JANUARY 30TH, 2013, AT THE TIME OF THE TEST DRIVE I NOTICED A LOT OF WIND NOISE IN THE CABIN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT 55 MPH, IT WOULD SWAY LEFT TO RIGHT. AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT I STILL PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. THE SALES PERSON INFORMED ME THAT THE REASONS WHY THE VEHICLE PERFORMED THE WAY IT DID WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY WINDY. THE NEXT DAY I CONTACTED THE SALES PERSON AND ADVISED HIM THAT I WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. HE HAD ME BRING THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP AND THEY CHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490652 · 2013-01-01 (January 1, 2013)
WE BOUGHT IT 10/5/2012. WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS OF BUYING IT MY HUSBAND TOLD ME IT HAD BEEN STALLING OUT AFTER STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. WE ALSO NOTED IT HESITATES SEVERELY AT TIMES DURING ACCELERATION, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAVE THEIR BLUE LINK WITH A MONTHLY VEHICLE REPORT AND IT HAS BEEN REGISTERING SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CHASSIS AND POWER TRAIN IN THE REPORTS FROM NOV. AND DEC. 2012. WE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THEY RESET THE BLUE LINK. I CHANGED THE DATE FOR THE REPORT FOR AFTER IT HAD B…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10491265 · 2013-01-07 (January 7, 2013)
2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER STATES ISSUES WITH HESITATION AND STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING. *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION, WHICH WAS COMMON AMONG SEVERAL BRANDS OF AUTOMOBILES AND THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE HESITATION AT ACCELERATION OCCURRED AT SLOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING AND THE ENGINE WOULD MOMENTARILY STALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10491265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10499181 · 2013-02-16 (February 16, 2013)
VEHICLE DELIVERED AS NEW, IMMEDIATELY UPON ATTEMPTING TO PUMP AND FILL GASOLINE TANK, THE PUMP CLICKED AS FULL. HOWEVER, GASOLINE GAUGE ON DASH ONLY WOULD AND CONTINUES TO SHOW 3/4 FULL. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT TO ADDRESS AND ERADICATE THIS SITUATION AND NOTHING HAS CORRECTED THE SITUATION NOR DOES HYUNDAI HAVE ANY ANSWERS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MY FAVORITE HYUNDAI SERVICE FACILITY FOR MANY DAYS AND WHEN FINALLY RETURNED THE ONLY ANSWER I WAS GIVEN, WAS THAT THE VEHICLE …
Owner-reported narrative. 27 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10522705 · 2013-07-01 (July 1, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND RESTARTED AS THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONTROL PANEL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504263 · 2013-03-23 (March 23, 2013)
WE PURCHASED THE 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT (2WD) ON 2/23/13. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO FILL UP THE GAS TANK FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE GAS PUMP CONTINUOUSLY SHUT OFF AUTOMATICALLY AS IF THE TANK WAS FULL. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MINUTES TO FILL UP 3/4 OF THE TANK. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE GAS PUMP THAT WAS BAD. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO FILL UP AGAIN, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON A DIFFERENT PUMP. I TRIED A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS, AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP FOR A CHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 415 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10507441 · 2013-04-08 (April 8, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE PROVIDED INACCURATE READINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. *TR UPDATED 05/23/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON MAY 6, 2013. THE GAS TANK ASSEMBLY UNIT AND FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/28/2013 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10565230 · 2014-02-21 (February 21, 2014)
CAR SEEMED TO BUCK WHILE DRIVING IN LOW GEAR. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL. 4 DAYS LATER THE SYMPTOMS HAVE REAPPEARED. CONCERNED ABOUT RECALLS AND BAD TRANSMISSION. CAR PURCHASED AUG 19, 2013. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605161 · 2014-06-23 (June 23, 2014)
WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOP OR TRAFFIC SIGNAL, MAKING LEFT TURN, VEHICLE REAR END ( SOUNDS LIKE REAR END OR AWD) MAKES THUMPING, SLIPPING, BUMPING NOISE WHICH CAN BE FELT THROUGH OUT VEHICLE. FIRST NOTICED ABOUT 3000 MILES. THOUGHT IT MAY BE A NORMAL CONDITION FOR AN AWD VEHICLE, BUT THE CONDITION HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE! TAKEN TO DEALER 2 TIME NOW, THEY STATE THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, THEY REPLACED THE TRANS FLUID, THE REAR DIFF FLUID, BUT IT IS STILL GETTING WORSE! SERVICE MANAGER WENT FOR RIDE WITH ME AFTER STATING HE COULD NOT F…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605161 at NHTSA ↗