2013 Hyundai SANTA FE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10485383 · 2012-11-21 (November 21, 2012)
I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY WIFE A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS I NOTICED THAT IT DID NOT HAVE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND IT SAID THAT SOME MODELS HAD THEM. THE CAR I BOUGHT WAS THE TOP OF THE LINE MODEL SO I FELT THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE THEM. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED THEIR INVENTORY AND SAID THAT THIS MODEL DOES NOT HAVE THEM. I THOUGHT THAT ALL CARS HAD THEM. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR ## VIN FAILED
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10486176 · 2012-11-27 (November 27, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, SHE BEGAN TO TURN THE WHEEL AND NOTICED THAT SHE HAD TO CONSTANTLY STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT DID NOT COME UP WITH A DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150.
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490154 · 2012-12-26 (December 26, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION, 600 MILES INTO THE DRIVE AND 200 MILES FROM HOME, I HEAR A LOUD BANG. I LOOK UP TO FIND THAT THE SUNROOF OF MY CAR HAS EXPLODED. NOTHING HIT THE CAR AND NO DEBRIS AT THE INSTANT OF THE EXPLOSION FELL INTO THE CAR. IT SEEMED TO HAVE EXPLODED OUTWARD BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF WHAT CAUSED THE EXPLOSION. SMALL SHARDS OF GLASS FROM AROUND THE EDGE OF THE GAPING HOLE BEGAN TO FALL INTO THE CAR, THOUGH THE MAJORITY OF THE GLASS HAD FLOWN OUT BECAUSE I WAS GOING 65MPH. I PULLED OVER, PATCHED THE SUNROOF WITH DUCT TA…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490154 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 10495248 · 2013-01-30 (January 30, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE RPMS INCREASED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT REGAIN ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE BODY. THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,086 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,088.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,086 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496552 · 2013-02-05 (February 5, 2013)
IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT IN A HIGHWAY. HAVE TO CORRECT IT ALL OF THE TIME. THAT IS VERY UNSAFE AND UNCOMFORTABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496552 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V355000 · Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft
Reported: 2013-08-12 (August 12, 2013)
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2013 front wheel drive Santa Fe Sport vehicles manufactured July 13, 2012, through March 12, 2013; and equipped with 2.4 liter engines. Due to a manufacturing issue, the right front axle shaft may fracture.
Consequence: A fractured front axle may result in a loss of power to the wheels. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked without the parking brake applied, it may roll away. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Custom Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 112.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V358000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
Reported: 2017-06-05 (June 5, 2017)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Consequence: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V651000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Reported: 2023-09-22 (September 22, 2023)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
NHTSA campaign record ↗