2013 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 605 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 14 involved a crash and 41 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 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.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 23V651000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchJun 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 17V358000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, axle assembly, axle shaftAug 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 13V355000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
279 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Apr 10, 2013
I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 SANTA FE ON THE HIGHWAY ON APRIL 6, 2013 AND I WAS COMING TO A FOUR WAY STOP. I HEARD MY ENGINE START MAKING A TICKING SOUND. WHEN I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THE NOISE WAS EVEN LOUDER. AT THAT POINT I PULLED OFF ALONG SIDE THE ROAD AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ON APRIL 8, 2013, THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN UP. HOW DOES AN ENGINE BLOW UP ON A BRAND NEW CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENCE I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. LAST MONTH THE AXLE BROKE ON THE VEHICLE. FOR ME I DON'T FEEL IT IS SAVE TO DRIVE ANYMORE. *TR
Power train, Engine, Feb 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 A VERY DANGEROUS MANNER. THE REAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IS THAT WITH FOLLOWING TRAFFIC EXPECTING ME TO ACCELERATE AND CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AND I SUDDENLY STOP ACCELERATING WITHOUT HAVING APPLIED BRAKES, THUS ACTIVATING BRAKE LIGHTS, THERE IS A REAR END COLLISION WAITING TO HAPPEN. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE FROM LAST NIGHT. I WAS ROLLING SLOWLY IN A LEFT TURN LANE, FOOT OFF THE GAS, WAITING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO CLEAR. IT DID AND I BEGIN THE TURN SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESSING DOWN ON THE PEDAL--NO RESPONSE. LET UP AND PRESSED DOWN AGAIN--NO RESPONSE. I LET UP AGAIN, RPMS CAME UP, I PRESSED DOWN AGAIN AND PROCEED NORMALLY INTO A PARKING LOT. I WAS PERPENDICULAR TO 3 LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND DEAD IN THE WATER FOR MAYBE 3 TO 5 SECONDS. ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED WHILE ACCELERATING OUT OF A U TURN AND ALSO COMING OUT OF A SLOW RIGHT TURN. IT HAPPENED WHILE ACCELERATING SLOWLY THROUGH AN OPENING SECURITY GATE. I HAVE LEFT THE CAR WITH THE DEALER OVERNIGHT SO THEY COULD DRIVE IT AND HOOK IT UP TO THEIR ERROR CODE MACHINES. THEY COULD NOT OBSERVE THE ISSUE OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. NONETHELESS, IT IS REAL AND VERY DANGEROUS. IT HAS BEEN A MATTER OF PURE LUCK THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN CLOSE BEHIND ME DURING ANY OF THESE POWER LOSSES. I HOPE THIS REPORT IS USEFUL. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT WANT MORE INFORMATION. *TR
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Engine, Jan 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