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, Aug 31, 2022
Every time u start my car if knocks don’t matter if the engine is hot or cold and even after u change the oil
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 6, 2022
While driving vehicle on freeway car stalled and would not accelerate. Car was then pulled over to side of road .Turned vehicle off now it will not turn back on . This almost cause accident on freeway .
Engine, Aug 3, 2022, fire
While driving for approximately 4 hours I heard a loud pop and the car shut off with no warning. Smoke began to come from under the hood and as I opened the hood you can see a small fire coming from underneath the engine. Luckily I was able to put out the fire and had the car towed to a mechanic who informed me that I had a hole in my engine block. Had vehicle towed to dealership and contacted Hyundai about issue. I’m told their was a recall but I never received notice. There’s a case being investigated by Hyundai but as of now no details. Vehicle remains at dealership until further notice.
Engine, Aug 1, 2022
My car shut completely off while turning at the traffic light.
Power train, Engine, Jul 28, 2022
my car is burning oil i change the oil often and after a oil change it burns about 1 to 2 quarts every 2000 miles. at 108,000 mile i had a tune up plugs coil packs and fuel injectors my car was putting a code for misfire in 3 and it was cleared after the tune up. then 4 weeks later #4 was misfiring the car is burning more oil and smoking and the knocking and ticking nosie is coming from the car the car doesnt want to start and it vibrates. if you goto drive it feels terrible and unsafe the engine light is on steady i called the hyundai dealer they said there was a engine recall on certian motels my car is in that recall. i have no use of my car and the engine needs to be replaced and the dealer said they have to try to appove it. im out the use of my only car and still have payments to make on it and insurence i have no public transportation in the poconos and im stuck no help from the 3 dealers no loaner car avaible even after the manufacture said they should supply a loaner car. no one is helpng me expidite this issue they are selling cars with dangours engines risking being stuck and blowing up the motor. numoruos people have been gong to the local news channels for help and some are waiting months to get approved for new engines i need my car im spending 400.00 per month for a car i can't use.
Engine, Jul 25, 2022
This car has 81K miles on it and the engine started knocking, no engine light nor oil light came on. The car stalled a couple of times at a red light. I dropped the car off at my local repair shop and they said it had very little oil in it and advised me to take it to a Hyundai dealer. I have video of the dash showing no lights ever came on. The dealership confirmed it had very little oil in it and no dash lights were on and advised me to call Hyundai to see about getting a replacement motor. I had the oil changed at the dealership and drove the car home. The engine was still knocking very badly and the engine ended up seizing up and the car shut down and isn't working now. I'm waiting on Hyundai to call me back. This is evidently a known problem with these cars/engines and they've had numerous class action lawsuits but haven't done an official recall. This is unacceptable. I realize the government has fined them as well but more needs to be done.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 22, 2022
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. As the contact continued driving, he began to hear an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over and discovered that there was no oil in the engine. The contact added oil to the engine however, the knocking sound persisted. The contact towed the vehicle to his home where his brother inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the vehicle with a defective timing chain. The contact then had the vehicle towed to a dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective rod bearing. The contact was then given an estimate for the replacement of the engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.
Suspension, Exterior lighting, Engine, Jul 20, 2022
I bought the vehicle 2 months ago, and 2 weeks ago, I noticed the car was shaking when I applied the brakes. The engine light came on and I took it to the shop, and was told I needed a new engine.
Power train, Engine, Jul 17, 2022
Car is consuming oil extensively between oil changes. Car was not accelerating properly and check engine went on. Car had very little oil and was not scheduled for an oil change for another 1k miles.
Engine, Jul 14, 2022
The engine stopped on me in a traffic lane. The check engine light came on and the oil light. I had to sit in the traffic lane until a tow truck arrived. I had it towed to my mechanic, they said there was an issue in cylinder 1. I had it towed to Auto Nation Hyundai in Savannah, a month later they told me the car had carbon build up from using ethanol gas. They said it is regular maintenance and would cost $1600. This car only has 117,000 miles. I have had cars I drove up to 250,000 miles and did not have this issue. I had the car towed to Auto Nation in South Carolina, they said I need a new intake manifold and a new exhaust manifold. The only thing both places said were the spark plugs. I told them I could not afford $13,000 to replace the spark plugs. They called me back and stated that changing the spark plugs will do no good the car has no compression. I said, oh I did not know you did the compression test. I have spoken to a case manager at Hyundai, they are refusing to pay, saying the car is not under the extended warranty and that these are not the parts covered. I guess they are trying to say it is normal wear and tear and 117,000 miles are high miles. But in reality, the spark plug had no gap so it is likely pieces of metal in the engine component and Hyundai is not repairing cars that are a hazard. I would venture to guess that I am not the only one.
Engine, Jul 8, 2022
The engine light came on, a loud sound is coming from the engine. I took my car to the mechanic and they mentioned there are metal shaving in the oil from the engine. I know of one other person who has the same issue and numerous others on google with the problem.
Engine, Jun 13, 2022
2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ENGINE ISSUES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER HAVING BEEN REPLACED UNDER RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED.
Engine, Jun 10, 2022
While driving my kids to school, I was attempting to speed up on highway and could not. I was less than a mile away when I could feel the car dying. Luckily it was just as I coasted into the school drop off line, but engine failed and would not start. First of course we attempted to charge battery but eventually realized it was not the the battery. I have contacted my local Hyundai dealer and am getting it towed to service department. I wanted to report this because what if I and my kids were on the interstate at 70mph and my engine seized with no warning lights or indications there was a problem. We could’ve very easily been inured or killed. Scary stuff!
Power train, Engine, Jun 6, 2022
My 2013 Santa Fe Sport 2.0t seized. After getting multiple inputs from Licensed Mechanics I was informed about a known recall for my vehicle with symptoms that aligned with the symptoms of my vehicle. That is also listed on the NHTSA re-call list. I contacted Hyundai shortly after that to make them aware of the issue; I got an appointment for an inspection on 04/05. I was informed that my vehicle would not be fixed under the recall because my car was out of warranty. They also stated that I was at fault for a lack of "service"; I am requesting that Hyundai replaces any and all parts necessary + labor considering the fact that this recall is known to cause pre-mature engine wear, engine friction and engine seizure. In addition to this, the dealership marked my vehicle engine re-call as "completed" on 04/05/22 per Hyundai website through running my vehicle in # see attached documents.
Engine, May 26, 2022
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking sound detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be taken apart to determine the cause of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
Power train, Engine, May 19, 2022
The vehicle is equipped with a Theta II engine. After several months of oil consumption tests Colonial Hyundai in Downingtown PA changed the motor but not the spark plugs. Vehicle became disabled while driving with a clogged catalytic converter which an independent mechanic said was clogged with burnt oil. Hyundai dealership contends excessive oil consumption has negative impact on catalytic converter. This seems to be a performance and possible safety issue for vehicles which were subjected to running while consuming excessive oil.
Engine, May 18, 2022
When driving on a main highway at about 65 MPH, my engine started to make a weird ticking sound and my car was slowing down. I was able to cross 3 lanes of traffic to an exit and stop at a gas station. There were no warning lights on initially but after a few minutes, a solid engine light came on and stayed on. Prior to this incident, there were no warning lights for my engine, oil, battery, etc. When getting to a repair shop, they told me the engine had seized and my battery was dead. They said there may be a recall but after calling Hyundai, they said there was no recall on my specific car, although it seems like many people with my type of engine have had the exact problem.
Engine, May 10, 2022
While driving on the freeway, without warning the driver was unable to accelerate to change lanes and suddenly multiple warning lights illuminated. Car was able to coast and driver slowly made way to exit and left the freeway to off ramp. Steering and brakes were still operable. No signs of smoke, odors or noises during incident. Once stopped car was placed in park and turned off and engine would not turn over. Slight smell was noticed a few minutes later. Before driving no indicator lights were illuminated warning of possible issues with car. This was a dangerous situation as the driver and family was on a freeway at high speeds. Automobile is currently at Dealer who has confirmed that the engine has seized and is no longer operable. Dealer is in contact with Manufacturer on next steps. Automobile is up to date on all recall repairs. Last service maintenance was conducted 2 months prior.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 5, 2022, fire
The vehicle started to stall and smoke started to come from the engine compartment. People started yelling the vehicle was fire. Vehicle stopped in the road and burst into flames. Fire department and police were called to scene. Vehicle was a total loss.
Engine, May 5, 2022
I bought my Santa Fe from a used auto dealer in September 2021 with 102,000 mi. November 2021 I had to have rear brakes done including rotors and calipers that were stuck. In January 2022 it stalled and wouldn’t start. Towed to my mechanic since closest Hyundai shop is an hour away. My mechanic replaced starter first then realized the engine had seized. Also replaced air filter. When I entered my VIN on the Hyundai site it didn’t show the engine recall. So, I read through the court case and found out my engine was supposed to be included. When I called Hyundai they agreed that it is part of the recall. Good thing I read the court case info. Next I have my 2013 Santa Fe Sport AWD towed to the Hyundai shop. When they were checking to make sure it was a seized engine, they burnt out the brand new starter. No loaner cars available and they said I would need to pay for a rental and get reimbursed after which I couldn’t afford. When my car was ready, I got a ride to the the one hour away Hyundai shop. Also they charged me for an air filter, saying there wasn’t one in my “bad” engine. As soon as I got on the highway in my Santa Fe there were multiple issues. It wouldn’t shift right and steering was messed up so I had to take it back to Hyundai shop and have my ride turn around to come get me. The next time I picked it up there weren’t the prior issues. However, Hyundai refused to reimburse me for the starter my mechanic replaced. I had no prior starter issues and it was obviously caused from trying to start a seized engine. After a month I finally signed off on being reimbursed for the tow charges which they called a “courtesy”. By February my sunroof was having issues closing and eventually got stuck open. After applying white lithium grease and having it tarped for 3 days I finally got it closed. However I don’t dare open it again. In the same month rear wiper stopped working and I developed an exhaust leak at the converter in front of the front muffler and burning odor
Engine, Apr 17, 2022
We took this vehicle over for a relative who originally owned it. We had no idea about all the engine problems We had some trouble with accelerating and a knocking sound on our engine. We called in to get it checked out. We were told there was a recall to install a chip to monitor these exact symptoms. We went in and got the chip. The engine finally quit and we were stuck in the middle if the road while driving a child to school. First the dealer said there was nothing wrong with the car accept, “this can happen if the oil is changed anywhere but the dealer.” So, that’s obviously dishonest and made everything after, suspect.It’s the type of filter you use that matters and it’s not going to cause the problems we described. Then we told them all the problems we had that were identical to the recalls. Soon after saying that they said “we have more to talk about” and told us this was “piston scoring” not covered by the extended warranty. Now they said even though they put the recall chip in for these EXACT problems. This was not related to those problems. This was “scoring on the pistons.” So, now I see piston problems are being addressed in many Hyundai Models but not ours. This is ridiculous to have a vehicle that you can’t count on and then a dealer that is dishonest even for only $50 oil change. The EXACT SAME ISSUES HAPPENED TO US AS LISTED IN THE RECALL. If it didn’t pass a bearing test we would have gotten a new engine. But Hyundai did the test after lying to us about the car’s oil change and being fine. So how can we trust anything they say?
Engine, Apr 15, 2022
Hello, well, I want to inform you that the check engine code P1326 is arrowing and it lost power, it does not go from 1800 to 2000 revolutions and the engine is sounding down. And I called the Hyundai and they washed their hands saying that it's already over 100,000 miles, it's out of warranty when I know that's a problem with those factory wear engines.
Engine, Apr 11, 2022
Hello I have a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe sport 2.4l and looked up Vin and says no open recalls. My question is why is there no recalls on 2.4l engines and there is on the 2.0? The 2.4l engines are having the same issues as others as far as engine bearings and other things
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 28, 2022
Was driving vehicle when it stalled out. Engine,oil pressure, and stearing lights came on the dash. Tried to crank the car again and a loud noise from the motor happened. Like a rod in the motor.
Engine, Mar 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle started rattling. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. Upon arriving at his destination, the contact opened the hood of the vehicle and noticed that the dipstick was dry, indicating a lack of engine oil; however, there were no oil leaks found. The contact added 5 quarts of oil to the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was an internal engine failure and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.