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: fuel/propulsion system
32 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 29, 2015
THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. IT SEEMED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN THIS HAPPENED AS THERE WAS NO LABORING OF THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 11, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR WHENEVER THE CONTACT REFUELED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500.
Fuel/propulsion system, May 2, 2013
2013 SANTA FE 2.0 AWD- FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY THEREFORE YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE IN THE CAR. FIRST TIME I PUMPED GAS IT STOPPED AT 3/4 AND MET CLICKING. 2ND TIME PUMPED IT NEVER STOPPED AND THE TANK OVER FLOWED. MY AVERAGE MPG DOES NOT GO HIGHER THEN 15 MILE PER GALLON! MY RANGE SHOWS ONLY 250 ON A FULL TANK. HYUNDAI KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUES AND I DON'T BELIEVE THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I RECOMMEND EVERYONE CONTACT THEIR LOCAL LEMON LAW ATTORNEY AND START THE PROCESS IF YOU HAVE TRIED 4 OR MORE TIME WITH HYUNDAI TO RESOLVE THIS. I STARTED MY PROCESS AND ITS LOOKING LIKE THEY HAVE TO GIVE ME 100%'OF MY MONEY BACK AND NO LESS. OH ALSO EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE ON DRIVER SIDE WHEN DRIVING. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 31, 2013
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY AND CAUSES TRIP CALCULATION AND DRIVING RANGE TO BE DISPLAYED INCORRECTLY. THIS COULD CAUSE CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY RUN OUT OF FUEL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 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 CHECK UP. AFTER A PRELIMINARY CHECK, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE. HOWEVER, IN ORDER FOR THEM TO REMOVE THE TANK AND CHECK THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY, THE GAS TANK WAS TOO FULL, SO I NEEDED TO DRIVE IT AROUND AND USE UP SOME GAS UNTIL IT WAS LESS THAN 1/2 TANK FULL. SO AFTER A FEW DAYS, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN. AFTER A FEW DAYS, THEY ADVISED THAT THE AFTER REMOVING THE TANK, THEY OBSERVED THE FUEL TANK NECK END HAD BEEN MELTED. THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT THE CAUSE WAS. SO THEY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK, AND FILLED THE GAS TANK WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. WE JUST GOT THE CAR BACK, SO WE'LL SEE IT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED, OR IF IT'LL BE A RECURRING PROBLEM. WE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY ODD THAT A BRAND NEW CAR WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND WE'RE MORE CONCERNED WHAT CAUSED IT TO "MELT". IF THERE IS A MAJOR HEAT ISSUE THAT WOULD CAUSE SOMETHING TO MELT NEAR THE GAS TANK, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN. THE DEALER ADVISED US THAT AN ENGINEER FROM HYUNDAI CAME OUT TO INSPECT IT UPON LEARNING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WE'VE FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINT ONLINE, AND NOT ONLY WITH THE SANTA FE BUT WITH MANY OTHER HYUNDAI MODELS. IN FACT, THE 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA RENTAL THEY PROVIDED US WITH HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHERE IT WOULD SHUT OFF EVERY 2 1/2 GALLONS. THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR NOW, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO MONITOR IT. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 14, 2013
CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE INPUT FOR AS LONG AS 5 OR 6 SECONDS THIS HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES EARLY ON. THE CAR NOW HAS 2300 MILES AND THE SYMPTOMS HAVE EVOLVED TO THE CAR STARTING TO MOVE TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES PER HOUR THEN FALLING ON ITS FACE FOR 2 TO 3 SECONDS BEFORE RESUMING SPEED ALMOST CAUSING A REAR COLLISION. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE ONE TIME FOR FIVE DAYS WITH THE DEALER UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A REAR COLLISION OR AN ACCIDENT PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. *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