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: other or unspecified
56 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, May 23, 2017
I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY BLOCK DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MY HOME UNDER 25 MILES/HOUR ON A CITY STREET. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT FORWARD AND NOT TURNING. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOUD SHORT NOISE LIKE A GUN GOING OFF SO I GOT OUT OF THE CARE, ONLY TO FIND THAT THE SUNROOF HAD SEVERELY CRACKED AND THE GLASS HAD RISEN UP. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING NOR DID ANY ROCKS OR DEBRIS FALL ON MY CAR. THE CRACKING WAS TOTALLY SPONTANEOUS AND SEEMINGLY WITHOUT CAUSE. IT WAS APPROX. 7:00 PM AT NIGHT. I LOOKED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A LAWSUIT PENDING OVER THIS VERY ISSUE IN THE CENTRAL COURT, STATE OF CALIFORNIA INVOLVING THE SAME SITUATION/DEFECT ON SEVERAL YEARS AND MODELS OF HYUNDAI AUTOS; MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR BEING AMONG THEM.
Other or unspecified, Mar 13, 2017
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, OUR SUNROOF JUST EXPLODED. SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB. I LOOKED AROUND AND THE SUNROOF WAS GONE AND GLASS WAS FALLING ALL OVER MY HUSBAND AND ME. WE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. I BELIEVE HYUNDAI IS AT FAULT AND SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE SUNROOF, AFTER DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH AND SEEING HOW MANY OTHERS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO.
Steering, Wheels, Other or unspecified, Nov 4, 2015, crash
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON U.S. HWY 80 AT ABOUT 30 MPH, AFTER PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ABOUT 1 BLOCK BEFORE I LOST CONTROL OF MY 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, AT AN INTERSECTION. IT MADE A SHARP RIGHT TURN WITHOUT MY HELP AT ALL. AFTER HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN JUMPING A LARGE CURB, I CAME TO STOP ABOUT 18" FROM A SMALL TREE. I WAS COMPLETELY TRAUMATIZED. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD A BLOW OUT FROM THE OUTSIDE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT LOOKED SLASHED. THE BIG QUESTION IS, DID THE BLOW OUT OCCUR AT THE TIME MY VEHICLE MADE THE SHARP RIGHT TURN AT THE INTERSECTION, OR DID IT OCCUR WHEN IT HIT THE CURB? I DON'T KNOW, BUT I FEEL SOMETHING HAPPENED TO CAUSE THAT SHARP RIGHT TURN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAD THE MECHANIC CHECK OUT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AREA (AXLE, ETC). THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLES PARTS, THAT WASN'T CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT. THIS MAKES ME MORE CONVINCED IT HAS TO BE THE TIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE THAT HAS BLOWN OUT ON THE OUTSIDE WALL OF THE TIRE SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2013. THE OTHER BLOW OUT WAS FROM A NAIL GOING THROUGH THE OUTSIDE WALL. I ONLY HAVE 11,045 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. TIRES ARE A KUMHO, CRUGEN, P235/55R19, 101H SL BSW OE (INFORMATION COPIED FROM A DISCOUNT TIRE RECEIPT WHEN THE FIRST BLOW OUT WAS REPLACED 5-22-15). I AM AFRAID TO GET BACK IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. I WILL TRADE IT IN ON A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. I'M AFRAID OF HYUNDAI'S AND KUMHO TIRES!
Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2015
I WAS HEADING HOME AROUND 9 PM LAST NIGHT AND ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM HOME WHEN I HEARD A LOUD "POP" THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. I LOOKED AROUND AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY BUT A FEW SECONDS LATER I STARTED TO HEAR TINY PIECES OF GLASS FALLING DOWN ON MY SUNSHADE UNDER THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON MY 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHEN I GOT HOME, I SAW THAT THE FRONT HALF OF MY SUNROOF HAD SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. LUCKILY, THE SUNROOF AND SHADE WERE CLOSED WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND I WASN'T HURT, BUT IT SCARED ME TO THINK IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN THE ROOF WAS OPEN OR WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY! WHEN I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY, THEY SAID THE ROOF HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD TO OPEN A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE TO START THE REPAIR. THIS IS A HUGE DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE AND HYUNDAI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM AND COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS AND MY RENTAL CAR. ORDERING THE PARTS AND HAVING THEM SHIPPED FROM OVERSEAS AND THE REPAIRS ARE ESTIMATED TO TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK, IF NOT TWO. SIMPLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS LEAD ME TO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF EXPLODING SUNROOFS ON HYUNDAI'S AND OTHER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME PLANTS SUCH AS KIA AND FORD, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS PHOTOS OF VEHICLES WITH IDENTICAL DAMAGE. HYUNDAI HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, YET MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WILL NOT RECOGNIZE IT AS A RECALL.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Sep 29, 2014
YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY FIGHT THE STEERING TO KEEP THE CAR FROM SWAYING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR
Other or unspecified, Apr 10, 2013
I JUST GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND COMING INTO TOWN APPROACHING A FOUR WAY STOP. I STOPPED AND WHEN I STARTED TO GO THE CAR MADE A HORRIBLE LOUD NOISE AND WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. I MADE IT HALF WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND IT COMPLETELY DIED. THE CAR WOULDN'T GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY PICKED UP MY CAR AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD ME I HAD A BROKEN AXLE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE. I BOUGHT THE 2013 SANTA FE IN SEPTEMBER AND THIS HAPPENED ON MARCH 2013 ONLY ABOUT 6 MONTHS OLD. *TR