2013 Hyundai Santa Fe problems and recalls

45% of owner complaints on the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe related to the Engine (273 of 605).

605
Complaints
3
Recalls
14
Crash reports
41
Fire reports
13
Injuries
66.2
Severity index

Severity index 66.2 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 66.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 65 of 145 by severity index among 2013 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 55% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2013 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 273 complaints (45.1%)273 45%SteeringSteering: 95 complaints (15.7%)95 16%Service BrakesService Brakes: 64 complaints (10.6%)64 11%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 56 complaints (9.3%)56 9%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 53 complaints (8.8%)53 9%Power TrainPower Train: 52 complaints (8.6%)52 9%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 32 complaints (5.3%)32 5%StructureStructure: 23 complaints (3.8%)23 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE27345.1%
STEERING9515.7%
SERVICE BRAKES6410.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER569.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM538.8%
POWER TRAIN528.6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM325.3%
STRUCTURE233.8%

Complaints filed per year

036722012: 42013: 722014: 472015: 312016: 222017: 412018: 292019: 502020: 572021: 632022: 592023: 582024: 612025: 102026: 1 (partial year)12137214151617181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20124
201372
201447
201531
201622
201741
201829
201950
202057
202163
202259
202358
202461
202510
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (129 against 179).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
17V35800005/06/2017LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCHHyundai 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 clo
13V35500012/08/2013POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFTHyundai 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.
23V65100022/09/2023SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEHyundai 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 vehicl

Other Hyundai Santa Fe model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-21. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.