2013 Hyundai Santa FE: common problems

Owners of the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE filed 605 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and steering. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 605
involving a crash: 14

What fails most often

1 Engine 45% of all complaints
2 Steering 16% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
4 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
5 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
6 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
7 Structure 4% of all complaints
8 Suspension 4% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Engine: 273 complaints (45% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Steering: 95 complaints (16% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Service brakes: 63 complaints (10% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 53 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Powertrain: 52 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
3.3 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 6 complaints
automatic, 6-speed

Drive: FWD, 4WD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 605 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

warning lights, check engine108 · 18%
smoke, burning smell, fire80 · 13%
knocking, grinding or other noise64 · 11%
stalls while driving64 · 11%
engine failure or replacement57 · 9%
oil leak or consumption43 · 7%
windows, sunroof29 · 5%
loss of power / limp mode26 · 4%
vibration25 · 4%
hesitation when accelerating17 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Engine	273	2
Steering	95	3
Service brakes	63	3
Electrical system	53	1
Powertrain	52	1
Fuel/propulsion system	32	0
Structure	23	4
Suspension	23	3
Vehicle speed control	21	1
Visibility	20	0
Exterior lighting	16	0
Wheels	14	3
Electronic stability control	10	0
Fuel system	10	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

The contact stated that while driving at about 35 MPH, The steering wheel was seized on a winding road; the steering warning light had also appeared on the instrument panel.
Steering · crash · 2023-12-13 · NHTSA complaint #11559893
While driving approximately 25 mph, the brakes failed to respond when depressed and caused the vehicle to crash into the rear of another vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags deployed. The contact sustained unknown injuries that required medical attention.
Service brakes · crash · 2016-10-04 · NHTSA complaint #10913736
The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,000.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2015-02-05 · NHTSA complaint #10681600
Airbags did not deploy. Santa fe was totaled. I suffered a broken neck in two places and dislodged two cervical disc. Now having to go for surgery to repair disc damage. Hopefully I will regain use of left hand do to nerve damage.
Electrical system · crash · 2014-06-07 · NHTSA complaint #10596823
I was making a right turn on red and my speed was approximately 5 miles an hour. There was a front curb, then a ramp for wheel chair access, and then a second curb which was further out. My right front wheel cleared the first curb, but caught the second curb. My car fell on its left side and slide a few yards.
Wheels · crash · 2013-07-03 · NHTSA complaint #10523031
I was driving my car and my âopenâ door light came on out of nowhere. When I stopped I got out and closed my door the light turned off. When I was driving again the light came on and when I tried to open my door, it got stuck.
Structure · 2026-08-16 · NHTSA complaint #11757304
Burning oil fast has been confirmed. I always go get frequently oil changes and top off Because it burns a lot. I never get a warning lamp When I go toc get my oil service representative tells me my oil is completely gone.
Engine · 2025-07-29 · NHTSA complaint #11676869
While I acknowledge that my vehicle is no longer under warranty, I remain extremely concerned about the excessive oil consumption issue. My vehicle is equipped with the Theta II engine, which has been the subject of multiple class action lawsuits and recalls due to serious engine defects, including excessive oil…
Engine · 2025-06-30 · NHTSA complaint #11670300

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20124
201372
201447
201531
201622
201741
201829
201950
202057
202163
202259
202358
202461
202510
20261

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 576 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 2% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Santa FE has 276 complaints (28 years in the data). This year has 605, above average.

What to check before buying

Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, steering, service brakes. Total complaints: 605. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (18%), smoke, burning smell, fire (13%), knocking, grinding or other noise (11%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2013 Hyundai Santa FE from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2013 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.