repaired · 2026 Q2
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2013 Hyundai Santa FEProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 605 owner complaints about the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-651 the manufacturer reports only 25% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 16, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE has problems
605 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
273Engine29 crash/fire/injury
95Steering4 crash/fire/injury
53Electrical system8 crash/fire/injury
52Power train3 crash/fire/injury
45Service brakes6 crash/fire/injury
32Fuel/propulsion system
23Structure
23Suspension
21Vehicle speed control
13120 other systems19 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 273 | 29 |
| Steering | 95 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 53 | 8 |
| Power train | 52 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 45 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 32 | 8 |
| Structure | 23 | 6 |
| Suspension | 23 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 21 | 2 |
| 20 other systems | 131 | 19 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2013 Hyundai Santa FE recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2018 Q4
Hood: latch
Risk. 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…
no report yet
Axle assembly: axle shaft
Risk. A fractured front axle may result in a loss of power to the wheels.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
89kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 143 engine complaints. 63% were reported before 100,000 miles.
22under 30k miles90under 100k miles53100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
10 owners mentioned a cost$4,263median
Middle half: $1,425 – $6,320
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other Santa FE year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Santa FE median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 Hyundai Santa FE safety ratings
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
8 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE, and the recalls they led to.
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 18V-907
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
- Engine FiresLed to recall 23V-877
- Front Axle Shaft FailureLed to recall 13V-355
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 20V-746
- Scope and TimelinessLed to recall 17V-226
In owners' words
What Santa FE owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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.
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…
While driving to work the gas pedal suddenly would not make the vehicle Excellerate and i was barely able to get the car on the side of the road, when i stopped and turned it off it would not start again. I had it towed to the mechanic and they have let us know it was total engine failure, and they…
Own a 2013 Santa FE?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.