Car Issues Tracker
Vehicle complaints, recalls & safety data — sourced from NHTSA

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe: Complaints, Recalls, and Known Problems

Owners have filed 605 safety complaints about the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · Retrieved September 7, 2026 · Counts change as new reports are filed

605
Complaints
3
Recalls
8
Investigations

Complaints for this vehicle report 14 crashes, 41 fires, 13 injuries. No deaths have been reported.

Key findings
  1. Engine & cooling leads the complaint list, cited in 279 of 605 complaints, followed by Steering.
  2. Stalling is a recurring theme. 75 of the 605 reports describe the engine stalling — many while driving.
  3. 8 NHTSA defect investigations are associated with this vehicle.

What owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, engine & cooling issues stand far above everything else.

Complaints by vehicle system
System mentions in 605 complaints · a complaint can cite more than one system
Engine & cooling
279
Steering
95
Brakes & stability
72
Other / unspecified
61
Electrical
53
Power train / transmission
52
Fuel & propulsion
42
Visibility & lighting
35

"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."

Owner complaint filed July 2025 · Engine · NHTSA ODI 11676869

"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 would be attempting to get ahold of the manufacture."

Owner complaint filed June 2025 · Engine · NHTSA ODI 11664900

When complaints were filed

Complaint filings for the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe over time:

Complaints filed per year — 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
Year the complaint was filed, not the incident year
4
72
47
31
22
41
29
50
57
63
59
58
61
10
1
121314151617181920212223242526
2026 is a partial year (through September 7, 2026).

How the 2013 compares with other model years

Across the Hyundai Santa Fe model years we track, the 2017 has the most complaints on file (960); the 2013 ranks 2 of 3.

Total complaints by model year — Hyundai Santa Fe
All complaints on file per model year, as of September 7, 2026
2013
605
494
960
Older model years have had more time on the road to accumulate complaints — compare adjacent years, not endpoints.

Recall history: 3 recalls

3 recalls apply to some or all 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.

Aug 201313V-355
Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft

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.

Jun 201717V-358
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch

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.

Sep 202323V-651
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module

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 Br…

Does your car have an open recall?

Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints does the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe have?

As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 605 complaints about the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe with NHTSA. The most-reported system is engine & cooling.

How many recalls does the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe have?

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe has 3 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.

Methodology & source

All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.

Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.

This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.