2013 Hyundai SANTA FE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Hyundai SANTA FE has 806 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 10.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: 2013 hyundai santa fe. consumer states issues with hesitation and stalling when accelerating. *tgw the dealer informed the consumer the problem was caused by electronic fuel injection, which was common among several brands of automobiles and there was no fix for the problem. the hesitation at acc. ⚠️ 62 fire reports filed.

62 fire reports 12 crash reports 9 injuries

806

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

10.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

279 complaints

35%

• 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER STATES ISSUES WITH HESITATION AND STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING. *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION, WHICH WAS COMMON AMONG SEVERAL BRANDS OF AUTOMOBILES AND THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE HESITATION AT ACC
• VEHICLE WILL NOT FILL PAST 3/4 TANK. IF YOU STAY AT PUMP AND KEEP CLICKING IT WILL OVERFLOW AND EVENTUALLY FILL BUT, THEN ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS AND MUST TO RETURN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. MANY PARTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX BUT NOTHING WORKS. ELECTRONIC STEERING EXCEPTIONALLY VAGUE IN A
• WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DESCRIBE HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE ONLY DISCERNIBLE PATTERN IS THAT IT HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM REST OR FROM SLOW SPEED. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 15 TIMES IN THE FIRST 800 MILES OF DRIVING. WHEN I BEGIN TO ACCELERATE SLOWLY FORWARD FROM REST OR FROM A SLOW FORWARD ROLL THERE IS NO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 27 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER STATES ISSUES WITH HESITATION AND STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING. *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION, WHICH WAS COMMON AMONG SEVERAL BRANDS OF AUTOMOBILES AND THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE HESITATION AT ACC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

96 complaints

12%

• THE CAR WANTS TO GO ANYWHERE BUT STRAIGHT. ANY UNEVEN PAVEMENT, WIND GUSTS OR CARS PASSING BY CAUSE THE CAR TO REQUIRE A STEERING CORRECTION. AT SPEEDS OVER FIFTY MILES PER HOUR STEERING INPUT IS REQUIRED NINETY PERCENT OF THE TIME TO KEEP THE CAR WITHIN THE DRIVING LANE. THE DEALER CHECKED THE A
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, SHE BEGAN TO TURN THE WHEEL AND NOTICED THAT SHE HAD TO CONSTANTLY STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT DID NOT COME UP WITH A DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MAN
• IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT IN A HIGHWAY. HAVE TO CORRECT IT ALL OF THE TIME. THAT IS VERY UNSAFE AND UNCOMFORTABLE. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“THE CAR WANTS TO GO ANYWHERE BUT STRAIGHT. ANY UNEVEN PAVEMENT, WIND GUSTS OR CARS PASSING BY CAUSE THE CAR TO REQUIRE A STEERING CORRECTION. AT SPEEDS OVER FIFTY MILES PER HOUR STEERING INPUT IS REQUIRED NINETY PERCENT OF THE TIME TO KEEP THE CAR WITHIN THE DRIVING LANE. THE DEALER CHECKED THE A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

64 complaints

• I HAD JUST PICKED MY VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER FROM HAVING A 30,000 MILE SERVICE COMPLETED. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP LEAVING THE PARKING LOT. PROCEEDED TO THE NEXT STOP LIGHT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE NEXT STOP LIGHT TURNED YELLOW AND I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. I FELT
• CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED TO AVOID RUNNING RED LIGHT AT INTERSECTION. I TRIED TO BRAKE AND THOUGHT MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WOULD STOP ME BUT THEY FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT $8,000 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I TOOK THE CAR
• DRIVING 15-17 MILES AN HOUR, RUSH HOUR, ON STREET TRIED TO STOP, BUMP CAR IN FRONT, DEALER SAID I NEED AN MASTER CYLINDER AND AN BREAK BOOSTER, BROUGHT MY CAR 4/9/16, CERTIFIED USED CAR, NOW I HAVE TO PAY 1200.00 TO GET THE BRAKES FIX PLUS 500.00 DEDUCTIBLE FOR ACCIDENT PLUS 100.00 DEDUCTIBLE FOR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“I HAD JUST PICKED MY VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER FROM HAVING A 30,000 MILE SERVICE COMPLETED. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP LEAVING THE PARKING LOT. PROCEEDED TO THE NEXT STOP LIGHT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE NEXT STOP LIGHT TURNED YELLOW AND I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. I FELT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

61 complaints

• 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 ROADS
• IN AN EMAILED RESPONSE, THE HYUNDAI MOTOR CORPORATION IS DEFLECTING A MALFUNCTION AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE WITH ITS REDESIGNED 2013 MODEL VEHICLES? BLUETOOTH FUNCTIONALITY TO WIRELESS CARRIERS AND/OR PHONE MANUFACTURES? EQUIPMENT WHEN IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH THEIR COMPONENT(S). IS
• I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN OUT OF A SHOPPING PLAZA ONTO A MAIN HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED BECAUSE OF FRESH WET ROADS, A LOUD BOOM CAME FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. RIGHT AFTER THE BOOM THE SUV REVVED UP AND THE SUV HAD TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD AT ALL. I COASTED T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“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 ROADS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

53 complaints

• VEHICLE DELIVERED AS NEW, IMMEDIATELY UPON ATTEMPTING TO PUMP AND FILL GASOLINE TANK, THE PUMP CLICKED AS FULL. HOWEVER, GASOLINE GAUGE ON DASH ONLY WOULD AND CONTINUES TO SHOW 3/4 FULL. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT TO ADDRESS AND ERADICATE THIS SITUATION AND NOTHING
• THE AIR CONDITIONER CUTS OFF FOR NO REASON WHICH CAUSES THE HEAT INSIDE THE VEHICLE TO GO EXTREMELY HIGH CAUSING US TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE.THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NOT ALWAYS A GOOD PLACE TO PULL OFF. IF YOU DON'T PULL OFF TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TEMPERAT
• 6/10/13 WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH WITH OUTSIDE TEMP AROUND 90 DEGREES MY AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING. TRIED TURNING OFF AND ON BUT WOULD NOT WORK. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WORKED AGAIN. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE. 6/28/13 WHILE D

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 7 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“VEHICLE DELIVERED AS NEW, IMMEDIATELY UPON ATTEMPTING TO PUMP AND FILL GASOLINE TANK, THE PUMP CLICKED AS FULL. HOWEVER, GASOLINE GAUGE ON DASH ONLY WOULD AND CONTINUES TO SHOW 3/4 FULL. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT TO ADDRESS AND ERADICATE THIS SITUATION AND NOTHING ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 806 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER STATES ISSUES WITH HESITATION AND STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING. *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION, WHICH WAS COMMON AMONG SEVERAL BRANDS OF AUTOMOBILES AND THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE HESITATION AT ACC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: THE CAR WANTS TO GO ANYWHERE BUT STRAIGHT. ANY UNEVEN PAVEMENT, WIND GUSTS OR CARS PASSING BY CAUSE THE CAR TO REQUIRE A STEERING CORRECTION. AT SPEEDS OVER FIFTY MILES PER HOUR STEERING INPUT IS REQUIRED NINETY PERCENT OF THE TIME TO KEEP THE CAR WITHIN THE DRIVING LANE. THE DEALER CHECKED THE A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: I HAD JUST PICKED MY VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER FROM HAVING A 30,000 MILE SERVICE COMPLETED. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP LEAVING THE PARKING LOT. PROCEEDED TO THE NEXT STOP LIGHT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE NEXT STOP LIGHT TURNED YELLOW AND I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. I FELT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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 ROADS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)