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

Engine complaints are the biggest group at 398, followed by brakes and steering.

Does the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?

Yes. The by-year facts show 7 recalls. The full list is in the Recalls section of this page.

How many complaints has the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe received?

NHTSA has 805 owner complaints on file. These are unverified reports from owners.

What is the gas mileage of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

Is the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe a reliable car?

Engine, brake and steering complaints stand out in the file. See the by-year comparison on this page for how it stacks up against other years.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 805 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe^[1]. The engine group is the biggest, with 398 complaints^[2].

805owner complaints^[1]

7recalls^[3]

20–24MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here is how the complaints on file split up by component group, biggest first.

Engine. 398 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe the car hesitating or stalling when pulling away, a ticking noise that led to a tow, and a fuel tank that stops filling early. The group also includes 40 reports that mention a fire^[2].
Brakes. 104 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a pedal that suddenly went soft or did not respond, anti-lock brakes that did not stop the car in time, and a rear brake that overheated and smoked. Some of these stories end in a rear-end crash^[6].
Steering. 99 complaints^[7]. In the stories we read, owners say the car drifts and needs constant small corrections to stay in its lane, especially on the highway. In some of the stories we read, the dealer could not find a cause.
Unknown or other. 79 complaints^[8]. These reports do not point to one clear part.
Electrical system. 68 complaints^[9]. Owners describe the air conditioning quitting while driving, which they fixed for a while by switching the car off and on again. Some also report a fuel gauge that stays stuck below full.
Power train. 63 complaints^[10].
Fuel and propulsion system. 41 complaints^[11].
Structure. 27 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2013 Santa Fe is necessarily included.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (23V651), September 2023. About 1,649,478 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (21V303), April 2021. About 151,205 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (20V520), August 2020. About 151,205 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Engine (18V934), December 2018. About 150,730 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch (17V358), June 2017. About 437,400 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine (17V226), March 2017. About 572,000 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]
Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft (13V355), August 2013. About 20,300 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking, the car rolling away, loss of power. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[19]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Santa Fe Sport 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	21 / 29 / 24	$2,800
Santa Fe Sport 2WD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	20 / 27 / 23	$2,900
Santa Fe Sport 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[21]	20 / 26 / 22	$3,050
Santa Fe Sport 4WD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[22]	19 / 24 / 21	$3,200
Santa Fe 2WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[23]	18 / 25 / 21	$3,200
Santa Fe 4WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[24]	18 / 24 / 20	$3,350

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[5]	5	5	5	4	14.3%
SUV FWD^[25]	5	5	5	4	15.1%

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: SUV AWD^[26], SUV FWD^[27].

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[28]	265 hp
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.4L 4-cylinder^[29]	191 hp
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe with 3.3L 6-cylinder^[30]	290 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
SANTA FE SPORT 2.4L LUXURY/2.0T PREMIUM/2.0T^[31]	185 in	74 in	67 in	106 in	3,772 lb
SANTA FE SPORT 2.4L/2.4L PREMIUM/2.0T PREMIUM^[32]	185 in	74 in	67 in	106 in	3,616 lb
SANTA FE XL GLS/LIMITED AWD 4DR SUV^[33]	193 in	74 in	67 in	110 in	4,101 lb
SANTA FE XL GLS/LIMITED FWD 4DR SUV^[34]	193 in	74 in	67 in	110 in	3,946 lb

How 2013 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Santa Fe model year. The 2013 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2001	209	4
2002	165	4
2003	308	4
2004	303	3
2005	216	3
2006	106	1
2007	684	7
2008	541	4
2009	358	2
2010	260	2
2011	181	2
2012	354	1
2013	805	7
2014	657	7
2015	339	4
2016	306	3
2017	1,326	7
2018	432	5
2019	229	3
2020	217	2
2021	187	8
2022	265	8
2023	290	2
2024	191	7
2025	238	5
2026	56	4

NHTSA's counts for the Santa Fe show 805 complaints and 7 recalls for 2013^[3]. Among the 27 model years listed, 25 have fewer complaints than 2013 and 1 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2017 (1,326)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2013 Santa Fe?

The 2013 Santa Fe has a large complaint file, with 805 reports on NHTSA^[1]. Engine reports lead the list, and they include hesitation, stalling and noise^[2]. Brakes and steering come next^[6]^[7]. These are unverified owner reports and they are not adjusted for how many cars were sold^[1]. Check the recall list and the year comparison on this page before you buy, and have a mechanic look over the engine, brakes and steering.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe?: Engine complaints are the biggest group at 398^[2], followed by brakes^[6] and steering^[7].
Does the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?: Yes. The by-year facts show 7 recalls^[3]. The full list is in the Recalls section of this page.
How many complaints has the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe received?: NHTSA has 805 owner complaints on file^[1]. These are unverified reports from owners.
What is the gas mileage of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.
Is the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe a reliable car?: Engine, brake and steering complaints stand out in the file^[2]^[6]^[7]. See the by-year comparison on this page for how it stacks up against other years.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe

2005 216 complaints, 3 recalls
2006 106 complaints, 1 recall
2007 684 complaints, 7 recalls
2008 541 complaints, 4 recalls
2009 358 complaints, 2 recalls
2012 354 complaints, 1 recall
2013 this page
2014 657 complaints, 7 recalls
2017 1,326 complaints, 7 recalls
2018 432 complaints, 5 recalls
2019 229 complaints, 3 recalls
2020 217 complaints, 2 recalls
2023 290 complaints, 2 recalls

Compare all model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe

Other Hyundai models from 2013

2013 Hyundai Accent 141 complaints, 1 recall
2013 Hyundai Elantra 1,345 complaints, 4 recalls
2013 Hyundai Genesis 200 complaints, 4 recalls
2013 Hyundai Sonata 2,024 complaints, 11 recalls

All Hyundai models

Similar cars from 2013: small suvs

2013 Dodge Journey 353 complaints, 4 recalls
2013 Ford Edge 2,447 complaints, 2 recalls
2013 Ford Escape 2,756 complaints, 18 recalls
2013 GMC Terrain 364 complaints, 3 recalls
2013 Honda CR-V 382 complaints, 2 recalls
2013 Jeep Patriot 120 complaints, 1 recall

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 805 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe (15 mention a crash, 56 a fire, 13 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
398 complaints name the engine component group (3 crashes, 40 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 90,800). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Hyundai Santa Fe model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
104 complaints name the brakes component group (3 crashes, 8 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 87,500). NHTSA vehicle records
99 complaints name the steering component group (3 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 10,522). NHTSA vehicle records
79 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 12 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 68,500). NHTSA vehicle records
68 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 12 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 68,450). NHTSA vehicle records
63 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 61,000). NHTSA vehicle records
41 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 10 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
27 complaints name the structure component group (4 crashes, 1 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 29,317). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 23V651, filed September 22, 2023: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V303, filed April 28, 2021: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
Recall 20V520, filed August 27, 2020: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V934, filed December 28, 2018: Engine. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V358, filed June 5, 2017: Latches / Locks / Linkages › Hood › Latch. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V226, filed March 31, 2017: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine. NHTSA recall database
Recall 13V355, filed August 12, 2013: Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport 2WD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe Sport 4WD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe 2WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Santa Fe 4WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 265 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 191 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe with 3.3L 6-cylinder: rated 290 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SANTA FE SPORT 2.4L LUXURY/2.0T PREMIUM/2.0T: length 185 in, width 74 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 106 in, curb weight 3,772 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SANTA FE SPORT 2.4L/2.4L PREMIUM/2.0T PREMIUM: length 185 in, width 74 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 106 in, curb weight 3,616 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SANTA FE XL GLS/LIMITED AWD 4DR SUV: length 193 in, width 74 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 110 in, curb weight 4,101 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SANTA FE XL GLS/LIMITED FWD 4DR SUV: length 193 in, width 74 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 110 in, curb weight 3,946 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe: problems, recalls and fuel economy