2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe ranks 5th worst out of 21 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 80 and 605 NHTSA complaints. Engine problems make up 48% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 85,500 miles, and NHTSA logged 41 fire reports and 3 recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 80/100
- #5 of 21 Santa Fe years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 605
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- 1 Park Outside
- Crashes
- 14
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 41
- Injuries
- 13
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 18 city / 24.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 13 / 0
Top 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine293 (48%)
- Steering95 (16%)
- Brakes72 (12%)
- Electrical System67 (11%)
- Other60 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain52 (9%)
- Fuel System42 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires40 (7%)
- Structure & Body32 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers20 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Engine stalls or shuts off while driving, sometimes followed by smoke or visible flames from under the hood.
- Brakes fail to stop the vehicle as expected, with owners reporting the anti-lock system did not engage in time to avoid a collision.
- Steering wheel fails to re-center after a turn, causing the vehicle to run over curbs or roadside obstacles.
- Vehicle moves on its own while parking with the brake pedal depressed, leading to a crash before the driver can react.
- Side airbags deploy in a crash while the driver airbag does not, despite the vehicle rolling over.
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V651000Sep 22, 2023Brakes1,649,478 vehiclesPark Outside
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 Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
- NHTSA 17V358000Jun 5, 2017Structure & Body437,400 vehicles
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.
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 while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.
- NHTSA 13V355000Aug 12, 2013Transmission & Powertrain20,300 vehicles
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.
Risk: A fractured front axle may result in a loss of power to the wheels. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked without the parking brake applied, it may roll away. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Custom Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 112.
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 24.5 MPG
- Combined
- 20.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,175
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2013 compared with other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Santa Fe ranks 5th worst of 21 model years, with a complaint index of 80 and an Avoid verdict relative to other Santa Fe years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe?
- Engine issues are the top problem area, accounting for 48% of the 605 complaints filed with NHTSA, with a median failure mileage of 85,500 miles.
- Does the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe have engine fire recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 Santa Fe, and complaint data shows 41 reported fires, though not all fires are tied to the specific recall campaigns.
- How many complaints does the 2013 Santa Fe have compared to other years?
- The 2013 Santa Fe has 605 complaints. That is fewer than the 2017 model's 966 complaints but more than years like 2018, which has 109.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe?
- EPA rates the 2013 Santa Fe at 20.5 mpg combined (18 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.