10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
84,680 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #5

Mar 222024

Santa Fe

  • 138,000 miles
The contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, a gasoline and smoke odor was ventilating into the interior of the vehicle through the vents, after which the driver observed flames emanating from the engine compartment on the passenger side of the vehicle, prompting him to pull to the shoulder of the roadway. Upon exiting the vehicle, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the fire. The ABS warning light was illuminated. A fire report was filed. A police report was reported, and injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The contact stated that though medical treatment was not sought, the driver sustained minor injuries to his right arm, and a passenger sustained a quarter-sized burn to his right leg. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000.

- Haleiwa, HI, USA

problem #4

Jul 152023

Santa Fe

  • 144,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that she depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact attempted to steer the vehicle off the roadway, but the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle and after numerous attempts was able to restart and drove the vehicle to a nearby service station. A mechanic at the service station checked the vehicle and found metal shavings in the oil filter and determined that the engine had seized. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

- Sanford, NC, USA

problem #3

Jun 242022

Santa Fe

  • 141,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. As the contact continued driving, he began to hear an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over and discovered that there was no oil in the engine. The contact added oil to the engine however, the knocking sound persisted. The contact towed the vehicle to his home where his brother inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the vehicle with a defective timing chain. The contact then had the vehicle towed to a dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective rod bearing. The contact was then given an estimate for the replacement of the engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

- Hampden, ME, USA

problem #2

Aug 192019

Santa Fe

  • miles
The contact owns 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle resumed normal operation. On a separate occasion, the contact's husband was driving at 60 mph and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact's husband was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact's husband called sterling mccall Chevrolet (17800 North fwy, houston, tx 77090) where the vehicle was purchased and the contact was informed that the dealer was unable assist with the failure. The contact's husband had the vehicle towed to their residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer however, no assistance was provided. The contact was concerned that she was not informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V226000 (engine and engine cooling) prior to the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #1

Jun 092013

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 400 miles
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 temperatures can rise to 100+ degrees very quickly especially here in Florida!

- Lithia, FL, USA