10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,976 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.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #54

Jan 022018

Santa Fe

  • 80,000 miles
My steering wheel clunks when turning, regardless of if it is stationary or moving. Was told it by the dealer it was a known issue with some steering wheel coupler and would be $1,500 out-of-pocket to fix.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

problem #53

Feb 062018

Santa Fe

  • 29,374 miles
Steering / suspension. I purchased the vehicle new on 01.09.2014 out of the showroom. About 3-4 months later, I started to notice the steering and rough ride. The steering was like a vehicle with "jimmy legs" loose and all over the road. I took it back to the dealership to get checked out. First thing it was out of alignment on the front end (left toe -0.10D, right toe -0.09D). They checked the suspension and told me that the components were good with no damage or wear including the struts. I told them of how rough the ride is driving at variable speeds on the local roads. Ever since, I have had 5 alignments and still have the same handling and steering problems. I took my vehicle to sears to have an alignment checked and was told the left front was out by -0.07D. The mechanic told me that I was the 6th person with the same model vehicle to come in there in the past two weeks with the same problems. He stated that the reason for the issues are coming from the electronic steering module. When you adjust the steering wheel to on of the three settings (normal, comfort, sport), it causes the front alignment out. This to me sounds like a design flaw and Hyundai does not want to address this issue. I just get tired every time I take it to the Hyundai dealership of being told that there is no problem, it is how it is suppose to ride like that due to that it is not a car. I was at Hyundai dealership on 06/Feb/18, and that is what they told me but I had to pay another $89.95 for an alignment again, left front was out (toe -0.15D) right front was out (toe -0.18D). I was told that the struts and suspension was ok, but could be the tires. I have 29,374 miles on it and I am getting tired of having to bring it in to have the same work done and being told that there is nothing wrong. I have all paperwork to use to show the alignments that were done.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #52

Nov 032017

Santa Fe

  • 63,200 miles
Steering locks, doesn't recenter except with manual human forced correction as though the wheels were stuck in a rut (they aren't). Has happened multiple times since 2D year of vehicle ownership. Not consistent. Problem dissipated after battery failed and was replaced in 3rd year. Unknown if there is a correlation. Steering problem has recently returned. On interstate where many minor course corrections are made to stay in lane, gets very burdensome and wearying on long trips. Seems to happen at 15mph and up. Not noticeable at slower speeds. Was reported to authorized Hyundai dealer in 2015. No action taken.

- Fort Walton Beach, FL, USA

problem #51

Apr 252016

Santa Fe

  • 28,830 miles
Loose bolt on lower steering shaft.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #50

Feb 122016

Santa Fe

  • 23,000 miles
When driving at speeds above 45 mph the car is unstable. It consistently swerves to the left and to the right forcing the driver to constantly adjust the steering. It does not matter what mode the steering is in. It does it in all three modes. It feels unsafe and unsettling. I truly hope Hyundai comes up with a fix for this. Very dissatisfied.

- Rockwall, TX, USA

problem #49

Oct 232015

Santa Fe

  • 11,045 miles
I was driving West on U.S. hwy 80 at about 30 mph, after pulling out of a parking lot about 1 block before I lost control of my 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, at an intersection. It made a sharp right turn without my help at all. After hitting another vehicle and then jumping a large curb, I came to stop about 18" from a small tree. I was completely traumatized. The right front wheel had a blow out from the outside side wall of the tire. The mechanic said it looked slashed. The big question is, did the blow out occur at the time my vehicle made the sharp right turn at the intersection, or did it occur when it hit the curb? I don't know, but I feel something happened to cause that sharp right turn in the first place. I had the mechanic check out the right front wheel area (axle, etc). They said they couldn't find anything wrong with the vehicles parts, that wasn't caused by the accident. This makes me more convinced it has to be the tire. This is the second tire that has blown out on the outside wall of the tire since I purchased this vehicle in 2013. The other blow out was from a nail going through the outside wall. I only have 11,045 miles on this vehicle. Tires are a kumho, crugen, P235/55R19, 101H sl BSW oe (information copied from a discount tire receipt when the first blow out was replaced 5-22-15). I am afraid to get back in this vehicle because I don't know what caused complete loss of control. I will trade it in on a different vehicle. I'm afraid of Hyundai's and kumho tires!

- Longview, TX, USA

problem #48

Sep 042015

Santa Fe

  • 78,065 miles
While turn left into a subdivision the steering would not re-center thus the car ran over a couple of large stones lining the roadway at the entrance. The ABS did not engage. Finally the car stopped about 30 feet later. I was able to finally steer the car back on to the street. There is damage to the undercarriage, the inner wheel well on the right side was torn off, the left front air dam, the exhaust system, the right front wheel was damage, and a flat tire.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #47

May 122015

Santa Fe

  • 24,500 miles
The vehicle is a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe sport 2.0 turbo AWD. I bought this vehicle new in Nov 2012. The vehicle has known steering issues from Hyundai motors usa. I had it in the Hyundai dealer in reno nv last month to have alignment and front steering checked out again. I have had it in the dealer to complain about my steering but they keep stating that it all checks out" it is very difficult to maintain my lane and if its windy out I have to slow down on the highway as it drifts and its hard to control the vehicle back to my lane. Hyundai knows of this problem but has not come up with a fix I have read and heard through other complaints. This vehicle needs to be recalled as it is really dangerous to drive. I paid alot of money for this car new and its my only vehicle so im hoping your Agency can help fix this problem" thank you for your time on this serious issue.

- Carson City, NV, USA

problem #46

Aug 152013

Santa Fe

  • 100 miles
Car is uncontrollable at highway speed won't stay in a lane constant steering adjustment is needed it over reacts when attempting to compensate in windy conditions its extremely dangerous dealer hasn't admitted there is an issue paid for alignment at dealer to no avail

- Medford, MA, USA

problem #45

May 152013

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • 1,000 miles
Erratic steering in highway speeds. Did not test @ highway speeds when purchased, bad mistake!! I can not take long trips because it's very fatiguing to drive. Constantly have to over-correct/correct steering!! I feel very unsafe in this vehicle!! anyone contemplating a 2013/14 Santa Fe, please do not purchase. This car is completely unsafe to drive @ highway speeds. Not to mention on a breezy day the car just wanders all over the highway. Ownership of this vehicle has been a nightmare and my worst mistake, to date in regards to a vehicle purchase. No fixes available and no relief from this in sight. I have a $30K vehicle that I can't even drive, unless its just around town. Very nerve racking to drive on the highway!

- Inwood, WV, USA

problem #44

Apr 302013

Santa Fe

  • 1,000 miles
I have a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe sport 2.0T. This vehicle is very difficult to drive in a straight line. It wanders left to right and right to left at highway speeds. It is worse in cross wind conditions. Requires constant steering wheel input correction to maintain a straight driving path and produces fatigue on long drives. Sometimes the steering feels disconnected. I purchased the vehicle new in early 2013, the problem has been there from day one. I have recently been informed that Hyundai has made a change to improve steering accuracy for the 2015 model year. An improved central processing unit (cpu) has been developed for the electric steering system. So Hyundai is well aware of the issue with the 2013 and 2014 model years. Hopefully the improved 2015 steering cpu can be retrofit to the 2013 and 2014 vehicles or there is an alternate fix. Please recall the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe sport to have this very serious safety issue addressed.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #43

Dec 092013

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • 500 miles
February 28th, 2015 rebuttal Hyundai Consumer Affairs case#[xxx] you failed again as not only did I advise you this dealer performed all the necessary to address this issue and made all your suggested recalculations but just like my issue with the fuel system on this same vehicle you just won't face the music. The very absurdness of the latest suggestion is amazing. In my conversations and documentation as another attachment on this file I plainly advised your firm that my dealership (delray Hyundai) is number 1 from their service dept. Now headed by service mgr. [xxx], service advisor [xxx] and chief mechanic [xxx] however you seem to continue twisting or not recognizing the facts above. Besides this dealership I attached all the complaints from all over the usa which all leads back to your firm having made an error in the electronic steering mechanism and "failing" to correct it for all the complaints whether prior or new or on dealerships records or just plain old reported complaints regarding the identical problems. I can only suggest you reopen this case immediately for all concerned and it must appear before the NHTSA as a needed recall on which it will behoove you to eradicate the problem and then in the bargain there may be fines by NHTSA.. [xxx] cc: Delray Hyundai [xxx], &, consumeraffairs@hmausa information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #42

Feb 022015

Santa Fe

  • 35,236 miles
While driving my AWD santa-fe through snow. Snow begins to build up on tires and rims as due all vehicles. While having parked my santa-fe for 30-45 minutes or continually driving through snow and returning to drive said santa-fe you start to feel vibrations and then vehicle starts violently shuttering the faster U go. The snow throws off the wheel balance and makes car shutter violently. The only fix from dealer is park car in warm garage while parking or scrap inner wheels before driving. You would think any cuv/SUV with AWD should not have this problem, really any vehicle should not have this problem. I guess I bought the AWD to stay on clean dry roads. Defeats the purpose of an AWD. Guess it will take someone crashing before looked into. My fix, buy can of never wet and spray rims and tires so no snow or ice sticks to wheels or rims or change rims more money$ but both work. Simple, complain and solution resolved

- Ravenna , OH, USA

problem #41

Feb 012013

Santa Fe

  • 125 miles
Steering needs constant corrections.

- Harrisburg, NC, USA

problem #40

May 302013

Santa Fe

  • 20 miles
Have operated this vehicle for 20 months with questionable steering control. At first, thought it might have been a break-in or tire issue but highway steering drifting tendency has persisted. Vehicle was purchased new. I have managed to survive this problem because I am a pretty good driver with decades of accident-free driving but would not want to expose a less-experienced driver to this situation with this vehicle, especially in a tight/ narrow traffic lane situation at freeway speeds. Somebody needs to get Hyundai to address this matter.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #39

Jan 072015

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • 34,598 miles
The vehicle drifts from side to side at speeds above 40 mph. I've taken it to the dealership, they said there was no problem "its probably just the different driving modes on the steering wheel." They suggested to drive in "sport" mode which doesn't help.this is a major concern because its a huge safety issues and it must be addressed. There are too many complaints on the internet for this problem to be ignored.

- Zebulon, NC, USA

problem #38

Jan 132015

Santa Fe

  • 37,854 miles
The steering wheel vibrate in every condition of road and the vehicle some times take to the left side.

- Aguada, PR, USA

problem #37

Jul 012014

Santa Fe

  • 18,000 miles
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4 is having major steering issues. At speeds above 45mph the SUV sways all over the road and is almost impossible to maintain control of. If you have any type of wind the SUV will change lanes and if you slightly correct it over corrects. I have checked the tire pressure and the tires show no signs a wear. Also the fuel tank will only fill 3/4 full then you have to wait and ever so slowly put the remaining 1.5-2 gallons in. The mpg is horrible only getting 20mpg at best on the highway. The eco mode drops the fuel economy down to 18mpg when activated. I have not been able to take it to the dealer ship due to work and cannot go without a vehicle.

- Williston , FL, USA

problem #36

Apr 242014

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • 34,000 miles
You have to constantly fight the steering to keep the car from swaying to the left or right.

- Gulfport, MS, USA

problem #35

Sep 022013

Santa Fe

  • miles
Car wanders from left to right, constantly having to correct steering.

- Baldwinsville, NY, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »