Is the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
605 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 279, 7.5× a quiet Santa Fe year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe were filed between 56k and 120k miles. You're at 91,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Santa Fe owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 91,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 279 (46%) | 56k–120k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 63 (10%) | 60k–122k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 52 (9%) | 6k–95k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 95 (16%) | 1k–69k miles · mostly behind | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 53 (9%) | 11k–90k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 42 (7%) | 2k–72k miles · mostly behind | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 23 (4%) | 13k–65k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 23 (4%) | 3k–83k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 21 (3%) | 6k–48k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 20 (3%) | 8k–52k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 16 (3%) | 16k–66k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 14 (2%) | 14k–66k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 10 (2%) | 5k–84k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seats | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 91,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 605 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 41 mention a fire · 10 report an injury · 40 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Engine has a metal knocking noise it was in jenkins Hyundai on 4/20/2017,6/01/2017 it will be going in again this week a part?
Driving down the road and the engine completely shut off without warning and there was no warning lights on the dashboard.
I was driving through the highway at 80MPH and I just lost power. Check engine and oil warning lights came on.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 91,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe: 3
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. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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. 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.
Due to a manufacturing issue, the right front axle shaft may fracture. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 142
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage
Certain 2013 - 2019 model year Santa Fe/Santa Fe XL vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may experience abnormal engine noise or engine damage
The warranty coverage for engine repair or replacement related to engine noise or damage has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date…
2013-2019MY Santa Fe/Santa Fe XL (NC) Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) system may exceed its capacity in certain situations
NHTSA defect investigations: 8
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
Loss of Motive Power
Engine Fires
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
Neighbouring years
2012 Santa Fe: 355 complaints, consider selling · 2014 Santa Fe: 491 complaints, consider selling.
Every Hyundai Santa Fe year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Santa Fe years side by side
Other Hyundai models: Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe a bad year?
605 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 279, 7.5× a quiet Santa Fe year. At 91,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe were filed between 56k and 120k miles. You're at 91,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (279), brakes (63), transmission and drivetrain (52), steering (95), electrical system (53). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 56k–120k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 23V-651), Latches and locks (NHTSA 17V-358), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 13V-355). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.