2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 Santa Fe Sport most often describe engine trouble: stalling or losing power while driving, knocking noises, and dealers reporting that the engine needs replacement. Complaints commonly mention engines that seized or failed with little or no warning, with the reported mileage spread from around 40,000 up past 150,000. A second recurring theme involves ABS and brake warning lights and, in some cases, changes in brake pedal feel.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalling, knocking, or seizure

   • 82 complaints (41%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (61 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle losing motive power or stalling at highway and city speeds, sometimes with a check engine light and sometimes with no warning at all. Many say an abnormal knocking or tapping sound came from the engine before it quit, and several report the engine could not be restarted. According to the complaints, dealers diagnosed engine failure and recommended replacement; some repairs were covered under recall or warranty and others were declined or delayed by backordered parts. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 40,000 to over 150,000 miles, at both low and highway speeds.

   Recall 17V226000Recall 18V9340002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the engine was replaced or inspected under the bearing-wear recall and whether the engine control software update was applied. Listen for knocking at idle and on acceleration, and check the oil level and service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Going approximately 70 miles an hour on the highway and the car just shuts down. After coasting to the side of the road I tried to restart the car to which it turned over but was knocking so I immediately shut down the car and called a towing company but I was 300 miles away from home on the highway when the incident occured. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11131604, filed 2018-09, 90,600 miles

   “Was driving for an hour on the highway and just after I took an exit and was driving about 60km/hr my car shutdown and I had to come to a rolling stop off the side of the road, lights came on the dash, and I was unable to start the car again. Initial thoughts was the alternator as it was a hit day with the A/C full on. Then I had the vehicle towed an hour to a local shop, who informed me that the engine had blown up.”

   NHTSA complaint #11234049, filed 2019-07, 82,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS and brake warning lights, pedal feel changes

   • 40 complaints (20%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 9.1 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe the ABS, brake, and related warning lights coming on and sometimes staying lit, with dealers replacing sensors or fuses or cleaning components. Some owners report the brake pedal feeling slow to respond, kicking back, or traveling far toward the floor. Several mention having received a recall notice but being told the repair part was not yet available. Mostly between about 64,000 and 150,000 miles, at both city and highway speeds.

   Recall 23V651000Recall 21V303000Recall 20V520000

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS module recalls were completed and whether any ABS work has been done. Watch for warning lights on a test drive and check that the brake pedal feels firm and consistent.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Nothing has happened yet but ABS,ESC,dbc and parking brake light all on. I have looked this up and it seems this is happening to many of these vehicles. I'm just wondering why a recall has not been approved, for all these systems are serious safety issues. I'm bringing mine to the dealership monday but was told I would more than likely be responsible for payment of this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11160955, filed 2018-12, 74,500 miles

   “Reset brake light assembly shorts out every year. This has been an on going issue since I have owned the car and the dealer always seems to be reluctant to repair it. This needs a recall urgentlet!”

   NHTSA complaint #11180344, filed 2019-02, 89,000 miles
3. 3
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door locks not locking or unlatching

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe doors locking and then unlocking on their own, a door ajar message appearing with interior lights staying on, and doors failing to register as closed. Some owners report a door not unlatching with either the inside or outside handle. Dealers replaced lock assemblies in some cases, and the problem sometimes returned. Mostly reported between about 67,000 and 190,000 miles.

   Recall 17V358000

   What to check: Test every door lock and handle from inside and outside, watch for a door ajar message with all doors shut, and check that the interior lights turn off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that when the lock button was depressed, the locks engaged for less than a minute before unlocking. Additionally, the front passenger’s side door was shown to be unlocked even though the doors were all securely locked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11525869, filed 2023-06, 130,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that the driver’s side door failed to lock as designed. The instrument cluster was flashing, and the interior lights were illuminated. The door ajar message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that door lock assembly needed to be replaced and there was an internal failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11524697, filed 2023-05, 67,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel or gasoline smell and underhood fire reports

   • 37 complaints (18%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe a gasoline odor inside or around the vehicle, sometimes with visible fuel around the fuel pump area, and in a few complaints smoke or flames from under the hood. According to the complaints, dealers traced some cases to the fuel pressure line or pipe and recommended replacement. Reported from roughly 114,000 to 190,000 miles, at highway and low speeds.

   Recall 18V934000

   What to check: Ask whether the high-pressure fuel pipe recall was performed, especially if the engine was previously replaced, and have any fuel smell under the hood inspected before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On october 7th 2018 while driving at highway speed on a four lane highway my Hyundai Santa Fe Sport turbo began to make noises in the engine (no warning lights came on) then suddenly there was a popping sound coming from the engine compartment, the check engine light came on and the car completely shut off. I coasted to the shoulder and found smoke coming out from under the hood. When I opened the hood I found the whole engine compartment fully engulfed in flames. The car completely burned out while awaiting the fire department.”

   NHTSA complaint #11138959, filed 2018-10, 81,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the odor of gasoline was present inside the cabin of the vehicle. While driving approximately 25 MPH, flames were present coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was parked and quickly became engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the fire. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed along was personal items inside. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11679324, filed 2025-08, 159,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 20 complaints (10%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report the engine using unusually large amounts of oil between changes, sometimes finding the level low or empty days after an oil change, with no warning light. Some mention a burning odor. According to complaints, dealers added oil, performed repairs such as seals and PCV components, or recommended engine replacement when consumption continued. Reported from roughly 67,000 to 131,000 miles, often noticed shortly after an oil change.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burning smell, and ask for oil-change records or whether an oil consumption test was ever performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the engine. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine had seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11481782, filed 2022-08, 90,000 miles

   “The contact's daughter owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle required frequent oil top up. The contact's daughter had taken the vehicle to the dealer where she was informed that the engine needed to be taken apart to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11440185, filed 2021-11, 131,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine, oil consumption, and brake system is worthwhile on this model year, along with checking which open recalls have actually been completed. Service records showing oil changes and any engine or ABS repairs help show how the vehicle has been maintained.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.