2013 Hyundai Santa Fe — Known Issues & Recalls

While driving, your gas pedal stopped responding and the engine wouldn't accelerate, forcing you to pull over safely. When you turned off the engine, it wouldn't start again. A mechanic determined the engine had completely failed. The repair will likely require engine replacement or a complete engine rebuild.

Your engine completely shut down while you were driving on the highway with your children, leaving you stranded in traffic with no warning signs beforehand. This is the second engine failure you've experienced in this vehicle — the first occurred at 100,000 miles and the replacement engine failed after just six months. Hyundai has refused to cover either failure under warranty despite service center confirmation of the defects. A complete engine replacement or rebuild will likely be needed to restore the vehicle to working condition.

Your car suddenly started shaking while driving, and the shaking got worse when you slowed down or idled—so bad you thought it might stall. The mechanic found misfiring in multiple cylinders and replaced the spark plugs, but the problem continued. When the oil was checked, it was nearly empty despite being only 2000 miles since your last oil change, and the engine had burned up from running on too little oil. You never received a low oil warning light. The mechanic says your model is known to consume oil quickly and runs hot, requiring oil level checks and likely additions between normal oil changes. Don't drive the car further as it risks overheating or stalling.

Your engine caught fire and began smoking while you were driving. You had to remove the battery and exit the vehicle to prevent it from burning further. The engine has now seized and is no longer functional.

Your engine's crankshaft has faulty oil passages that are causing the connecting rod bearings to wear out rapidly. Your car completely seized and broke down on the highway. While a class action lawsuit has been established for this issue and agreed to cover engine replacement, Hyundai and the lawsuit representatives have declined to help with your specific case. The repair will require a complete engine replacement.

Your engine locked up six months after purchasing this used 2013 Santa Fe from a dealership. Your VIN matches Hyundai's recall for engine failure on this model year, but the dealership initially denied your warranty claim and later Hyundai Corporate denied it as well, despite maintenance records showing the car was regularly serviced at that same dealership. Hyundai has been fined over $200 million by federal regulators for mishandling this exact recall issue on Santa Fe models from this year. Addressing this will likely require engine replacement or a complete engine overhaul as covered under the recall.

While your wife was turning and accelerating, the check engine light came on along with other warning lights, and the vehicle lost acceleration power. After pulling over and turning off the engine, it would not restart or turn over—your mechanic determined the engine had seized. There were no warning signs beforehand like rough idling, unusual noises, or fluid leaks. The repair will likely require engine replacement or a complete engine rebuild.

Your engine shut down unexpectedly while you were turning at a red light and wouldn't restart. A mechanic found that your engine is locked up, meaning the internal components have seized and won't turn over. This will require professional engine service or replacement to get your car running again.

Your engine's connecting rod failed without warning, causing the engine to suddenly seize while you were driving in an airport tunnel. There were no warning signs beforehand — no dashboard lights, strange sounds, or other symptoms. A Hyundai dealer told you this problem has become common on your vehicle model. The fix will likely require a complete engine replacement or internal engine repair involving the connecting rod and related internal components.

Your engine is burning through oil much faster than normal, even with regular oil changes and top-offs. You don't receive a warning light, but your service representative reports that your oil level drops to empty between service visits. This likely indicates an internal engine issue that will need diagnosis to determine the cause and appropriate repair.

Your engine is consuming oil faster than normal, and a non-Hyundai mechanic confirmed there are no external leaks, suggesting the problem is inside the engine itself. Your vehicle is affected by a known Hyundai campaign (TXX8) related to this issue, but Hyundai says you're ineligible for coverage because your car has over 150,000 miles. Addressing this will likely require a diagnostic inspection to confirm internal engine damage and possibly engine repair or replacement.

Your engine is burning through oil between regular oil changes, sometimes requiring you to top it off weekly. While you've kept up with scheduled maintenance and professional oil changes, excessive oil consumption isn't normal and could damage your engine if the oil level gets too low. The fix will likely involve diagnosing the source of the oil loss, which could range from worn piston rings to valve seal issues.

Your 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is burning through about a quart of oil every 7-10 days, which is unusually fast. You brought it to a Hyundai dealership, but this issue isn't covered under any current recall. The problem likely involves internal engine wear or a leak that's causing oil to be consumed rapidly, and fixing it may require engine diagnostics to locate the source and potentially repair or replace worn seals, gaskets, or piston rings.

Your ABS module is making noise and causing multiple warning lights to stay on (ABS, parking brake, and traction control). You're also experiencing loss of speedometer and odometer readings, reduced steering effort, and unexpected sudden stopping that required a tow. Your dealership identified a short in the ABS module as the cause and recommended replacement. Though a recall exists for ABS module inspection and fuse installation for your vehicle, your VIN isn't showing up in the recall system despite having the same part number listed in the recall.

Your vehicle caught fire while parked in a parking lot, even though a dealer told you the recalled brake issue wasn't urgent and posed no fire risk. The fire spread to a nearby structure before the fire department extinguished it, and your vehicle was totaled. The manufacturer was not notified of this fire, which occurred after you received a recall notice about your braking system.

You report that your 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe has had ongoing engine issues since 2018 related to a Theta engine settlement and recall campaign. You believe there are unresolved problems with the electrical system and service brakes that should have been addressed under the manufacturer's remedy program. The repair or engine replacement covered under the recall may need to be completed by your Hyundai dealer.

Your rear subframe is experiencing premature rust and deterioration. Even though other vehicles with the same issue were recalled, your vehicle's VIN was not included in that recall despite having identical problems. This structural issue may require replacement of the affected subframe components.

Your 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe started experiencing engine problems about three months after you purchased it in September. The complaint doesn't specify what the exact engine issue is, so you'll want to have a mechanic diagnose the problem with a scan tool to identify the root cause.

Your car drifts hard to the left when you accelerate, then straightens out when you ease off the gas—a scary and unpredictable feeling. Multiple inspections of the suspension haven't revealed the cause. The problem likely involves steering alignment, tire issues, or engine torque steer, and will need diagnostic testing to identify the root cause.

Your engine is burning oil excessively and leaking from the exhaust pipe, causing black smoke and requiring frequent oil top-ups even at only 72,000 miles. You've also experienced multiple failures including the rear suspension, timing chain, AC system, rear camera, and climate controls that change settings on their own, plus persistent front suspension creaks and leaking gaskets. These recurring issues started at 35,000 miles despite proper vehicle maintenance. Addressing this will likely require a complete engine diagnostic, valve seal replacement, gasket sealing, and potential engine rebuild or replacement if internal damage is confirmed.