CarRecallWatchThe 2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport has 6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 201 complaints with NHTSA, including 1 crash, 15 fires.
The most-reported problem area is Engine (109 reports).
NHTSA rates it up to 5 stars overall for crash safety, depending on the version.
2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport recalls
ABS Module Can Leak Fluid and Short Out, Causing Fire Risk
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module in these Hyundai vehicles may leak brake fluid internally.
Brake fluid leak can cause engine fire risk
Brake fluid may leak inside the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module, which can lead to an electrical short.
Brake Fluid Leak Can Cause Engine Fire Risk
Brake fluid may leak inside the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module, which can lead to an electrical short circuit.
Fuel Leak Can Cause Fire in Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe Sport
A high pressure fuel pipe connected to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly tightened during an earlier engine replacement repair.
Hood May Pop Open While Driving, Risking a Crash
The secondary hood latch cable can corrode and bind, so the secondary latch may stay unlatched even when the hood looks closed.
Engine Bearings May Wear Early and Seize, Raising Crash Risk
Machining errors made during engine manufacturing can cause the engine's bearings to wear out prematurely.
Most common 2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport problems
Problem areas named in the 201 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Engine | 109 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 7 |
| Structure | 4 |
What owners report
Vehicle: 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T Limited, VIN [XXX]. Registered and titled in Georgia, USA since July 2022. Built in the USA (VIN begins with 5); originally retailed in Canada. The vehicle has an unremedied ABS module defect that can cause an engine-compartment fire even when parked and turned off. Hyundai Canada lists it as open safety recall R0246-1 (41D013, Transport Canada 2024-080), remedy available since 2024-05-27. The same defect and the same remedy (ABS fuse replacement) are covered in the US by NHTSA recall 23V651 / Hyundai Recall 251, which includes 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles produced 7/12/2012 to 6/15/2013. A second Canadian fire-risk recall is also open: R0212 (21DG0
FORMAL VEHICLE SAFETY AND WARRANTY COMPLAINT Date: [XXX] From: [XXX] Vehicle: 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, 2.4L Theta II engine Mileage: Approximately 150,000 miles (exact current reading to be confirmed) Subject: Recurrent Check-Engine Warning Following Repeated Repairs; Request for Theta II Engine Investigation I am submitting this complaint to formally document recurring engine-related symptoms affecting my 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, and my repeated requests for investigation of a possible connection to the known Theta II engine defects and related warranty programs. On [XXX], the check-engine light illuminated again. Previously, on three separate occasions, the vehicle experienced a fl
The vehicle suddenly stopped and suddenly smoke appear in the front part of vehicle. Firemen appeared and when the front of the car was opened the flames of the fire were all over the engine of the car. The front glass broke and the hood has visible signs of the fire. Police were everywhere while firemen worked to stop the fire in the car. The car was towed to our home.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that the front driverâs side door failed to unlatch as intended using either the interior or exterior door handles or the locking mechanism. In addition, the contact exited the vehicle using the front passengerâs side door to exit the vehicle. An appointment was scheduled with the local dealer. Upon further investigation, the contact associated the failure with TSB: 14-01-004-1. The contact stated that it might be a potential safety risk for passengers in an emergency. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by telephone. The failure mileage was approximately 142,622.
In October/November of 2023, while Hyundai was actively initiating Safety Recall 251 (NHTSA Campaign 23V-651), my vehicle's ABS Control Unit suffered an internal fluid leak that resulted in an electrical short-circuit. The failure caused major electronic communication errors, illuminated dashboard warning lights, and placed the vehicle into Limp Mode, rendering it unsafe to drive. Because the failure occurred prior to receiving a formal owner notification in the mail and the vehicle was un-drivable, I paid $1,300.54 out-of-pocket on November 17th 2023 to replace the failed ABS module. Hyundai Corporate has twice denied reimbursement, arguing that Recall 251 only covers a multi-fuse replacem
2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport safety rating
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUV AWD | ★★★★★ 5-star | 5 | 5 | 4 (14.3% rollover risk) |
| 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUV FWD | ★★★★★ 5-star | 5 | 5 | 4 (15.1% rollover risk) |
2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport questions
Does the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport: ABS Module Can Leak Fluid and Short Out, Causing Fire Risk; Brake fluid leak can cause engine fire risk; Brake Fluid Leak Can Cause Engine Fire Risk; Fuel Leak Can Cause Fire in Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe Sport; Hood May Pop Open While Driving, Risking a Crash. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport?
Based on 201 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine (109), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (32), Unknown Or Other (23).
How safe is the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings program gives the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport up to 5 out of 5 stars overall; ratings vary by version, see the table above.
How do I check if a recall on my 2013 Hyundai Santa FE Sport has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.