2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The component is the differential. Yes it is available The differential is leaking oil from the coupling assembly and makes noise while driving like a skip and when you turn to the left and in reverse. Because it helps with the braking time and lessened the risk of things such as vehicle rolling over on curves. I've had my car in for this problem since Jan. 2023 with the dealership telling me and repairing everything but this problem. Took it to two other mechanics that both agree its the coupling . Call the dealership again because Hyundai states they must see the problem are they are 1-3 months out. I have the pictures from mechanic and their sister company did have a recall on the 2013-2020 Sorento that uses the coupling but never a recall on Hyundai. I received a new engine in 2022 and after this noise started, put my car in the shop from Jan2023-May2023 and they never found the problem but said it was the tie rods and a axle that was replaced and still did not rectify the problem. Car has been sitting .
Motor blown rods are knocking and will seize up
MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP REPAIRING A BLOWN ENGINE, WHICH FELL UNDER RECALL 162. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR, THE ONLY INOPERABLE AND/OR PROBABLE ISSUE WAS THE ENGINE. WHILE BEING REPAIRED, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT RUST ON THE INPUT SPLINES BECAME LOOSE AND UPON RETURN TO ME, THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT REPLACED, THE VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER HAVE AWD. RESEARCH ON YOUR WEBSITE SHOWS THAT RECALLS 112 (RELATED TO POWER TRAIN | CAMPAIGN #13V355000) AND 102 (RELATED TO SPLINES | NHTSA #11V261000), AS WELL AS CAMPAIGN #947 (RELATED TO RUST) ARE ALL RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO MY VIN, THESE CAMPAIGNS/RECALLS ARE NOT INCLUDED. I AM SUBMITTING THIS REQUEST TO ASK THAT MY VEHICLE CONSIDER BEING INCLUDED IN THESE RECALLS/CAMPAIGNS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON SERVICING HIS VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED GREASE LEAKING FROM A STUB LOCATED BETWEEN THE RIGHT AXLE AND THE TRANSMISSION. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V355000 (POWER TRAIN) WHICH WAS LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A VIN SEARCH WHICH SHOWED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO FIRST INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT AFTER HE GAVE THE MANUFACTURER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COUGHLIN HYUNDAI (2300 HEBRON RD, HEATH, OH 43056) WHERE THE CONTACT PROVIDED THE DEALER WITH A CASE NUMBER FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V355000 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER DISPUTED THE CLAIM AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO THEN DENIED THE REPAIR FOR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. NO PREVIOUS ISSUES. GOING UP HILL AT 40MPH TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND JAMMED INTO GEAR SO HARD IT FELT LIKE I WAS REAR ENDED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. *TR
RECALL 112 FOR HYUNDAI SANTA FE SUV. MY CAR HAS HAD ITS FRONT AXEL POP OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION TWICE IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS AND THERE ARE ALSO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE RECALL 112 WOULD ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, HOWEVER HYUNDAI HAS TAKEN THE POSITION THAT MY VIN IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE AXEL POPPED OUT BOTH TIMES WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND KIDS IN THE CAR LEAVING THEM STRANDED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HURT DO TO THIS ISSUE YET. IF SAFETY IS A CONCERN FOR HYUNDAI THE NHTSA SHOULD LOOKING INTO EXPANDING THE RECALL TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL CARS THAT HAVE THIS DEFECT IN THE AXEL AND TRANSMISSION. I AM LOOKING FOR HELP OR COUNCIL TO KEEP HYUNDAI ACCOUNTABLE FOR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS.
HYUNDAI CONTINUES TO HAVE ONGOING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE FWD TRANSMISSION ALL TYPES AND LARGELY MOST OF ITS MODEL BRANDS. THE POINT IS THAT EVEN UNDER 100KMILES THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST IN THE COST FOR REPAIRS...
TAKATA RECALL - ON 12/24/18 I WAS DRIVING WITH MY YOUNG KIDS IN THE CAR AND WE HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND CRAZY SOUNDS. WE PULLED OVER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED AFTER MY DAD SAID THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN APART. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEYVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A THING AND THOUGHT FOR SURE HYUNDAI WOULD REPAIR WITH A GOOD WILL REPAIR BUT HYUNDAI DECLINED IT. UPON GOOGLING I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IVE EVER BROUGHT THE CAR TO HYUNDAI FOUR TIMES FOR THE SOUNDS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AC.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THE CONTACT'S ARM AND CAUSED SECOND DEGREE BURNS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE ISSUE RECURRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOP THE VEHICLE THE SECOND TIME. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PASSENGER BECAME TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE WHILE IT ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE YARD OF ANOTHER PERSON'S RESIDENCE THE FIRST TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHOUT IT BEING INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
SANTA FE V6 LIMITED AWD. INTERMITTENT CLUNKING NOISE FROM TRANSAXLE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. MOSTLY OCCURS ON WARM DAYS. CONCERNED TRANNY MIGHT FAIL AT HIGH SPEED AND CAUSE ACCIDENT. *TR
WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOP OR TRAFFIC SIGNAL, MAKING LEFT TURN, VEHICLE REAR END ( SOUNDS LIKE REAR END OR AWD) MAKES THUMPING, SLIPPING, BUMPING NOISE WHICH CAN BE FELT THROUGH OUT VEHICLE. FIRST NOTICED ABOUT 3000 MILES. THOUGHT IT MAY BE A NORMAL CONDITION FOR AN AWD VEHICLE, BUT THE CONDITION HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE! TAKEN TO DEALER 2 TIME NOW, THEY STATE THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, THEY REPLACED THE TRANS FLUID, THE REAR DIFF FLUID, BUT IT IS STILL GETTING WORSE! SERVICE MANAGER WENT FOR RIDE WITH ME AFTER STATING HE COULD NOT FEEL THE CONDITION ON VEHICLE, BUT HE ONLY DROVE VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT OF DEALERSHIP. I TOLD HIM IT HAPPENS WHEN TURNING AT LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS...HE WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT. ON OUR TEST DRIVE TOGETHER, HE DEFINITELY FELT WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, ASKED HIS SHOP FOREMAN TO GET IN VEHICLE WITH US, HE FELT THE CONDITION AS WELL, BUT SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT COULD BE. THEY KEPT VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS, REPLACED TRANSMISSION FLUID, READ DIFFERENTIAL FLUID AND A FEW OTHER ITEMS, GAVE VEHICLE BACK, AND ASKED ME TO SEE IF DOING THIS HELPED RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.....IT HAS NOT, CONTACTED HYUNDAI, GOT A CLAIM #, AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT VEHICLE.... VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 9000 MILES AND JUST TURNED 1 YEAR OLD SINCE NEW. WE BOUGHT THIS SANTA FE TO REPLACE A 2008 THAT HAD SIMILAR TRANS/AWD ISSUES, THAT LEFT US STRANDED 3 TIMES ON THE SIDE OF I-95 (TRANS & AWD BLEW UP ON US DRIVING TO FLORIDA KEYS ON I-95 AT 70 MPH) IN FALL OF 2012.....AFTER DEALER IN JACKSONVILLE ATTEMPTED REPAIRS FROM FIRST BREAKDOWN. UNFORTUNATELY, FLORIDA DOES NOT SELL AWD VEHICLES, AND APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THESE THINGS. *TR
MY FATHER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER 9/23/13 FROM HYUNDAI ON HIS NEW 2013 SANTA FE SPORT REGARDING THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE SHAFT AND THAT IT COULD FRACTURE. CAMP112. HE CALLED HIS DEALER ON 9/24/13 TO SCHEDULE THE REPLACEMENT WORK. THEY WERE OUT OF THE PART. HE FOLLOWED UP AGAIN 10/17/13. MY FATHER GOT ILL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. I FOUND THE RECALL PAPERWORK AND TRIED TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR, IN MARCH 2014. THEY STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PART. MY MOM CALLED AGAIN IN APRIL. THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE THE PART. MY MOM OPENED A CASE NUMBER WITH HUYNDAI AT THAT TIME. I HAVE JUST CALLED TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR AND THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE A PART. THEY SAY IT IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. MY COMPLAINT IS HOW CAN SOMETHING THAT IS RECALLED WITH A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WITH NO REPLACEMENT PART FOR 8+ MONTHS? THIS IS NOT A WINDOW THAT WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. BASED ON THE INFORMATION I CAN FIND THERE ARE 20,000 VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE AND IN 8 MONTHS THEY CAN'T SEEM TO SUPPLY ADEQUATE REPLACEMENT PARTS. WHILE THE RECALL HAS NOT INDICATED ANY DEATHS, I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE OF HOW THE ISSUE IS EXPLAINED. IT OCCURS SUDDENLY, AND THE DRIVER WILL LOSE ABILITY TO STEER. MY MOTHER IS NOT SOMEONE, WHO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WILL BE ABLE TO CONTROL THIS CAR IF THIS OCCURS. I WOULD BE HAPPY IF THIS WOULD JUST GET TAKEN CARE OF BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT RED HOAGLAND AND THE CASE WORKER AT HYUNDAI JUST SAY SORRY BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. AT THIS POINT MY MOM DOESN'T FEEL LIKE SHE CAN DRIVE THE CAR ANY DISTANCE FOR FEAR THAT THIS ISSUE WILL ARISE. IS HYUNDAI NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO GET THESE PARTS AND KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS INFORMED AND SAFE. 8 MONTHS OF BACK ORDER IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED? *TR
MY 1 YEAR OLD HYUNDAI SANTA FE STARTED MAKING FAINT KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, WHICH HAS NOW BECOME MORE NOTICEABLE AND PERSISTENT WHEN CORNERING AT SLOW SPEEDS (PARKING LOTS AND WINDING ROADS), OR GOING OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A SINGLE CLUNK WITH SLIGHT FEEDBACK IN THE STEERING WHEEL, WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, AND I HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT RIGHT FRONT AXLE CAN BE MOVED SIDE TO SIDE BY HAND WITH WHEELS ON THE GROUND WHICH ALSO PRODUCES KNOCKING SOUND. CAR TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT EACH TIME UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER DUPLICATING THE KNOCKING FOR TECHNICIANS. VEHICLE LOOKED OVER EACH TIME WITH FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING FOUND TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO APPARENT DAMAGE, AND TIGHTENING BOTH FRONT AXLE BOLTS, BUT THE KNOCKING STILL PERSISTS. DEALERSHIP ADVISORS AND MECHANICS ARE ALWAYS VERY HELPFUL, AND ASSURED ME THAT VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE AND AXLE SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT IS NORMAL, BUT SINCE KNOCKING IS BECOMING VERY APPARENT EVEN WHEN CORNERING ON LEVEL ROADS, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLE SAFETY. I HAVE DRIVEN NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ISSUE LIKE THIS, WHICH MAKES ME FEEL UNEASY WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN FEAR THAT SOMETHING MAY GO TERRIBLY WRONG, AND AT THIS POINT I AM SIMPLY NOT SURE WHICH ACTION TO TAKE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V355000 (POWER TRAIN) HAD SURPASSED THE REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TR
CAR SEEMED TO BUCK WHILE DRIVING IN LOW GEAR. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL. 4 DAYS LATER THE SYMPTOMS HAVE REAPPEARED. CONCERNED ABOUT RECALLS AND BAD TRANSMISSION. CAR PURCHASED AUG 19, 2013. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V355000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V355000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE REMEDY PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V355000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE REMEDY PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS. CAR MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND WOULDN'T MOVE. 2 POLICEMEN PUSHED US OUT OF THE TRAFFIC AND CALLED AAA. WE WERE TOWED TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER (WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED). CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 22 DAYS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE. NOT THE END OF THE PROBLEM........THE DEALER HAD A HARD TIME GETTING THE REPLACEMENT PART. FINALLY LOCATED ONE IN SO. CALIF. AND HAD IT SHIPPED 400 MILES TO CARSON CITY, NV. PART WAS REMOVED FROM ANOTHER 2013 SANTA FE. ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI, THERE ARE POTENTIALLY 50,000 VEHICLES THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. SO, SINCE OUR REPLACEMENT PART CAME OUT OF ANOTHER 2013 SANTA FE, WE ARE CONCERNED THIS MAY RE-OCCUR. WE MAY BE ONE OF THE TWO CARS MENTIONED IN THE ONLINE ARTICLE OF 7-9-13. BUT, NOT SURE IF WE ARE SO.......YOU MAY HAVE MORE THAN JUST TWO VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM SO FAR. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE KEPT INFORMED. THANK YOU. *TR
WE BOUGHT IT 10/5/2012. WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS OF BUYING IT MY HUSBAND TOLD ME IT HAD BEEN STALLING OUT AFTER STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. WE ALSO NOTED IT HESITATES SEVERELY AT TIMES DURING ACCELERATION, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAVE THEIR BLUE LINK WITH A MONTHLY VEHICLE REPORT AND IT HAS BEEN REGISTERING SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CHASSIS AND POWER TRAIN IN THE REPORTS FROM NOV. AND DEC. 2012. WE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THEY RESET THE BLUE LINK. I CHANGED THE DATE FOR THE REPORT FOR AFTER IT HAD BEEN RESET AND NOW IT SHOWS THAT IT LOGGED 4 ISSUES WITH THE POWER TRAIN. APPARENTLY THOUGH THEY CAN NOT SEE AT THE DEALERSHIP WHAT IT LOGS? THEY DID SHOW ME THAT THEY CAN'T SEE THIS. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE MESSAGE "FUEL CAP NOT ON" BUT IT IS. ON 12/30/2012 WE HAD IT OUT AND IT HESITATED SO BADLY WHEN GETTING OFF AND ON THE HIGHWAY IT LASTED ALMOST A FULL MINUTE EACH TIME FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. DID WE JUST GET THE LEMON? I UNDERSTAND "WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS IT'S DOING IT FOR US", BUT REALLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE? WE HAVE ALSO NOTICE IT DOES THIS STUFF EVERY OTHER TANK OF GAS, SOMETIMES MORE FREQUENTLY. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE WE BUY THE GAS AT EITHER AS WE HAVE TRIED ROTATING STATIONS EVERY 5 OR SO FILL UPS. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe has 20 Power Train complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.