Hyundai Santa Fe 2013–2018
3rd generation (DM/NC) — 'Santa Fe Sport' SWB and long-wheelbase 'Santa Fe' / 'Santa Fe XL'
NHTSA data through 12 August 20263,504 complaints, 1,459 with mileageMethod
On this generation, 30% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 4 times higher than during the rest of the car's life.
- First 12,000 miles — 30% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 9 complaints (0.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 823
- 25%
- 8,000
- Median
- 43,174
- 75%
- 86,000
- 90%
- 120,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 306 | 21.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 83 | 5.7% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 72 | 4.9% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 54 | 3.7% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 56 | 3.8% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 39 | 2.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 57 | 3.9% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 39 | 2.7% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 32 | 2.2% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 28 | 1.9% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 33 | 2.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 45 | 3.1% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 62 | 4.2% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 36 | 2.5% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 50 | 3.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 47 | 3.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 36 | 2.5% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 42 | 2.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 34 | 2.3% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 38 | 2.6% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 35 | 2.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 21 | 1.4% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 35 | 2.4% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 26 | 1.8% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 33 | 2.3% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 16 | 1.1% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 25 | 1.7% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 8 | 0.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 23 | 1.6% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 10 | 0.7% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 6 | 0.4% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 9 | 0.6% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 3,504 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013–2018 Hyundai Santa Fe, and 1,459 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
30% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 4 times higher than during the rest of the car's life. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the engine (44.0% of complaints, typically around 78,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (8.4% of complaints, typically around 12,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (7.0% of complaints, typically around 38,000 miles).
10 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine78,000median 78,000 miles, middle half 35,000 to 109,000
- Transmission and driveline12,000median 12,000 miles, middle half 1,000 to 60,000
- Problems owners could not categorise38,000median 38,000 miles, middle half 11,000 to 78,000
- Electrical system43,000median 43,000 miles, middle half 10,000 to 80,000
- Steering13,000median 13,200 miles, middle half 600 to 58,000
- Brakes59,000median 59,250 miles, middle half 28,000 to 95,000
- Fuel and propulsion system31,000median 30,700 miles, middle half 9,000 to 59,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,541 | 44.0% | 78,000 | 35,000–109,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 295 | 8.4% | 12,000 | 1,000–60,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 246 | 7.0% | 38,000 | 11,000–78,000 |
| Electrical system | 207 | 5.9% | 43,000 | 10,000–80,000 |
| Steering | 192 | 5.5% | 13,000 | 600–58,000 |
| Brakes | 147 | 4.2% | 59,000 | 28,000–95,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 142 | 4.1% | 31,000 | 9,000–59,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 117 | 3.3% | 12,000 | 2,500–41,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 94 | 2.7% | 108,000 | 75,000–126,000 |
| Body structure | 67 | 1.9% | 36,000 | 21,000–68,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 43,174 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 44.0% of complaints (1,541 reports, 439 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 78,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 108,818 miles.
A single system taking 44.0% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.4% of complaints (295 reports, 146 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 12,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 1,000 and 60,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 7.0% of complaints (246 reports, 73 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 38,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 11,000 and 77,800 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 5.9% of complaints (207 reports, 97 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 43,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 10,000 and 79,500 miles.
The steering accounts for 5.5% of complaints (192 reports, 145 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 13,200 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 600 and 58,000 miles.
The brakes account for 4.2% of complaints (147 reports, 46 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 59,250 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,091 and 95,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2017 model year drew the most — 1,255 complaints — while 2018 drew the fewest at 143. The median year sits at 506.
That makes 2017 an outlier: roughly 2.5 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 10 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the hydraulic brake circuit (2), the tyres (2), the steering (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 3,504 complaints filed against this generation, 103 reported a crash; 177 reported a fire; 117 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 2.9% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 30% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the engine and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 12,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine — Theta Ii Gdi Connecting Rod Bearings 2013–2018 Santa Fe Sport (2.0T and 2.4 GDI). Does NOT affect the 3.3L V6 long–wheelbase models.
Machining debris left in the crankshaft oil passages during manufacturing restricts oil flow to the connecting rod bearings; the bearings wear, the engine develops a knock, then seizes — producing stalling while driving and, in some cases, engine compartment fires. Remedies included engine inspection/replacement and installation of the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, which detects the onset of bearing wear and puts the vehicle into limp mode. NHTSA campaign 17V-226 covered MY2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport, with later expansions.
Brakes — ABS/Hecu Module 2013–2015 and 2018 Santa Fe Sport
The anti-lock brake control module can suffer an internal electrical short, causing an engine compartment fire whether the vehicle is parked or driving. Owners were told to park outside and away from structures pending repair. One campaign covered 151,205 Santa Fe Sports built 17 June 2013 to 13 May 2015; a later separate campaign covered roughly 44,000 MY2018 Santa Fe Sports. Remedies involved module inspection plus multi-fuse installation.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 806 | 476 |
| 2014 | 680 | 351 |
| 2015 | 332 | 121 |
| 2016 | 288 | 83 |
| 2017 | 1,255 | 381 |
| 2018 | 143 | 47 |
Recalls (10)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 23V651000 | 2024-04-10 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module |
| 22V056000 | 2022-05-31 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module |
| 18V118000 | 2018-03-26 | Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar |
| 17V578000 | 2017-11-06 | Engine and Engine Cooling:engine |
| 17V358000 | 2017-08-04 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch |
| 17V142000 | 2017-03-21 | Tires:pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems |
| 16V842000 | 2017-01-13 | Trailer Hitches |
| 16V145000 | 2016-04-27 | Seat Belts:front:warning Light/Devices |
| 13V624000 | 2013-12-16 | Tires:sidewall |
| 13V355000 | 2013-09-19 | Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft |
What owners reported
Trying to pull over at parking lot, the engine was suddenly stopped at about 16:00 on the day of may 15, 2016. Tried several times for restart, but in vain. Battery status was good. Called service dealer and they couldnt get the cause of the malfunction, they sent my car to the upper leveled service workshop. The…
2013 · Fuel and propulsion system
2013 Hyundai sante fe sport 'steering began a "hesitation", "lag", "play" when turning the steering wheel even slightly in either direction.' The problem will increased as 3 diferente certified mechanics already informed me. It appears all these problems are attributable to Hyundai's election to use a cheap rubber…
2013 · 3 miles · Steering
Vehicle was purchased around january 30th, 2013, at the time of the test drive i noticed a lot of wind noise in the cabin and the vehicle would not stay in a straight line at 55 MPH, it would sway left to right. Against my better judgment i still purchased this vehicle. The sales person informed me that the reasons…
2013 · 5 miles · Steering
Have operated this vehicle for 20 months with questionable steering control. At first, thought it might have been a break-in or tire issue but highway steering drifting tendency has persisted. Vehicle was purchased new. I have managed to survive this problem because i am a pretty good driver with decades of…
2013 · 20 miles · Steering
Built from 1,459 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page