RoadVitals

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Aug 27, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 604 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineExterior lighting
Filed Aug 27, 2023

Car engine is over heating car engine locked up care engine manufacturer recall needs to be requested on all 2013 Hyundai Sante Fe 2.0T model vehicles this is a safety risk to all customers driving this model. The car engine was diagnosed and verified by the hyundai dealership service department. There were no warnings prior to failure. The service department notified me on August 10 2023 of the services needed due to auto risk and recall statements on the hyundai model vehicles.

NHTSA ID
11541068
Incident
Aug 11, 2023
EngineExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Jul 20, 2022

I bought the vehicle 2 months ago, and 2 weeks ago, I noticed the car was shaking when I applied the brakes. The engine light came on and I took it to the shop, and was told I needed a new engine.

NHTSA ID
11475026
Incident
Jul 6, 2022
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 14, 2022

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS low beam very dim ( having to use High beams contentiously)dealership states can not find problem, checked wiring harness ohms out correctly(12 volts )have replaced bulbs many time manufactured recommended. have researched internet and Hyundai form many owners are having similar issues on other modals as well. This has become a serious safety issues as well as cost, There has been no response from Hyundai about this issues. Is there a corrective action for this problem?

NHTSA ID
11460776
Incident
Jul 15, 2019
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 12, 2022

When the cruise control shuts down, the tachometer cuts out and the vehicle seems to go into limp mode. Brightening or dimming the headlights causes an intermittent bright flash to the interior lights. This could be potentially dangerous seeing as you have no acceleration, which could cause very extensive damage to person and property. The intermittent bright flash could be a result of an unregulated power surge, which could cause damage to person and property.

NHTSA ID
11451712
Incident
Oct 30, 2021
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Dec 2, 2020

I CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. STEERING IS VERY LOOSE.

NHTSA ID
11377441
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Oct 13, 2020

CAR BURNED OIL PUTTING 2 QUARTS BACK IN IT EVERY WEEK/ TOPPING IT OFF. OIL LIGHT DOESN'T INDICATE OIL IS GETTING LOW AND OR DOES IT COME ON. LEFT SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS DON'T WORK AT ALL. WHAT'S THE POINT OF THE BLUETOOTH IF YOU CANT USE THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE FUNCTION THAT'S SUPPOSED TO HELP. BOTH IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
11364063
Incident
Aug 12, 2020
Mileage
160,032 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 28, 2020

2/10/20 MY RIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT KEEPS BLOWING OUT. WE HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHT 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN A WEEK. OUR MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT I REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. MY LIGHT IS OUT AGAIN!!! THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. CANNOT SEE THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD UNLESS I USE MY HIGH BEAMS.

NHTSA ID
11312039
Incident
Dec 1, 2019
Mileage
57,254 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 10, 2020

EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE THE DRIVER SIDE BREAK LIGHT HAS GONE OUT. I KEEP REPLACING THE BULB BUT I FIND OUT IT'S THE SOCKET. AS WELL THE DRIVER SIDE PARKING LIGHT THE HALO OVER THE FRONT LIGHT HAS GONE OUT THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS KEEPS GOING OUT. THE HALO CANNOT BE REPAIRED EASILY.

NHTSA ID
11308265
Incident
Jan 1, 2020
Mileage
100,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 26, 2019

MY HEADLIGHTS KEEPS BLOWING LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER BEING REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
11282401
Incident
Nov 24, 2019
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 25, 2018

DRIVING VISIBILITY DURING DARKNESS AND/OR RAINY CONDITIONS IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED DUE TO DIM AND LOW BEAM DIRECTION OF SAID VEHICLE MAKING DRIVING WITH HIGH BEAMS THE ONLY WAY TO SAFELY DRIVE AT NIGHT.

NHTSA ID
11074725
Incident
Sep 30, 2013
Mileage
1,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 17, 2017

DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME AS WELL AS THE REAR TAILGATE UNLOCKS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10945604
Incident
Jan 16, 2017
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 23, 2015

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DIRECTED DOWNWARD SUCH THAT THEY DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY. EXCEEDING SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AT NIGHT ON A LEVEL SURFACE REQUIRES OVER-DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS; HIGH BEAMS MUST BE USED AT ALL TIMES AT GREATER SPEEDS TO DRIVE SAFELY. THE COMPANY REFERS ME TO THE DEALERSHIP AND VICE VERSA; WHILE THEY EACH ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, NEITHER IS WILLING TO TAKE STEPS TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10712394
Incident
Nov 29, 2014
Mileage
29,387 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT NIGHT ON DARK MOUNTAIN ROADS THE HEADLIGHTS PREVENTS YOU FROM SEEING THE SIDE AND CROSS ROADS. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10661898
Incident
Nov 10, 2014
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Nov 5, 2013

2013 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS PROBLEM. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A LINE AND SHADOW AT ABOUT HALF WAY POINT TO THE TOP THAT WAS A DARKER SHADE AND AS A RESULT IT WAS VERY DARK AND VERY HARD TO SEE, ESPECIALLY ON POORLY LIT ROADS.

NHTSA ID
10550248
Incident
Nov 4, 2013
Interior & seatsExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jul 12, 2013

HAVE BEEN NOTICING OCCASIONALLY THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT RETURN TO THEIR "PARKED" POSITION. THEY WILL OCCASIONALLY STAY TOO FAR UP BY 2 TO 3 INCHES. WHEN PARKED, THEY SHOULD BE BELOW THE HOOD LINE TUCKED NICELY TO THE WIPER COWL. I HAVE FOUND ON ABOUT 5 OCCASIONS SINCE OWNING THIS CAR THAT THE WIPERS ARE UP AS OPPOSED TO PARKED DOWN CORRECTLY. THE DRIVER SEAT ALSO ROCKED QUITE A BIT WHEN FIRST PURCHASED. TWO OF US DRIVE THE VEHICLE, NEITHER OF US ARE OVERWEIGHT AT ALL. WE GOT THE SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT REPLACED. THIS HELPED THE PROBLEM ALOT, BUT THE SEAT STILL WOBBLES ENOUGH TO BE ANNOYING. HAVE ALSO NOTICED ON OTHER SANTA FE'S THAT THE FOG LAMP BULB SHIELD (INSIDE THE LENS ASSEMBLY) APPEARS MELTED, AS IT DANGLES DOWN FAR TOO LOW AND CAUSES THE FOG LIGHT OUTPUT TO BE INCORRECTLY AIMED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10524589
Incident
Jul 6, 2013
Mileage
8,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 21, 2012

I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY WIFE A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS I NOTICED THAT IT DID NOT HAVE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND IT SAID THAT SOME MODELS HAD THEM. THE CAR I BOUGHT WAS THE TOP OF THE LINE MODEL SO I FELT THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE THEM. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED THEIR INVENTORY AND SAID THAT THIS MODEL DOES NOT HAVE THEM. I THOUGHT THAT ALL CARS HAD THEM. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR ## VIN FAILED

NHTSA ID
10485383
Incident
Nov 10, 2012
Mileage
200 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .