Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 23 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Rear subframe is rotted out prematurely, other vins had this issue recalled but my vin was not included in the recall even though I have all the same issues as the vehicles that were recalled
Engine has always burned oil and vehicle only has 72,000 miles on it.leaking black liquid/oil out exhaust pipe, blowing out Black clouds of smoke and have to keep adding oil. Whole rear end had to be replaced, timing chain and cover replaced, AC unit replaced, rear camera replaced, climate controls change settings by them selves, leaking gaskets, all this and more has been going on with this vehicle when it only had 35,000 Miles on it. Front suspension creaks for years. No way a vehicle should have all these issues with low mileage and has been very well cared for!
We brought our vehicle into the dealer for a recall for undercoating on [XXX]. The work was completed by Tarbox Hyundai in north kingstown ri. We noticed our car started drifting to the right and our tire was out of align. We brought the car to our local mechanic and were told that the entire under carriage is rotting away and needs to be replaced. I feel Hyundai should be responsible for this because they knew about it and didn't tell us. Instead they just did the undercoating trying to hide the fact that is was completely rotted. thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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.
WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING THE SUSPENSION MAKES NOISES.
I CAN HEAR LOUD CLUNKING SOUNDS FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS FASTER THAN 25 MPH.
STEERING / SUSPENSION. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW ON 01.09.2014 OUT OF THE SHOWROOM. ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS LATER, I STARTED TO NOTICE THE STEERING AND ROUGH RIDE. THE STEERING WAS LIKE A VEHICLE WITH "JIMMY LEGS" LOOSE AND ALL OVER THE ROAD. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET CHECKED OUT. FIRST THING IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT ON THE FRONT END (LEFT TOE -0.10D, RIGHT TOE -0.09D). THEY CHECKED THE SUSPENSION AND TOLD ME THAT THE COMPONENTS WERE GOOD WITH NO DAMAGE OR WEAR INCLUDING THE STRUTS. I TOLD THEM OF HOW ROUGH THE RIDE IS DRIVING AT VARIABLE SPEEDS ON THE LOCAL ROADS. EVER SINCE, I HAVE HAD 5 ALIGNMENTS AND STILL HAVE THE SAME HANDLING AND STEERING PROBLEMS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO SEARS TO HAVE AN ALIGNMENT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THE LEFT FRONT WAS OUT BY -0.07D. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I WAS THE 6TH PERSON WITH THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE TO COME IN THERE IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. HE STATED THAT THE REASON FOR THE ISSUES ARE COMING FROM THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MODULE. WHEN YOU ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL TO ON OF THE THREE SETTINGS (NORMAL, COMFORT, SPORT), IT CAUSES THE FRONT ALIGNMENT OUT. THIS TO ME SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW AND HYUNDAI DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I JUST GET TIRED EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP OF BEING TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM, IT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSE TO RIDE LIKE THAT DUE TO THAT IT IS NOT A CAR. I WAS AT HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP ON 06/FEB/18, AND THAT IS WHAT THEY TOLD ME BUT I HAD TO PAY ANOTHER $89.95 FOR AN ALIGNMENT AGAIN, LEFT FRONT WAS OUT (TOE -0.15D) RIGHT FRONT WAS OUT (TOE -0.18D). I WAS TOLD THAT THE STRUTS AND SUSPENSION WAS OK, BUT COULD BE THE TIRES. I HAVE 29,374 MILES ON IT AND I AM GETTING TIRED OF HAVING TO BRING IT IN TO HAVE THE SAME WORK DONE AND BEING TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE ALL PAPERWORK TO USE TO SHOW THE ALIGNMENTS THAT WERE DONE.
WHILE TURN LEFT INTO A SUBDIVISION THE STEERING WOULD NOT RE-CENTER THUS THE CAR RAN OVER A COUPLE OF LARGE STONES LINING THE ROADWAY AT THE ENTRANCE. THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE. FINALLY THE CAR STOPPED ABOUT 30 FEET LATER. I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY STEER THE CAR BACK ON TO THE STREET. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THE INNER WHEEL WELL ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS TORN OFF, THE LEFT FRONT AIR DAM, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS DAMAGE, AND A FLAT TIRE.
AS I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON A MAIN ROAD, I TURNED LEFT ON TO A SECONDARY ROAD AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED. I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED BY THE IMPACT OF MY VEHICLE WITH A VEHICLE THAT WAS IN THE OPPOSITE LANE, HEADED IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION. PRIOR TO THE COLLISION I HAD NO AWARENESS OF THE PRESENCE OF A VEHICLE STOPPED IN THAT LOCATION, AS THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY OBLITERATED FROM MY VIEW BY THE LEFT SIDE VIEW MIRROR. I BELIEVE THAT THE EXAGGERATED SIZE OF THE MIRROR, AND THE LOCATION OF ITS POSITION MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO HAVE A CLEAR, UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW IN THAT SITUATION. I FEEL THE DESIGN/PLACEMENT OF THE MIRROR WAS DEFINITELY A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
WHILE DRIVING MY AWD SANTA-FE THROUGH SNOW. SNOW BEGINS TO BUILD UP ON TIRES AND RIMS AS DUE ALL VEHICLES. WHILE HAVING PARKED MY SANTA-FE FOR 30-45 MINUTES OR CONTINUALLY DRIVING THROUGH SNOW AND RETURNING TO DRIVE SAID SANTA-FE YOU START TO FEEL VIBRATIONS AND THEN VEHICLE STARTS VIOLENTLY SHUTTERING THE FASTER U GO. THE SNOW THROWS OFF THE WHEEL BALANCE AND MAKES CAR SHUTTER VIOLENTLY. THE ONLY FIX FROM DEALER IS PARK CAR IN WARM GARAGE WHILE PARKING OR SCRAP INNER WHEELS BEFORE DRIVING. YOU WOULD THINK ANY CUV/SUV WITH AWD SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, REALLY ANY VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I GUESS I BOUGHT THE AWD TO STAY ON CLEAN DRY ROADS. DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF AN AWD. GUESS IT WILL TAKE SOMEONE CRASHING BEFORE LOOKED INTO. MY FIX, BUY CAN OF NEVER WET AND SPRAY RIMS AND TIRES SO NO SNOW OR ICE STICKS TO WHEELS OR RIMS OR CHANGE RIMS MORE MONEY$ BUT BOTH WORK. SIMPLE, COMPLAIN AND SOLUTION RESOLVED
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND ONLY WHEN THERE WAS AT LEAST FOUR PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 04/06/15*LJ UPDATED 9/21/2017*CN
THE VEHICLE DRIFTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM "ITS PROBABLY JUST THE DIFFERENT DRIVING MODES ON THE STEERING WHEEL." THEY SUGGESTED TO DRIVE IN "SPORT" MODE WHICH DOESN'T HELP.THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN BECAUSE ITS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUES AND IT MUST BE ADDRESSED. THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE IGNORED. *TR
2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2.4 IS HAVING MAJOR STEERING ISSUES. AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45MPH THE SUV SWAYS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF. IF YOU HAVE ANY TYPE OF WIND THE SUV WILL CHANGE LANES AND IF YOU SLIGHTLY CORRECT IT OVER CORRECTS. I HAVE CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE AND THE TIRES SHOW NO SIGNS A WEAR. ALSO THE FUEL TANK WILL ONLY FILL 3/4 FULL THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT AND EVER SO SLOWLY PUT THE REMAINING 1.5-2 GALLONS IN. THE MPG IS HORRIBLE ONLY GETTING 20MPG AT BEST ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ECO MODE DROPS THE FUEL ECONOMY DOWN TO 18MPG WHEN ACTIVATED. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER SHIP DUE TO WORK AND CANNOT GO WITHOUT A VEHICLE. *TR
PASSED OUT WHILE DRIVING. STRUCK THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR WITH THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF SANTA FE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SANTA FE WAS TOTALED. I SUFFERED A BROKEN NECK IN TWO PLACES AND DISLODGED TWO CERVICAL DISC. NOW HAVING TO GO FOR SURGERY TO REPAIR DISC DAMAGE. HOPEFULLY I WILL REGAIN USE OF LEFT HAND DO TO NERVE DAMAGE. *TR
OWN A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE ALIGNMENT WAS ADJUSTED AND THE TIRES WERE CHECKED BUT THE DEFECT PERSISTED. THE OWNERWAS NOT INFORMED OF THE DEFECT. CONSUMERS REPORT MAGAZINE REPORTS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
VEHICLE DOES NOT STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I'VE HAD ALIGNMENT ISSUES BEFORE WITH OTHER CARS WHERE IT PULLED TO ONE SIDE BUT THIS CAR IS ALL OVER THE PLACE ON THE INTERSTATE. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO CORRECT THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH IS EXHAUSTING AFTER 20 MINS. SOMETIMES LEFT SOMETIMES RIGHT. ALSO SUSPENSION INTEGRITY IS QUESTIONABLE WHEN HITTING BUMPS THE CAR SEEMS TO BOUNCE UP AND CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL FOR A QUICK SECOND. WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWING THIS!???????? WENT TO DEALER FIRST THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER THEY MAGICALLY HAD NEW ALIGNMENT SPECS WHICH THE DID AND IT STILLS WONDERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWAY TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 800. ..UPDATED 03/18/14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO THE PULL TO THE LEFT AND SWAYED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE STEERING WAS ALIGNED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. UPDATED 03/20/14
THIS VEHICLE WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. WHENEVER THERE IS ANY WIND -- EVEN PASSING OTHER VEHICLES -- THE VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE. IN MY OPINION THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HIT A BUMP AND THE WHOLE CAR SHIFTED LIKE INTO THE OTHER LANE. I HAVE ASKED LOCAL DEALER BEFORE TO CHECK SUSPENSION AND THEY SAID ITS "OK". " THAT'S HOW IT IS". SINCE MY PURCHASE EVERY BUMP I HIT THE CAR IS NOT STUCK TO THE GROUND AND MOVES EITHER TO LEFT OR RIGHT. MIGHT BE A FACTOR IN THE HUGE STEERING PROBLEM THIS CAR HAS AS WELL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEWLY MANUFACTURED AXLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200. UPDATED 10-21-13 *BF
DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IS VERY UNSAFE. VEHICLE WANDERS, VERY HARD TO CONTROL. CONSTANTLY HAVE TO CORRECT. *TR
WHILE WAITING TO PULL OUT OF MY SUBDIVISION, FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I HEAR A LOUD BANG UNDER THE CAR. DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME WHAT IT WAS, SO AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO TURN, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. TRIED GOING IN REVERSE, AND NO MOVEMENT. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. SAID MY AXLE CRACKED. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR!! WHEN I ASKED IF ANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE, I WAS TOLD "NO", THAT I WAS THE FIRST PERSON THIS HAPPENED TO. I CALLED HYUNDAI CORP HDQTRS IN CA AND FILED A COMPLAINT. I WAS GIVEN A CASE #. THEY ALSO SAID NO OTHER COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED, AND NO RECALLS ISSUED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE! YES, THEY ARE FIXING IT, BUT I DID TELL THEM THAT I WILL BE LEARY DRIVING IT AGAIN. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!! THANK GOD I WAS NOT MOVING. *TR
THE CAR WANTS TO GO ANYWHERE BUT STRAIGHT. ANY UNEVEN PAVEMENT, WIND GUSTS OR CARS PASSING BY CAUSE THE CAR TO REQUIRE A STEERING CORRECTION. AT SPEEDS OVER FIFTY MILES PER HOUR STEERING INPUT IS REQUIRED NINETY PERCENT OF THE TIME TO KEEP THE CAR WITHIN THE DRIVING LANE. THE DEALER CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS TO SPECIFICATION AND NORMAL. THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE I'VE EVER DRIVEN INCLUDING SEVERAL MOTOR HOMES. *TR *JS
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .