Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The vehicle caught fire while driving due to unknown cause. The vehicle was unable to break as smoke began coming into the vents. Car came to a stop and the flames were present underneath the vehicle before engulfing the entire hood. Vehicle has been deemed total loss by insurance.
The paint is peeling off, started a couple of years ago, but its getting worse and worse. I jsut read about this recall that was issued. Needed to know what can be done. The front is peeled, so i added a hood front end bra, and have peeling spots all around. I try to wash only with soft water so it will not peel as much. I added a picture of the front with the bra, but if needed i will send one without. This picture was sent to my insurance. "Hyundai Paint Peeling Recall Explained The Hyundai Paint Peeling Recall was issued in 2016 due to a defect in the exterior paint finish of certain Hyundai models. This defect caused the paint to peel or bubble on the affected vehicles, leaving them with an unsightly appearance. Affected models and years include the Santa Fe Sport (2013-2016), Sonata (2015-2016), Tucson (2011-2016), Elantra GT (2013-2016), and Azera (2012-2016)."
I was driving my car and my "open" door light came on out of nowhere. When I stopped I got out and closed my door the light turned off. When I was driving again the light came on and when I tried to open my door, it got stuck. I had someone try to open it from the outside and it sounded like it unlatched but wouldn't open. Now I have to hold the door when I'm driving because it sounds like the door is not shut all way even though it won't open at all.
The left back door of the vehicle is not operational. This issue is causing significant concern, especially in potential emergency situations where access through this door may be crucial. It is imperative that this problem is addressed promptly to ensure the safety and functionality of the vehicle.
Interior lights will not turn off when car is turned off and door is opened. Open door warning stays on dash while driving. Doors will not stay locked. Car does not make beep noise when locking with fob. Radio stays on when car is off and door has been opened and then closed.
my door lock actuator has gone out once again and it seems to be a common issue i believe it could potentially be a safety hazard if the actuator goes out and driver is unaware could potentially get drivers or other passengers stuck in vehicle.
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.
Going on side street at 25mph when car suddenly lost control then hit a car tire on the right of the vehicle but then rolled over on its head. Side air bags deployed but not driver air bag. This car has to be unstable to hit another car on the side (see pics) and overturn. Besides, there are already recalls on some Santa Fe sport for cracked axles and bad tires......updated 12/03/15
The panoramic sunroof on my 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe exploded, sending glass shards everywhere. It sounded like a shotgun went off inside the vehicle. Fortunately, the inside roof cover was closed, so most of the shattered glass was sent onto the roadway, instead of inside the vehicle. Internet investigation revealed that this is not an isolated incident. Exploding sunroofs on Hyundai vehicles, including the Santa Fe and veloster, have occurred in the past. To me, this is a serious safety issue. Not only because glass could be blown with significant force throughout the vehicle, but because if it happened at highway speed, it might make it impossible to control the vehicle due to shock of the explosion and glass being shot everywhere. …
A friend and I were traveling from richmond, tx to port aransas, tx on Friday, April 8, 2016 when the panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered in corpus christi (on the crosstown expressway - sh 286). It sounded like a gunshot and then the plastic roof covering started to flap indicating the roof had been damaged. We were not following closely behind another vehicle and neither of us noticed a rock or any other object in front of us. After the initial frightening noise, I quickly pulled off the freeway and onto the feeder road pulling into a gas station. The roof had shattered into small pieces. We were able to find a Hyundai dealership in corpus christi not far from where the incident took place and slowly made our way there. The manager at that location told us he had known of this happening to the Hyundai veloster panoramic roofs. …
Body complaints in other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the body & structure of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, 4% of the model year's 605 complaints. The component named most often is body (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 25,000 miles, and 42% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 4 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.