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What 604 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (604)Crash / fire / injury (59)Engine (273)Steering (95)Brakes (62)Electrical system (53)Transmission & drivetrain (52)Fuel system (42)Suspension (23)Body & structure (22)Speed control (21)Visibility & wipers (20)

6 of 604 complaints match · Body & structure · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Dec 7, 2023Body & structureBrakesEngineFire

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.

NHTSA ODI 11558964

Nov 10, 2015AirbagsBody & structureWheelsCrash1 injury

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*BF *TR

NHTSA ODI 10789544

May 25, 2015SuspensionBody & structureCrash

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.

NHTSA ODI 10721346

Apr 13, 2015Body & structureVisibility & wipers1 injury

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD AND THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED COVERING ME AND MY PASSENGER IN SHATTERED GLASS CAUSING MINOR CUTS TO ONE OF US. NO OBJECT APPEARED TO HIT THE CAR. GLASS COVERED THE OCCUPANTS AS WELL AS ANY FOLLOWING VEHICLES POTENTIALLY CAUSING DAMAGE. NO OBJECT WAS FOUND TO INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK. THE GLASS WAS PUSHED OUTWARDS AS THOUGH IT WAS PUSHED FROM INSIDE THE CABIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10705488

Nov 19, 2014AirbagsBody & structureCrash1 injury

I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN,DRIVER ON CROSS STREET CUT TURN REAL TIGHT DOING ABOUT 35 OR 40 MILES AN HOUR AND HIT MY CAR HEADON. MY STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEPLOYED DEFLATED I WENT OVER THE STEERING WHEEL AND CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD WITH MY HEAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10659314

Jun 7, 2014SuspensionElectrical systemAirbagsBody & structureCrash1 injury

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

NHTSA ODI 10596823

Working with the data? Download all 604 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev verdict →