Home · 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Phev · Complaints

What 604 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Phev

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)

22 of 604 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters

Jul 27, 2024Body & structure

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.

NHTSA ODI 11604870

Apr 16, 2024Body & structure

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.

NHTSA ODI 11583419

Mar 5, 2024Body & structure

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.

NHTSA ODI 11575673

Dec 28, 2023Body & structure

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)."

NHTSA ODI 11562389

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

Oct 9, 2023Body & structure

The vehicles panoramic sunroof shattered while driving. This created an unsafe situation and the insurance company still has not fixed in 6 months.

NHTSA ODI 11549046

May 10, 2023Body & structure

The paint on my vehicle is pealing off

NHTSA ODI 11521302

Jun 17, 2021Body & structure

The latch of the driver door doesn’t lock. It remains open . There was a recall for it but not sure if it ever got done before I bought the car.

NHTSA ODI 11421228

Aug 17, 2017Body & structure

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY SUNROOF BECAME DETACHED THE MECHANISM WHICH OPENS AND CLOSES IT FAILED AND MY SUNROOF ALMOST FLEW OFF ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH POSES A GREAT DANGER. WITH THE HELP OF A STATE TROOPER WE WERE ESCOURTED OFF THE HIGHWAY WHERE WE HAD TO DUCT TAPE THE SUNROOF ON IN ORDER TO GET BACK HOME ROUTE 2 HYUNDAI HAS HAD MY VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW

NHTSA ODI 11015920

May 9, 2017Electrical systemBody & structureLatches & locksEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FUZES SHORTED MORE THAN ONCE. THE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER LOCKS RANDOMLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. WHEN THE CONTACT LOCKED THE DOORS, THE POWER LOCKS FAILED TO FUNCTION OCCASIONALLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10984431

Apr 11, 2016Body & structure

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. HE ARRANGED A RENTAL AGREEMENT FOR A TEMPORARY SUB VEHICLE AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OUR DESTINATION. AT THIS MOMENT (MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016), MY SANTA FE IS BEING ASSESSED AT THE CORPUS CHRISIT DEALERSHIP. OUTCOME UNKNOWN. TWO PHOTOS INCLUDED OF DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 10854839

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

Jun 15, 2015Body & structure

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH AND THE SUNROFF JUST EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT WENT OFF. LUCKILY THE SUNROFF COVER WAS CLOSED ON THE INSIDE, OUTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN SHATTERED GLASS. TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 93 DEGREES AND SUNNY......UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF UPDATED 1/4/2016*JS

NHTSA ODI 10725335

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

Mar 27, 2015Visibility & wipersBody & structure

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. SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI, THERE NEEDS TO BE A PERMANENT FIX APPLIED TO ANY VEHICLE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS SUNROOF PROBLEM WHEN IT IS REPAIRED. TO SIMPLY REPLACE THE BROKEN SUNROOF WITH AN IDENTICALLY FLAWED SUNROOF DOES NOTHING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE DURING SUBSEQUENT ROAD DRIVING. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THIS PERMANENT FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10702163

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

Nov 5, 2013LightsBody & structure

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 ODI 10550248

Sep 23, 2013Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE HEARD A STRANGE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE A FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

NHTSA ODI 10544985

Sep 7, 2013Body & structure

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST. IT TOOK A SECOND OR TWO TO GET MY BEARINGS BUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS THE FORWARD PANE OF GLASS ON MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF GLASS ALL THROUGHOUT THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS OF THE INTERIOR BUT MOST OF IT HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE CAR. ALL BUT 2-3 INCHES OF GLASS AROUND THE PERIMETER HAD BLOWN OUT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 65 F.

NHTSA ODI 10542442

Mar 22, 2013Body & structureSeatsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AROUND JUNE 3 2012, 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 WHY THE VEHICLE PERFORMED THE WAY IT DID WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY WINDY. TO THIS DATE THE VEHICLE STILL SWAYS LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN DRIVING OVER 55 MPH AND THE CABIN NOISE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT HYUNDAI WILL NEED TO FIX QUICKLY. WHEN SPEAKING WITH THE SHOP MANAGER HE MADE IT SOUND LIKED NO ONE ELSE WAS HAVING THESE PROBLEMS, MAYBE THEY NEED TO READ THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. SEATS:I TOO HAVE EXPERIENCE THE DRIVER SEAT BEING VERY LOSE AND ROCKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY TIGHTENED THE BOLTS BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE BUT A DAY TO REALIZE THAT THIS WASN?T A TOTAL FIX. EACH TIME I TAKE IT BACK THEY JUST SAY THEY LOCKED THE BOLTS DOWN BUT WILL NOT DO ANY PAPERWORK ON IT AND. SUNROOF: MY SUNROOF MAKES A WHISTLING NOISE WHEN I DRIVE DURING WINDY CONDITIONS. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOO HEARD THE NOISE. BUT TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT AND THAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. THREE MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MY BACK PASSENGER REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT AT 60 MPH AND THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THEY DIDN?T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE WINDOW TO BLOW. I'VE NOW HAD THE CARE FOR 10 MONTHS NOW AND STILL THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN A SUPER SUPPORTER OF HYUNDAI BUT HOW CAN I CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY IF THEY ADVERTISE THEY HAVE THE BEST WARRANTY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT WONT FOLLOW THROUGH? HYUNDAI NEEDS TO FIX THIS AND MAKE IT RIGHT WITH US OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10504082

Working with the data? Download all 604 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 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 Phev verdict →