2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport transmission problems

Filed Aug 20, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · NY

2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT TURBO. PAST/PRESENT SAFETY-SENSITIVE DEFECTS, NOTED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS: 1. One Confirmed Open Recall [CAMPAIGN #/the federal safety agency RECALL #—Recall 251 / 23V651000] (To Be Scheduled ASAP). 2. RPM/Propulsion Limp-mode Conditions: Vehicle periodically loses RPM READINGS on Dash and goes into the Propulsion sputtering/restricted-speed limp-mode hesitation condition. This condition may occasionally normalize by stopping, turning off engine and restarting. This intermittent RPM/Propulsion condition sometimes occurs, signified by a temporary sputtering/bucking while driving vehicle. ❓️CHECK STORED CODES ASAP...To Do. 3. Several times the car failed to accelerate predictably. For example, as when trying to accelerate up to highway speed from the on-ramp, leading to a fear of a near-miss, stalling and getting rear-ended. On such occasions, since attention is directed outside of the vehicle for safety, the state of the RPM READING on the dash has not been noted. ❓️CHECK STORED CODES ASAP...To Do.

Filed Apr 29, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 76,500 miles · IA

This car was included in the recall of over 1.5 million hyujdai and kia vehicles due to a factory defect that can lead to premature engine failure. This car broke down on april 28th, 2019. I am having it towed to the hyundai dealership for diagnosis. The "what to look for" section on hyundai's websites lists a number of symptoms of this recall issue and what I experienced when my car left me stranded along the highway is exactly what is described on the hyundai website. The engine also shutdown going 65mph on the highway.I wanted to bring this to your attention since the federal safety agency was instrumental in ordering this recall. Thank you very much.

Filed Oct 5, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 127,000 miles · VA

I purchased my vehicle brand new and have had problems randomly with the vehicle stalling or turning off while at a light or going slow. I have to restart vehicle and when I do it's like it can not accelerate and it vibrates or is bumpy. I feel at danger never knowing when this can happen luckily I have not been smashed into yet thank god considering I have small children. I have brought this concern and have had my vehicle looked at by the hyundai dealer and they say nothing is wrong. I am very upset with the problem and hyundai not doing anything about it except offering me a free appraisal for a turn in:-( this is horrible customer service I will never buy a hyundai again and will advise family, friends and coworkers of this problem.

Filed Oct 3, 2018 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · SC

2 weeks ago my wife was driving home passing thru a neighboring subdivision at around 25-30 MPH. As she was turning she heard a loud pop from the rear of the vehicle. She first thought is was a tire blown. After inspecting she noticed fluid coming out rear of vehicle. She promptly drove the vehicle to a friends house just up the road whom is a mechanic. After inspection he sent me pictures of the the rear differential housing and it was completely cracked in half. Car was taken for repair where we found out that the 10/100k my power train warranty is only valid for the first owner. That is a load of crap and a pathetic way for manufacturers to give these warranties out without having to cover the full term, as most people trade every 50-60k miles, or less. The 10/100k warranty was sold on the car but ended with a new owner at 32k on the odometer, now at just over 60k major failure. This seems a little unjust to me. Now luckily we did have an extended warranty from dealership where we purchased the car ( toyota of greenville, awesome people) and they unlike hyundai are doing whatever it takes to keep us happy and ensure our vehicle gets fixed in a timely manner. So in short, I will never by another hyundai again after their unwillingness to take this gross and potentially catastrophic failure with any concern or seriouness and hide behind some claus that basically says that their spoken 10yr/100k warranty is worthless !!!!

Filed Apr 3, 2018 · Steering, Transmission · 97,000 miles · IL

There is a rumbling noise after completing a turn, generally left hand turns. Also, during the turn, the engine oil light comes on and goes off

Filed Feb 22, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 78,068 miles · GA

Vehicle has slightly over 78,000 miles. Engine seized while merging onto the highway. I am not being told that the engine needs to be replaced. The dealership sold us the wrong warranty, gave us an outdated car fax report, and is saying that nothing can be done.

Filed Nov 13, 2017 · Transmission · 73,000 miles · PA

Rear differential failed

Filed Oct 8, 2017 · Transmission · 66,000 miles · KS

On several occasions, the vehicle lost all power while in motion. It happened while driving 55mph, it has happened while driving 20 MPH, as well as just sitting at a stop light. Every other time the vehicle is started, the check engine light comes then goes off, on/off, on/off etc... And just as often as the lights changes the shifting it's extremely hard when shifting gears. Then the very next day, it runs perfectly fine. However, it reaches extremely high RPM's before shifting. When it does that, it literally feels like the bottom of the car is going to fall out from underneath. Maybe pure coincidence but none of this started until I had taken the vehicle in for recall notifications. I contacted the dealer when it happened and they said nothing they did would have caused any of this to happen. And of course, when you take it to have someone look at it, it never runs "other than normal". The vehicle is only going on almost 5 yrs old, and has 68,530 miles.

Filed Oct 5, 2017 · Transmission · 25,000 miles · IL

Made a left turn while driving under normal condition (enter the turn from a complete stop and accelerating to about 15 MPH). A loud bang was heard in the rear of the vehicle, while in the turn, followed by a brief vibration. I made an immediate right turn on to a nearby side street and felt the vibration again, but no noise was heard. The vehicle was parked in a safe location a few hundred feet from where the initial noise was heard. Upon looking at and then under the rear of the vehicle a blackish/gray fluid was leaking from the area of the rear differential. Roadside assistance was called and a tow truck responded within an hour. The vehicle was towed to a near by hyundai dealership for inspection and repair. The day after the incident a service manager from the dealership called me and reported that the housing for the rear differential cracked. The differential will be replaced and covered under warranty.

Filed Jul 20, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · 50,000 miles · TX

There are two separate incidents where I experienced complete engine failure in my sante fe sport 2.0t. Invoice number ' 359131 first occurred at 47,031 miles. On february 16, 2017 I was driving my vehicle with my son on the freeway when the check engine light appeared and my vehicle began jerking and making a loud clicking tapping sound slowing me down almost immediately. I lost power in my steering, vehicle was hard to maneuver. Hyundai attempted to repair the problem returned my vehicle and charged me partially for repair. Made contact with them about repair being a misdiagnosis as they first blamed the incident on air filter, serpentine belt, spark plugs, fuel injector cleaning, they replaced my fuel pump and engine block at no cost but charged me the other items. Work order number 201868 the second incident occurred at 50,897 miles on july 14, 2017 I was traveling across states from el paso, texas to colorado springs, colorado with my 5 yr old son and my husband. We were traveling north on highway I-25 when our vehicle began to lose power and starting making the loud vibrations and tapping sounds like it had done the first time about 3,000 miles ago when I had the engine replaced. We were over taking a semi truck on the road when this happened we were barely able to recover our lane and pull off to the side of the road as we slowed down almost immediately the semi was able to brake and avoid rear ending us. We were stranded in the middle of nowhere about an hour away from alburquerque, new mexico. This was terrifying for my family and I. We had very little time to react and find a safe place to pull over. I believe my vehicle was not inspected properly through their quality control personnel. If there is debris inside my engine and it has continuously presented itself it will eventually travel through the rest of my engine ex. Turbo seals bearings.