2013 Hyundai Santa FE Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 604 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE overview page.
What owners report
“SANTA FE V6 LIMITED AWD. INTERMITTENT CLUNKING NOISE FROM TRANSAXLE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. MOSTLY OCCURS ON WARM DAYS. CONCERNED TRANNY MIGHT FAIL AT…”NHTSA complaint 10626568 — filed 08/20/2014
“WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOP OR TRAFFIC SIGNAL, MAKING LEFT TURN, VEHICLE REAR END ( SOUNDS LIKE REAR END OR AWD) MAKES THUMPING, SLIPPING, BUMPING…”NHTSA complaint 10605161 — filed 06/23/2014
“MY 1 YEAR OLD HYUNDAI SANTA FE STARTED MAKING FAINT KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, WHICH…”NHTSA complaint 10576065 — filed 03/31/2014
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE: 51 of 604 complaints on file (8.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2013 Hyundai Santa FE have in total?
604 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 14 involved a crash, 41 involved a fire, 13 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
