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2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 179.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

95 reports with mileage · 225 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 196 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports8 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

320 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2023
Engine

We have always had our 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T serviced at our local Hyundai dealership in St. Cloud MN. All required maintenance has been done. Our vehicle has 68400 miles on it. We left MN for our winter home in Apache Junction Az after Christmas. We experienced loss of power and the check engine light came on. We wer…

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We have always had our 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T serviced at our local Hyundai dealership in St. Cloud MN. All required maintenance has been done. Our vehicle has 68400 miles on it. We left MN for our winter home in Apache Junction Az after Christmas. We experienced loss of power and the check engine light came on. We were in the higher elevations of AZ and experienced blizzard conditions during this loss of power we barely made it to our destination due to this lack of power. Our vehicle is at a Hyundai dealership in Apache Junction AZ for 9 days counting with no back up vehicle. The dealership called us and said our vehicle has experienced engine failure. Now waiting on Hyundai. Very disappointed!!!

NHTSA ODI #11501397

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2022
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V810000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for t…

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V810000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI #11498268

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2022
Engine

My 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has a blown engine and will cost over $9000 to replace. Unfortunately my car is out of warranty at 120,000 miles. It has become known to me that this particular car, and thousands of others, has known problems with the engines. So much so, that a software update for a sensor was available in 2017, oil co…

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My 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has a blown engine and will cost over $9000 to replace. Unfortunately my car is out of warranty at 120,000 miles. It has become known to me that this particular car, and thousands of others, has known problems with the engines. So much so, that a software update for a sensor was available in 2017, oil consumption issues and civil law suits have been highly publicized. I was never notified of the software update, which would have extended my warranty to 10 years and 120,000 miles. I was diligent in oil change and maintenence on my car yet of no fault of my own the engine needs replaced. I believe Hyundai has been aware of these defects and did nothing to rectify the company-wide problem, just hoping many cars would fall out of warranty first. I have been told that since I am not the original owner and the car is out of warranty it would cost over $9000 to replace the engine ( the Kelly Blue value on my car should be $8000- $9000). Additionally, recall campaign #953 would have likely recognized the engine issues, but I was never contacted by Hyundai regarding the recall, and just found out about it when my car was in for service.

NHTSA ODI #11497107

97,000 miles · Dec 7, 2022
Engine

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle made a loud banging sound coming from the engine compartment. The instrument panel illuminated with several unknown warning lights. The vehicle then lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the side …

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle made a loud banging sound coming from the engine compartment. The instrument panel illuminated with several unknown warning lights. The vehicle then lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine failed due to a connecting rod going through the engine. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that the repair would not be covered under warranty or recall. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #11496469

58,000 miles · Nov 30, 2022
Exterior Lighting

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while making a left turn, the headlights became inoperable. The contact manually switched the headlights on and off several times until the headlights returned to normal operation. The contact stated that the headlights were also turned off while the turn signals…

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while making a left turn, the headlights became inoperable. The contact manually switched the headlights on and off several times until the headlights returned to normal operation. The contact stated that the headlights were also turned off while the turn signals were activated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the multifaction switch in the steering column needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 58,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI #11495418

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2022
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V810000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was…

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V810000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI #11495322

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2022
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V810000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and a secondary dealer, Suntrup Hyundai South (5926 S Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63123) were contac…

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V810000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and a secondary dealer, Suntrup Hyundai South (5926 S Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63123) were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The consumer stated the dealer repaired the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11495149

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2022
Unknown Or Other

I had to take my car to my local dealership (twice) because of an emergency situation with my gas door. My gas door would not open and I had to have looked at and was told that the gas door release solenoid stop working. As a result it had to be replaced. Also the inside fuel switch to open the door also had to be replaced. I h…

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I had to take my car to my local dealership (twice) because of an emergency situation with my gas door. My gas door would not open and I had to have looked at and was told that the gas door release solenoid stop working. As a result it had to be replaced. Also the inside fuel switch to open the door also had to be replaced. I have found out through research that this is a known problem on Hyundai Santa Fe’s going back to 2013(maybe earlier than that) to present. and has not been properly fixed or addressed so the issue will stop occurring. Side note: Also due to my gas door not wanting to open I nearly did not make it to work because I could not get my gas door open, to be able to pump gas.

NHTSA ODI #11494657

35,000 miles · Nov 21, 2022
Service BrakesCrash

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH and making a right turn, the brakes malfunctioned causing the vehicle to slide off the road hitting a mailbox and stopping in the neighbor's yard. The contact indicated that when depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle beg…

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH and making a right turn, the brakes malfunctioned causing the vehicle to slide off the road hitting a mailbox and stopping in the neighbor's yard. The contact indicated that when depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle began to slide and the pedal became hard when pressed a second time. During the incident, no injuries occurred. The vehicle was pulled from the yard by a tow truck but was still drivable. A police report was filed at the scene. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number 22V810000(Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #11494374

68,000 miles · Nov 17, 2022
EngineService Brakes

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a routine oil change and the accelerator failure was not diagnosed. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessiv…

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The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a routine oil change and the accelerator failure was not diagnosed. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil however, no leaks were found by the independent mechanic. The contact then stated that while driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle started to shake with a loud noise. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where engine failure was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be repaired or replaced. The contact related the failure to Manufacturer Service Campaign Number: 953. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #11493967

Official recalls

4

22V810000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Oct 27, 2022

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 16, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 237. This recall is an expansion of recall 22V-056.

22V056000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Feb 3, 2022

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.

17V801000 · Air Bags:side/window

Dec 13, 2017

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the component detaches during deployment, the curtain air bag may not inflate properly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, if the detached component were to enter the vehicle occupant compartment, there could be an increased risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 171.

17V577000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Sep 20, 2017

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The front coil springs may have been improperly manufactured and, as a result, may fracture under certain loads while driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the coil spring fractures, it can puncture the tire, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: All of the affected vehicles are currently unsold on dealer lots. Dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge prior to the vehicle's sale. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 167.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing.  There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.