repaired · 2024 Q3
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2018 Hyundai Santa FE SportProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 325 owner complaints about the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE Sport, most often about the engine. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 22V-056 the manufacturer reports only 63% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 2, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE Sport has problems
325 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
199Engine5 crash/fire/injury
37Service brakes, hydraulic1 crash/fire/injury
33Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
22Electrical system
17Power train
13Engine and engine cooling
13Service brakes
10Vehicle speed control
7Air bags
3014 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 199 | 5 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 37 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 33 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 22 | 3 |
| Power train | 17 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 13 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 13 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 0 |
| Air bags | 7 | 1 |
| 14 other systems | 30 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2018 Hyundai Santa FE Sport recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2024 Q1
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Air bags: side/window
Risk. If the component detaches during deployment, the curtain air bag may not inflate properly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2019 Q1
Springs: coil springs
Risk. If the coil spring fractures, it can puncture the tire, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
75kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 51 engine complaints. 69% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 30% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
14under 30k miles35under 100k miles16100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
14 owners mentioned a cost$1,475median
Middle half: $850 – $6,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other Santa FE Sport year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Santa FE Sport median. How we score
'13'14'15'16'17'18
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2018 Hyundai Santa FE Sport safety ratings
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (14.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE Sport, and the recalls they led to.
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Santa FE Sport owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
This vehicle has been suffering from substantial engine oil consumption, burning oil at an alarming and unsafe rate. I have repeatedly brought the vehicle to Washington Hyundai to address this under the engine class-action lawsuit terms, but the dealership continues to run repetitive tests without…
My 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe is burning oil and I run the risk of engine failure. I have to check my oil level daily. The mechanic who performed my last oil change said he is seeing this frequently with this age Hyundai Santa Fe. He said Hyundai should be willing to replace my engine but of course they…
While driving over the pass the car suddenly lost power and was running very rough. Luckily there was an exit close by that we took and the engine died on the exit. We were able to get it started and get to a parking lot where it died and would not start again. While trying to start it in the…
Own a 2018 Santa FE Sport?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.