2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport problems and recalls

58% of owner complaints on the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport related to the Engine (240 of 415).

415
Complaints
4
Recalls
12
Crash reports
11
Fire reports
12
Injuries
52.6
Severity index

Severity index 52.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 52.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 66 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 46% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 240 complaints (57.8%)240 58%Service BrakesService Brakes: 68 complaints (16.4%)68 16%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 49 complaints (11.8%)49 12%HydraulicHydraulic: 48 complaints (11.6%)48 12%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 38 complaints (9.2%)38 9%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 26 complaints (6.3%)26 6%Power TrainPower Train: 25 complaints (6.0%)25 6%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 15 complaints (3.6%)15 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE24057.8%
SERVICE BRAKES6816.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4911.8%
HYDRAULIC4811.6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM389.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM266.3%
POWER TRAIN256.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING153.6%

Complaints filed per year

044872017: 22018: 252019: 292020: 142021: 152022: 872023: 682024: 702025: 672026: 38 (partial year)1718192021228723242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20172
201825
201929
202014
202115
202287
202368
202470
202567
2026 (year to date)38
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.8x those in 2020 to 2022 (205 against 116).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
17V57700020/09/2017SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSHyundai 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.
22V05600003/02/2022SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEHyundai 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 compartmen
17V80100013/12/2017AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWHyundai 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.
22V81000027/10/2022SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEHyundai 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.

Other Hyundai Santa Fe Sport model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 6 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-29. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.