AI Damage2018 Hyundai Santa FE Sport: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE Sport filed 419 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and service brakes. The maker issued 129 service bulletins for this year. We found 5 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 419
- involving a crash
- 12
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 129
- YouTube repair videos
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 58% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 16% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 3% of all complaints
- Engine: 243 complaints (58% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 19.
- Service brakes: 67 complaints (16% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 38 complaints (9% of all).
- Electrical system: 27 complaints (6% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 52.
- Powertrain: 25 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 14.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 419 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 243 | 1 | 19 |
| Service brakes | 67 | 5 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 38 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 27 | 0 | 52 |
| Powertrain | 25 | 1 | 14 |
| Engine and cooling | 15 | 0 | 25 |
| Vehicle speed control | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 12 | 5 | 5 |
| Steering | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| Structure | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I know that there is other people complaining about the oil consumption so my engine just blew up because I had it changed on March 13 brand new oil change and on Monday night the engine blew up..
The contact’s son stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the brake pedal depressed with no warning light illuminated. The contact’s son stated that the ABS braking system failed, and the brake pedal did not function when attempting to stop the vehicle.
The contact stated that while driving at 30-35 MPH, the contact was rear-ended by another vehicle, hit on the driver's side by a truck, and rear-ended again; however, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries and received medical attention. A police report was filed.
The contact stated the air bag warning light was illuminated after the impact. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medication attention. No police report was filed. The driver continued driving to their residence.
I was at the Tim Hortons drive-thru stopped behind a car in front of me the car in front of me started to go to the order window , as I let off the brake to start to go my suv took off full speed! I hit the brakes as hard as I could and the car kept moving forward like the throttle was stuck at full acceleration.
20 minutes, headlights went out and dashboard lights. We had no visibility, attempted to stop vehicle, left pavement and struck a tree. During our week rental of this vehicle we did have issues with suv losing power when climbing a hill, but not a steep one at all. Suv would drop at least 10 mph when doing so.
The car stalled without warning. It left me in the road and I was t-boned in the driver's door. The other driver was injured, and I have had neck issues. We could have both been killed. The car had stalled once before. I had the car two months with 2,400 miles and now it was declared totaled.
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 won't.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 133 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 6% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Santa FE Sport has 282 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 419, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this…
- Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition…
- Certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior…
Certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. This warranty extension…
- Following completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain vehicles may…
Following completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain vehicles may exhibit a brief hesitation or rough shifting condition during cold start operation. If present, this condition is…
- Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II…
Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. The California Air Resources Board has determined that these…
- Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II…
Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. This bulletin provides instructions for updating the Engine…
- Certain 2012 – 2017 model year Accent, 2012 – 2017 model year Azera, 2013 – 2018 model year Santa Fe…
Certain 2012 – 2017 model year Accent, 2012 – 2017 model year Azera, 2013 – 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2013 – 2019 model year Santa Fe, and 2012 – 2017 model year Veloster vehicles may exhibit an intermittent…
- Certain Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels
hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. The paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been extended to 10 years/unlimited miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of…
- Some Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal body panels
hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. The paint warranty coverage for affected vehicles has been extended to 10 years/unlimited miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of…
- Some vehicles listed below may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s) B1763 (OCS ECU…
Some vehicles listed below may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s) B1763 (OCS ECU Defect), and/or B1764 (OCS Mat Defect) may be stored. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage of the sensor for…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety…
NHTSA lists 129 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
- 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0 turbo engine removal out the top #automobile
- За скільки можна привезти Сантафе 2018 з Кореї?
- HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2018 NO SPEEDOMETER / CAN BUS COMMUNICATION FAIL / BACKUP CAMERA NEED REPLACEMENT
- How to Replace Front Struts 2013-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe
- 2018 Hyundai Sante Fe sport 2.0T rear brake pads/rotor replacement #mechanic #hyundai
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE Sport?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, service brakes, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 419. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (29%), oil leak or consumption (26%), engine failure or replacement (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE Sport?
NHTSA lists 129 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Hyundai Santa FE Sport from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.