2018 Hyundai SANTA FE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
108 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
21,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 108 complaints (49.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 20.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 7.4% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.6% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 4.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 53 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
Engine: 53; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 12; Unknown Or Other: 12; Power Train: 10; Electrical System: 9; Steering: 8; Service Brakes: 7; Air Bags: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 71 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2018: 11; 2019: 13; 2020: 6; 2021: 4; 2022: 19; 2023: 13; 2024: 22; 2025: 15; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11098777 · 2018-05-30 (May 30, 2018)
DRIVING @60 W/CRUSE ON GOING DOWN A HILL ENGINE RPM'S SUDDENLY JUMP FROM 2000 TO ANYWHERE FROM 3000 TO 5000 RPM'S AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP ENGINE RACING IS TO TAP THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE CRUSE. ALSO VEHICLE WILL NOT SPEED UP WHEN TURNING A CORNER,LIKE THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T DOWN SHIFT.THESE BOTH HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 800 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 135 miles reported. Look up ODI 11098777 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11131646 · 2018-09-26 (September 26, 2018)
YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS TEACHING MY VEHICLE I SUDDENLY MARKED STEERING WHEEL ON THE BOARD. AND ON THE BRAKES EVERY TIME I PUT THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IT MAKES A LOUD SOUND ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,954 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11459689 · 2022-04-05 (April 5, 2022)
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle independently came to an abrupt stop. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with alternator, battery, and starter failures. The vehicle was repaired three times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11459689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11466967 · 2022-06-01 (June 1, 2022)
Hyundai initiated a recall campaign 218 on 02/02/2022 for: VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ("ABS") MODULES THAT COULD MALFUNCTION INTERNALLY AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OVER TIME. URGENT: FIRE RISK WHEN PARKED The manufacturer has FAILED to remedy this safety recall for your vehicle in a timely manner. I am unable to park my vehicle in garage and have not heard any response when this will be remedied.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11466967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11079904 · 2018-03-17 (March 17, 2018)
STEERING BECOMES UNSTABLE DURING DRIVING ON WINDY DAYS. STEERING TRAYS TO OVER COMPENSATE FOR WIND AND BECOMES SCARY TO DRIVE.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11079904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11089898 · 2018-04-24 (April 24, 2018)
WE LEASED THIS NEW VEHICLE ON APRIL 21ST 2018. AT THE TIME, WE DID NOT KNOW IT HAD AN OPEN RECALL FOR A FAULTY AND DANGEROUS STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN CONNECTION. WE WERE FINALLY NOTIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIP 2 DAYS AFTER THE SALE ON APRIL 23RD, 2018. ATLANTIC HYUNDAI OF ISLIP, NY TOLD US THAT THEY THEMSELVES WERE JUST NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, BUT THROUGH A SEARCH I LOCATED ARTICLES SHOWING THAT HYUNDAI MOTORS BEGAN NOTIFYING CUSTOMERS ON MARCH 16TH, 2018, OVER A MONTH EARLIER. MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN WERE ALLOWED TO DRIVE OFF THE LOT IN THIS VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11089898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430225 · 2021-08-23 (August 23, 2021)
This will be the fourth time our vehicle has to go to the dealer. We purchased this car in April of this year and the car has lived more at the dealer service department than with us. The first time, the car started smoking and left us stranded. The dealer changed out the fuel injectors. When it randomly started smoking it smelled strongly of gas and we were scared that the car would catch fire. The other times were due to the car not accelerating as it should on the highway making it quite difficult to merge and speed up as needed on the highw…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11163465 · 2018-12-26 (December 26, 2018)
OCCASIONALLY STALLS WHEN STOPPED & TAKE OFF & TURN RIGHT OR LEFT AT A SLOW SPEED..ONE T IME DIED COMPLETELY ABLE TO PULL OVER & RESTART ENGINE. HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS. THE DATES IT STALLED ARE 9-14-18 10-5-18 10-18-18 11-16-18 11-28-18 12-04-18
Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11432290 · 2021-09-09 (September 9, 2021)
My vehicle is available for inspection upon request. On multiple occasions the fluid in coolant reservoir has drained out. There is no visible signs of coolant on the under carriage nor is there a puddle on the floor of my garage and no warning lights have come on. In the span of approximately 2 weeks the fluid dropped 1/4 of an inch. Hyundia of Wesley Chapel (in Wesley Chapel, Fl) has had my vehicle on two occasions for this issue. They documented a lose of pressure in the coolant system of 10psi after an extended pressure test on a cold …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11432290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11194354 · 2019-04-06 (April 6, 2019)
ABOUT A MONTH AGO I WAS DRIVING HOME TO SANTA FE NEW MEXICO WITH MY WIFE AND DOG. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND DIED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED BLUE LINK WHICH IS THE HYUNDAI ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE CLUB AND THEY TOWED MY VEHICLE INTO FIESTA HYUNDAI IN SANTA FE. AT FIRST THEY SAID MY OIL WAS OVER FILLED. I CALLED JIFFY LUBE WHERE I HAD IT SERVICE 5 DAYS PRIOR AND THEY SENT THEIR MANAGER TO HYUNDAI. UPON HIS ARRIVAL THE SERVICE MANAGER AT HYUNDAI SAID THEY MADE A MISTAKE AND IT WAS A FUEL INJECTOR THAT WAS STUCK ON AND FILED THE CYLINDER …
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194354 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11669452 · 2025-06-26 (June 26, 2025)
Q: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A: Two fuel injectors on bank 2 are failing intermittently causing the engine light to flash and stay on (P0300 errors) and the car loses power. Q: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A: Driving to Newark airport on [XXX] the car suddenly lost power and was quickly coming to a halt. LUCKILY I was was in the middle lane and was able to get to the shoulder without incident. This also happened to my daughter when she was in W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11669452 at NHTSA ↗