2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. Part of Generation 3 — 2013–2018.

20172019
Complaints
139
per 10K Sold
11.9
US Sales
117,038
Crashes
8
Fires
7
Injuries
10
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#152 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:36,748 mi
Fires:3
#212 complaints

Hydraulic Brakes

#39 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:26,940 mi
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Engine Problems
52
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
36,748
Hydraulic Brakes
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical Faults
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
26,940
Transmission / Drivetrain
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
3,008
Steering Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
8,851
Brakes
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
6,954
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
59,000
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
20,672
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
14,965
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Warnings
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~398,418 vehicles.

22V056000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
~357,348 affected

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.

18V118000Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
~41,070 affected

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The steering wheel assembly may break, possibly resulting in the steering wheel separating from the steering column while driving.

Other Hyundai Santa Fe Years

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has 139 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 52 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (52 complaints, avg 36,748 mi); Hydraulic Brakes (12 complaints); Electrical Faults (9 complaints, avg 26,940 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 27,941 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe include 8 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 398,418 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Hyundai Santa Fe reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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