Photo: Vauxford / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe: common problems and reliability
One of the weaker Santa Fe years.
525 owner complaints, most about engine. 5 recalls.
Should I buy a 2018 Santa Fe?The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has 525 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and service brakes. Owners most often flag catastrophic engine failure (theta ii and related gdi engines, ~2013-2019): sudden engine seizure, knocking, bearing failure, leading to complete replacement. often preceded by excessive oil consumption. warranty coverage is a frequent point of conflict.
Safety record for the 2018 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Santa Fe years only. How we score it
Is 2018 a good year for the Santa Fe?
Across the 26 Santa Fe model years we track, complaint volume runs from 106 (2006) to 1,316 (2017). With 525 complaints, the 2018 Santa Fe sits above the model's median of 287.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2018 Santa Fe
steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Campaign 18V118000Hyundai 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.
service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Campaign 22V056000Hyundai 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.
suspension:front:springs:coil springs
Campaign 17V577000Hyundai 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.
air bags:side/window
Campaign 17V801000Hyundai 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.
Show 1 more recall
service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Campaign 22V810000Hyundai 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.
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is sharply divided by model year and engine type, creating a high-risk, high-reward ownership profile.
- Very frequentCatastrophic Engine Failure (Theta II and related GDI engines, ~2013-2019)
Sudden engine seizure, knocking, bearing failure, leading to complete replacement. Often preceded by excessive oil consumption. Warranty coverage is a frequent point of conflict.
- Very frequentExcessive Oil Consumption (GDI engines, ~2013-2019)
Burning 1 quart or more of oil every 1,000-1,500 miles. Leads to engine damage if not constantly monitored and topped up.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Santa Fe. See the full Santa Fe owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Santa Fe listings typically run $18,687–$28,522.
Other Santa Fe model years
Compare every Santa Fe year side by side to see how 2018 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Santa Fe against its rivals
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