2018 Hyundai SANTA FE SPORT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Hyundai SANTA FE SPORT has 406 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (50% of all complaints), specifically: i have just purchased my santa fe sport 2.0t ultimate 4 days ago and while driving home today from work traffic was a stop and go. car drove fine for about a mile in this traffic (i drive a total of 16 miles a day to and from work), then i tried to go after stopping and there was a big hesitation i. ⚠️ 11 fire reports filed.

11 fire reports 7 crash reports 10 injuries

406

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

203 complaints

50%

• I HAVE JUST PURCHASED MY SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T ULTIMATE 4 DAYS AGO AND WHILE DRIVING HOME TODAY FROM WORK TRAFFIC WAS A STOP AND GO. CAR DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT A MILE IN THIS TRAFFIC (I DRIVE A TOTAL OF 16 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK), THEN I TRIED TO GO AFTER STOPPING AND THERE WAS A BIG HESITATION I
• THIS IS A NEW CAR WITH LESS THAN 1200 MILES PURCHASED FEBRUARY 2018. EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ISSUES THE PAST 6 WEEKS WHERE THE CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE WHEN TURNING A CORNER. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH BOTH RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS TO ENTER TRAFFIC FROM A FULL STOP. UNRESPONSIVE FOR 1-2 SECONDS THEN ENGAGES WITH
• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND TESTING SHOWS 3RD CYLINDER HAS AS FUEL-OXYGEN IMBALANCE. HAS HAPPENED TWICE. LIGHT WENT OFF THE 2ND TIME. BRAND NEW CAR. IT HAPPENED AT 2,500 AND 5,000 MILES. HAD IT CHECKED BY HYUNDAI THE FIRST TIME AND THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS, CHALKING IT UP TO A MAL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I HAVE JUST PURCHASED MY SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T ULTIMATE 4 DAYS AGO AND WHILE DRIVING HOME TODAY FROM WORK TRAFFIC WAS A STOP AND GO. CAR DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT A MILE IN THIS TRAFFIC (I DRIVE A TOTAL OF 16 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK), THEN I TRIED TO GO AFTER STOPPING AND THERE WAS A BIG HESITATION I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

50 complaints

12%

• I RENTED THE VEHICLE FROM ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR ON MAY 28. IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE THEN AND ON THE MORNING OF MAY 29. BUT ABOUT 3.45P.M. I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS IN ARCADIA TO MY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WHEN I SAW A CAR AHEAD OF ME SUDDENLY PUT ON ITS BRAKE LIGHTS. I PRESSED MY BRAKES, BUT MY CAR D
• I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ON JUNE 11, #11219391 BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE, AND IT DOES NOT SHOW AS A FILED COMPLAINT. PLEASE ADVISE THE STATUS OF THIS COMPLAINT. THANKS
• The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact was informed by his friend of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact called the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet a

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“I RENTED THE VEHICLE FROM ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR ON MAY 28. IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE THEN AND ON THE MORNING OF MAY 29. BUT ABOUT 3.45P.M. I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS IN ARCADIA TO MY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WHEN I SAW A CAR AHEAD OF ME SUDDENLY PUT ON ITS BRAKE LIGHTS. I PRESSED MY BRAKES, BUT MY CAR D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

39 complaints

10%

• 01/28/2018 - DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 79 NEAR EVANS CITY AT 7:30 AM, SUNDAY MORNING AND SUNROOF SHATTERED AND BLEW OUT OF THE CAR. THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND AT THE TIME, NO ROCKS OR TREES HIT IT.
• WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT, 65 MPH, THE SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED, SOUNDING LIKE A SHOTGUN HAS SUDDENLY GONE OFF IN THE CAR. THE OVERHEAD PANEL WAS CLOSED SO NO GLASS CAME INTO THE DRIVERS AREA. IT WAS A CLOUDY DAY, NO RAIN AT TIME OF INCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THEN DRIVE HOME AT A RE
• ON 2/8/2019 AN UPDATE FOR THE KNOCK SENSOR WAS DONE ON MY VEHICLE. ON 2/18/19 I WAS DRIVING UP A STEEP HILL ON A HIGHWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER UPON ACCELERATION. I WAS UNABLE TO GO FASTER THAN 17 MPH UPHILL AND 50 MPH ON LEVEL HIGHWAY (SPEED LIMIT IS 70 MPH). IT WAS 16 DEGREES F AND I HAD AN I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“01/28/2018 - DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 79 NEAR EVANS CITY AT 7:30 AM, SUNDAY MORNING AND SUNROOF SHATTERED AND BLEW OUT OF THE CAR. THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND AT THE TIME, NO ROCKS OR TREES HIT IT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

32 complaints

• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND TESTING SHOWS 3RD CYLINDER HAS AS FUEL-OXYGEN IMBALANCE. HAS HAPPENED TWICE. LIGHT WENT OFF THE 2ND TIME. BRAND NEW CAR. IT HAPPENED AT 2,500 AND 5,000 MILES. HAD IT CHECKED BY HYUNDAI THE FIRST TIME AND THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS, CHALKING IT UP TO A MAL
• MY CAR IS 6MONTHS OLD WITH 7600 MILES ON IT. I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE/SHUDDER AND THEN SHUT OFF. I HAD TO TRY AND RESTART IT 4 TIMES BEFORE IT SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET, THANKFULLY RIGHT BEFORE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY.
• THE BRACKET HOLDING THE CHARCOAL CANISTER BROKE AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND TESTING SHOWS 3RD CYLINDER HAS AS FUEL-OXYGEN IMBALANCE. HAS HAPPENED TWICE. LIGHT WENT OFF THE 2ND TIME. BRAND NEW CAR. IT HAPPENED AT 2,500 AND 5,000 MILES. HAD IT CHECKED BY HYUNDAI THE FIRST TIME AND THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS, CHALKING IT UP TO A MAL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

20 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED BY THE CAMPUS POLICE PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S ARRI
• 80 MILES INTO A WEEKS VACATION MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CAR WAS STILL DRIVABLE, BACKTRACKED 20 MILES TO DEALER, LEFT MY NICE CAR (11,000 MILES)THERE FOR THE WEEK WHILE USING A RENTAL CAR WITH 177,000 MILES ON IT. PROBLEM WAS PERTAINING TO CAMPAIGN 953 ENGINE PROBLEMS. A WIRING HARNESS WAS PUT IN, AN
• RECALL ON ENGINE COMPARTMENT , SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED BY THE CAMPUS POLICE PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S ARRI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 406 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I HAVE JUST PURCHASED MY SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T ULTIMATE 4 DAYS AGO AND WHILE DRIVING HOME TODAY FROM WORK TRAFFIC WAS A STOP AND GO. CAR DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT A MILE IN THIS TRAFFIC (I DRIVE A TOTAL OF 16 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK), THEN I TRIED TO GO AFTER STOPPING AND THERE WAS A BIG HESITATION I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: I RENTED THE VEHICLE FROM ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR ON MAY 28. IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE THEN AND ON THE MORNING OF MAY 29. BUT ABOUT 3.45P.M. I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS IN ARCADIA TO MY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WHEN I SAW A CAR AHEAD OF ME SUDDENLY PUT ON ITS BRAKE LIGHTS. I PRESSED MY BRAKES, BUT MY CAR D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 01/28/2018 - DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 79 NEAR EVANS CITY AT 7:30 AM, SUNDAY MORNING AND SUNROOF SHATTERED AND BLEW OUT OF THE CAR. THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND AT THE TIME, NO ROCKS OR TREES HIT IT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND TESTING SHOWS 3RD CYLINDER HAS AS FUEL-OXYGEN IMBALANCE. HAS HAPPENED TWICE. LIGHT WENT OFF THE 2ND TIME. BRAND NEW CAR. IT HAPPENED AT 2,500 AND 5,000 MILES. HAD IT CHECKED BY HYUNDAI THE FIRST TIME AND THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS, CHALKING IT UP TO A MAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)