IllustrationEVERYTIME I ACCELERATE THERE IS A HORRIBLE . AND SOMETIMES WHEN COMING DOWN FROM ACCELERATING TO STOP IT SEEM TO BE GRINDING. THERE IS A SLIPPING SOUND THAT COMES AND GOES. ON CITY STREETS AND TURNING
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 179.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Santa Fe Sport years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
340–25K
825–50K
1450–75K
1375–100K
23100–150K
3150K+
95 reports with mileage · 225 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 196 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports8 fire reports3 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
38 reportsMY VEHICLE HESITATES RANDOMLY UPON ACCELERATION AFTER HAVING STOPPED.....GOING FROM FIRST GEAR TO THIRD....IT FEELS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO STALL, SO I LET UP ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN IMMEDIATELY PRESS IT AGAIN TO ACCELORATE.....AS I THEN ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD ABRUPTLY, JERKING EVERYONE INSIDE THE VEHICLE....IN RE…
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MY VEHICLE HESITATES RANDOMLY UPON ACCELERATION AFTER HAVING STOPPED.....GOING FROM FIRST GEAR TO THIRD....IT FEELS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO STALL, SO I LET UP ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN IMMEDIATELY PRESS IT AGAIN TO ACCELORATE.....AS I THEN ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD ABRUPTLY, JERKING EVERYONE INSIDE THE VEHICLE....IN READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, IT SEEMS TO HAVE OCCURED IN YOUR 2017 SANTA FE SPORT SUVS.....
IN AUGUST OF 2018, MY 3 MONTH OLD SANTA FE SPORT CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE NJ TURNPIKE HEADED TO OBX FOR VACATION. I WAS FOLLOWING MY SISTER DOWN WHEN THEY STOPPED TO LET THEIR DOG OUT AT A REST AREA. I PULLED INTO THE SPACE NEXT TO THEM AND AS SOON AS I TURNED THE CAR OFF, IT WENT UP IN F…
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IN AUGUST OF 2018, MY 3 MONTH OLD SANTA FE SPORT CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE NJ TURNPIKE HEADED TO OBX FOR VACATION. I WAS FOLLOWING MY SISTER DOWN WHEN THEY STOPPED TO LET THEIR DOG OUT AT A REST AREA. I PULLED INTO THE SPACE NEXT TO THEM AND AS SOON AS I TURNED THE CAR OFF, IT WENT UP IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED IT WAS ENGULFED AND I LOST EVERYTHING.
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.
ON 2/19/2019 AN UPDATE FOR THE KNOCK SENSOR WAS DONE ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER THE UPDATE I WAS DRIVING ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER UPON ACCELERATION. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THIS IS CALLED LIMP HOME MODE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP IT IS LIKELY DUE TO THE UPDATE DONE ON THE KNOCK SENSOR AND …
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ON 2/19/2019 AN UPDATE FOR THE KNOCK SENSOR WAS DONE ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER THE UPDATE I WAS DRIVING ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER UPON ACCELERATION. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THIS IS CALLED LIMP HOME MODE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP IT IS LIKELY DUE TO THE UPDATE DONE ON THE KNOCK SENSOR AND TO DRIVE IT TO THEIR DEALERSHIP. I DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER THAN NECESSARY SO I HAD IT TOWED . THE DEALER RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND IT CAME BACK IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THE CURRENT ENGINE ONLY HAS APPROX. 13,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE DEALER REQUESTED A NEW ENGINE FROM HYUNDAI WHICH WAS APPROVED IN A FEW DAYS. THE DEALER SAID THEY ARE HAVING SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR COME IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS VERY HAZARDOUS HAVING A VEHICLE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE TO SPEED ON AN ENTRANXE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY YET ALONE ANYWHERE. WITH ALL THE RECALLS AND LACK OF INFORMATION GIVEN TO ME FROM HYUNDAI OR THE DEALERSHIP IT HAS MADE ME VERY UNEASY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE NOT BEING TOLD
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 INFANT IN THE CAR. I WAS TOLD B…
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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 INFANT IN THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP IT IS LIKELY DUE TO THE UPDATE DONE ON THE KNOCK SENSOR AND TO DRIVE IT TO THEIR DEALERSHIP. I DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER THAN NECESSARY SO I HAD IT TOWED (I HAD TO PULL OVER CONSTANTLY BECAUSE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 70 MPH). THE DEALER RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND IT CAME BACK IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THE CURRENT ENGINE ONLY HAS APPROX. 14,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE DEALER REQUESTED A NEW ENGINE FROM HYUNDAI BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED YET AND THEY BELIEVE IT IS A RESULT OF THE KNOCK SENSOR UPDATE. THEY ESTIMATE I WILL NOT HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS. THE DEALER SAID THEY ARE HAVING SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR COME IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS VERY HAZARDOUS HAVING A VEHICLE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IN WINTER WITH AN INFANT IN THE CAR. I WAS IN A REMOTE AREA AND THIS COULD HAVE HAD THE POTENTIAL FOR A MUCH WORSE OUTCOME THAN IT DID.
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 REDUCED SPEED.
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.
Official recalls
422V810000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Oct 27, 2022
Hyundai 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 16, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 237. This recall is an expansion of recall 22V-056.
22V056000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Feb 3, 2022
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.
17V801000 · Air Bags:side/window
Dec 13, 2017
Hyundai 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the component detaches during deployment, the curtain air bag may not inflate properly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, if the detached component were to enter the vehicle occupant compartment, there could be an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 171.
17V577000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
Sep 20, 2017
Hyundai 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the coil spring fractures, it can puncture the tire, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: All of the affected vehicles are currently unsold on dealer lots. Dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge prior to the vehicle's sale. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 167.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires
Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.
DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.