2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Safety Report

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Safety Report

399Complaints
4Recalls
★★★★★Safety Rating
85/100Reliability Score
11Crash Reports
11Fire Reports
12Injuries
Most reported components: Engine (159)Service Brakes, Hydraulic (46)Unknown Or Other (29)Unknown Or Other,Engine (14)Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System (13)Engine And Engine Cooling (9)Power Train (8)Power Train,Engine (7)Electrical System,Engine (7)Air Bags (7)

Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Safety Signal Summary
SignalValueWhat to inspect next
Recall burdenHigh (4)Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below.
Owner complaintsHigh (399)Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates.
Crash and fire reports22Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item.
Primary component hubEngineCompare engine issues across vehicles.
Cleaner nearby model year2016Compare against the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport with 56 complaints and 1 recalls.
Riskier nearby model year2017Check the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport before buying across this generation.

Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Year-by-Year Comparison

The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Hyundai Santa Fe Sport years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.

Nearby Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Model Years
Model YearComplaintsRecallsUse case
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 318 3 Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 56 1 Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative.
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 71 3 Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative.

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Complaint Theme Map

Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.

Engine

159 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Engine issues Hyundai only

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

46 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Service Brakes, Hydraulic issues Hyundai only

Unknown Or Other

29 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Unknown Or Other issues Hyundai only

Unknown Or Other,Engine

14 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Unknown Or Other,Engine issues Hyundai only

Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System

13 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System issues Hyundai only

Engine And Engine Cooling

9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Hyundai only

AI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

The 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT has accumulated 399 complaints and 4 recalls in the NHTSA database. It received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Among the complaints, 11 involved crashes and 11 involved fires. There have been 12 reported injuries and 0 reported deaths. The most frequently reported problem areas are engine (159 complaints), service brakes, hydraulic (46 complaints), unknown or other (29 complaints). Service brakes, hydraulic: 46% of issues involve anti-lock, traction control, or electronic limited slip control unit/module failures, which can affect braking performance. Engine and engine cooling: 9% of issues relate to engine overheating or cooling system malfunctions, potentially leading to engine damage. Key known issues to be aware of include Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, side/window. Be cautious of vehicles with open recalls, especially those related to service brakes and engine cooling. Ensure the vehicle has been serviced according to recall notices.

Reliability Score

The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.

NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.

Overall
★★★★★
5/5
Frontal Crash
★★★★★
5/5
Side Crash
★★★★★
5/5
Rollover
★★★★☆
4/5

Known Issues for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport:

IssueSeverityFrequencyTypical Mileage
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Hyundai has issued recalls for 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles due to issues with the anti-lock, traction control, or electronic limited slip control unit/module, affecting braking performance.
Medium Common 30k-60k miles
Engine And Engine Cooling
Engine overheating or cooling system malfunctions have been reported, potentially leading to engine damage.
Medium Common 30k-60k miles
Air Bags, Side/Window
Recalls have been issued for 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles due to issues with side curtain air bags.
Low Common 30k-60k miles
Suspension, Front, Springs
Recalls have been issued for 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles due to issues with front coil springs.
Low Common 30k-60k miles

Common Problems Reported by Owners

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport:

Service Brakes, Hydraulic 46% of complaints

Issues with anti-lock, traction control, or electronic limited slip control unit/module.

Engine And Engine Cooling 9% of complaints

Engine overheating or cooling system malfunctions.

Air Bags, Side/Window 5% of complaints

Issues with side curtain air bags.

Suspension, Front, Springs 5% of complaints

Issues with front coil springs.

Recall Details for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport by NHTSA:

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Campaign #22V810000 27/10/2022

Summary: 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: 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.

Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Campaign #22V056000 03/02/2022

Summary: 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: 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.

Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Air Bags:Side/Window
Campaign #17V801000 13/12/2017

Summary: 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: 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.

Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
Campaign #17V577000 20/09/2017

Summary: 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: 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.

Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America

NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 2 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.

Crash Reports: 1 Fire Reports: 2 Injury/Fatality Reports: 1
Air Bags,Service Brakes
Crash 03/23/2026

The contact owned a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact’s son stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the brake pedal depressed with no warning light illuminated. The contact’s son stated that the ABS braking system failed, and the brake pedal did not function when attempting to stop the vehicle. As a result of the failure, the contact’s son collided with the highway pavement. No injuries were sustain...

ODI #11726456
Power Train,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System
03/23/2026

Enterprise car sales sold me this vehicle when it had 3 open recalls on it. The vehicle itself was a problem from the beginning. When I took it in for it's first oil change the mechanic told me it had no oil in it. He said they sold me a car that is notorious for consuming oil and or seizing or blowing up. I had the engine replaced on this car already and I just took it in for it's first oil chang...

ODI #11726332
Engine
03/19/2026

I drove 2.5 hours north to a Marine brother's father's funeral, who unexpectedly passed. I started my drive home and made it to Yorktown in about 15 minutes, and the engine light came on, started flashing, and went into limp mode. I pulled over on I-69 to shut it off, pulled the dipstick, and the oil level was full. I pushed the Bluelink button on my rearview mirror, and HMA sent a tow truck to to...

ODI #11725641
Engine
03/18/2026

I am reporting a serious safety concern involving a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport with approximately 132K miles. While driving at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly lost power/velocity and the engine light flashed. This created an immediate safety hazard, as maintaining speed is critical in highway traffic. Within seconds, the vehicle regained power and the warning light turned off, giving the impr...

ODI #11725311
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Fire 03/18/2026

The contact owned a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. No warning lights illuminated. The contact pulls over to the right side of the road, exits the vehicle, and notices flames coming from the engine, and smoke starts coming inside the vehicle. The contact mentioned that a bystander gave him a ...

ODI #11725196
Tires
03/14/2026

At 4 AM on March 10,2026, I received a recall for the tires (Recall ID:26T009). I took it to the Hyundai dealership to get it serviced. The Director Mr. [XXX] , informed me that the only recall they have for me is a software recall. In addition, the do not fix any tire recalls I would have to reach out to the manufacturer such as Kumho tires co. When the service tech [XXX] looked at the tires, he...

ODI #11724297
Unknown Or Other,Engine
03/06/2026

Engine-Excessive oil consumption. Other-backup camera does not work and hasn’t for some time is 2028 sant fe sport included in recall

ODI #11722393
Engine
03/01/2026

2/27/26 Kept regularly scheduled oil changes with dealer. Car began to knock and lose power, Oil light is periodically flashing on and check engine light came on. Took car to Valvoline oil change-they state no fluid on the oil dipstck. Scheduled oil change was not for another month. No oil leaks at all. Vehicle is bucking and knocking and loses acceleration. I have an appt at the dealer tomor...

ODI #11721308
Engine
02/20/2026

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received an undisclosed recall notification, and the local dealer was contacted; however, there were no appointments available. On a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an O'Reilly's Auto Parts to be diagnosed, and DTC: P1326...

ODI #11719417
Unknown Or Other
02/18/2026

While parked the panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered.

ODI #11718921
Engine
02/18/2026

engine cut out on highway, check engine light flashing. Car would not exceed 50 mph on highway and would hesitate/jump trying to go up any hill/incline. Took to mechanic and vehicle had P1326 knock sensor code. There appears to be a service campaign (Campaign 966/T3G) for 2013-2018 Sanat Fe Sport vehicles, but when i enter my VIN campaign does not appear. This is a safety risk/hazard and should be...

ODI #11718820
Engine
02/18/2026

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the engine made a knocking sound, and the vehicle started shaking before starting to smoke. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that there was a hole in the engine block and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The ...

ODI #11718800
Engine
02/17/2026

My vehicle is using excessive oil. I first noticed this around 80 000 miles. Initially it started off with not being able to get the 5000 miles before next oil change and dropped to around 4000 miles. It then dropped to 3000 and now less than a 1000 miles before I am needing at least 2 quarts of oil. I have had the vehicle examined by midas and they confirmed there are no leaks, cracks or reason f...

ODI #11718669
Air Bags,Seats
02/17/2026

My air bar light was flashing so I took it into the dealer as it is still under warranty. They said it is a sensor in the seat that deploys the air bag. It has been since November with no ETA on the part. When I asked about getting my car back after several times they tried to get me to sign a wavier saying if I was in an accident they wouldn't be liable. I refused and my car is still at this deal...

ODI #11718421
Power Train,Engine
02/10/2026

Car stuttered and would not rev past 2k rpm. Blinking check engine light appeared Code was for known connecting rod failure for all theta engines for our 2018 sante fe. Hyundai is trying to get out of covering the cost of repair or replacement even though this is a very well known issue and is covered under warranty.

ODI #11717081
Engine
02/06/2026

Constantly losing oil and there is NO oil leak. Had numerous Oil Consumption Test done. Paid for other unnecessary testing as well. Thousand of complaints on line of other Santa Fe Sports also having the same issue. Hyundai denied a new engine even though dealership recommended it. Also Hyundai Consumer also denied, since corporate told dealership no. Losing 4 quarts of oil, going less than ...

ODI #11716284
Engine
02/05/2026

engine consumes excessive amounts of oil. we have to check oil every day and add oil even after 30 mile trips. low oil can result in a seized engine which could result in a crash if power is lost in high traffic areas or highway speeds. hyundai knows there is an issue and engines that seize are replaced with the same defective design. this is dangerous and could result in a crash or being s...

ODI #11716031
Electrical System
02/04/2026

My starter failed while out shopping. No issues starting the car departing from my home, but would not start in the store parking lot. My mechanic did not provide the broken part for inspection however everyone commented that is was very unusual for it to fail as I only have roughly 25,000 miles on it. My mechanic also mentioned that this was 2nd 2018 hyundai sante fe in the past week he had to re...

ODI #11715566
Engine
01/27/2026

My vehicle has approximately 152,000 miles, and I am currently experiencing a major engine failure. Oil consumption and knocking on engine Hyundai has had lawsuits in the past with unsafe unreliable engines.

ODI #11713790
Engine
01/13/2026

Engine is burning oil as a default in manufacturing of engine, leaving little to know oil in the engine and causing other malfunctions that use the oil

ODI #11710668

Showing 20 of 399 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.

NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.

Loss of Motive Power
NHTSA DP22003 Closed

Component: Engine

Opened 2022-09-12 · Closed 2023-12-12

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...

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
NHTSA AQ23002 Open

Component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module

Opened 2023-11-17

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....

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Has the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT been recalled?

Yes, the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.

How many complaints does the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT have?

The 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT has 399 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 11 involved crashes. 12 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.

What is the safety rating for the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT?

The 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT?

The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT involve engine (159 complaints), service brakes, hydraulic (46 complaints), unknown or other (29 complaints). Other affected components include unknown or other,engine, engine,fuel/propulsion system, engine and engine cooling.

How many crash reports does the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT have?

There are 11 crash reports associated with the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT out of 399 total complaints (2.8% of complaints involved crashes).

How many fire reports does the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT have?

There are 11 fire reports for the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT out of 399 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.

Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT?

No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT.

How many injuries are reported for the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT?

12 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.

Should I buy a 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT is extreme caution advised. It has 399 complaints, 4 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.

What components fail most on the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT?

The components with the most failures on the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT are: 1. ENGINE (159 complaints), 2. SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC (46 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (29 complaints), 4. UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE (14 complaints), 5. ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (13 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 159 complaints.

What should I know before buying a 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT?

Be cautious of vehicles with open recalls, especially those related to service brakes and engine cooling. Ensure the vehicle has been serviced according to recall notices. The 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT has 399 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).

How reliable is the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT?

The 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 399 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 22 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Service brakes, hydraulic and Engine and engine cooling.

What are the known issues with the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT?

Known issues with the 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT include: Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, side/window, Suspension, front, springs. These are based on patterns found across 399 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.

Are there any recalls for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?

Yes, recalls have been issued for issues with service brakes, air bags, and suspension components.

What are the most common issues with the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?

The most common issues are related to service brakes, engine and engine cooling, air bags, and suspension.

What should I do if my 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport has open recalls?

Contact the dealership to have the vehicle serviced according to the recall notices.

Buyer Advice

Our recommendation: Be cautious of vehicles with open recalls, especially those related to service brakes and engine cooling. Ensure the vehicle has been serviced according to recall notices.

NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The data includes 399 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 11 reported crashes, 11 fire incidents, 12 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.

The NHTSA has assigned the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.

All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.

Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.

Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.

Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16