YearToAvoid

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 49 brake complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, 15% of its 320 total complaints, with 4 crashes and 1 fire reported. Two recalls (22V810000 and 22V056000) cover an ABS module that can short and cause an engine fire. Median mileage at failure was 72,500.

Brakes complaints
49
15% of 320
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
72,500 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Brake pedal suddenly hardens or the vehicle slides when braking at low speed during turns, leading to loss of control and minor crashes.
  • Brakes fail to respond at very low speed with no warning light, followed by smoke or flames from the engine compartment.
  • ABS braking system reportedly fails during higher-speed braking, with the pedal going soft and the vehicle failing to stop.
  • Multiple owners report being notified of recall 22V056000 for the ABS module but say replacement parts were unavailable for an extended period, delaying the fix.

When 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport brake complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 11, 2019, latest Apr 1, 2026.

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport brakes complaints: complaints filed per month8Jun 2019Apr 2022Jul 2022Nov 2022Mar 2023Sep 2023Apr 2024Mar 2026
49 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2019 to Apr 2026; peak Apr 2022 (8).

Brakes recalls for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

  1. NHTSA 22V810000Oct 27, 2022Brakes44,396 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 22V056000Feb 3, 2022Brakes357,348 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    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.

    Risk: 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.

Brakes complaints by Santa Fe Sport model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201342 (21%)
  2. 201432 (20%)
  3. 201523 (28%)
  4. 20166 (9%)
  5. 201759 (17%)
  6. 201849 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Santa Fe Sport?
NHTSA lists 49 brake complaints for the 2018 Santa Fe Sport, which is 15% of the 320 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2018 Santa Fe Sport?
Yes, two recalls: 22V810000 and 22V056000. Both involve the ABS module potentially shorting and causing an engine compartment fire, and owners are told to park outside away from structures until repaired.
Did the brake problems cause crashes or fires?
NHTSA data tied to this brake complaint group shows 4 crashes and 1 fire for the 2018 Santa Fe Sport.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this brake complaint group is 72,500 miles.
How does 2018 compare to other Santa Fe Sport years for brake complaints?
The 2018 model's brake complaints are 15% of its total complaints, lower than 2015 (28%), 2013 (21%), and 2014 (20%), but higher than 2016 (9%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.