YearToAvoid

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 Santa Fe years

The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe ranks 16th out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 0 and a "Best" verdict. It has 109 NHTSA complaints, 2 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with Engine issues making up 54% of complaints.

Complaints
109
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
6 / 4
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
17.5 city / 23.5 hwy

Top 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine59 (54%)
  2. Brakes19 (17%)
  3. Other12 (11%)
  4. Electrical System11 (10%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain10 (9%)
  6. Steering8 (7%)
  7. Airbags6 (6%)
  8. Fuel System5 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body4 (4%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners report a hot electrical smell followed by smoke filling the cabin, in one case requiring fire department response.
  • Some drivers experienced sudden loss of headlights and dashboard lights while moving, causing loss of visibility and control.
  • Engine shuddering at 45-50 mph accompanied by a gasoline smell was traced to leaking fuel injectors that ignited a fire.
  • Airbags failed to deploy in multiple crashes, including a deer strike, a T-bone collision, and a multi-impact rear-ending, sometimes resulting in injury.
  • One owner described the vehicle accelerating unexpectedly toward a car ahead while braking pressure was applied, feeling like the throttle was stuck.
  • Steering was reported to feel unstable and overcorrect for wind on windy days, making the vehicle difficult to control.
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints: complaints filed per quarter92018 Q12019 Q12020 Q12021 Q32022 Q42023 Q42024 Q42025 Q4
139 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q2 (9).

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 18V118000Feb 17, 2018Steering41,070 vehicles

    Steering: steering wheel/handle bar

    Hyundai 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.

    Risk: A steering wheel separation while driving can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will check the production lot number of the steering wheel assembly, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 26, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 173.

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
23.5 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Santa Fe years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Best7236320
2017Avoid100966620
2018Best0109220
2019Good40200221
2020Caution53213223.5

All Hyundai Santa Fe years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Santa Fe ranks 16th out of 16 model years with a complaint index of 0, giving it a "Best" verdict relative to other Santa Fe years.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Engine issues account for 54% of complaints (59 of 109), followed by Brakes at 17% and Electrical System at 10%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 Santa Fe: one for a steering wheel assembly that could break and separate from the column, and one for an ABS module malfunction that could cause an underhood fire, which includes a park-outside advisory.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Santa Fe?
NHTSA lists 109 complaints for the 2018 Santa Fe, including 6 crashes, 4 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The EPA rates the 2018 Santa Fe at 20 mpg combined (17.5 city / 23.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250.

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.