2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Engine Problems
Engine problems account for 59 of 109 complaints (54%) for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe, the largest single complaint category for this year. Owners reported stalling, sudden RPM spikes, and loss of power, with a median failure mileage of 21,900 miles. NHTSA lists no recall tied specifically to this data set.
- Engine complaints
- 59
- 54% of 109
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 3
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 21,900 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Engine suddenly loses power or stalls at highway speeds, sometimes dropping from 70 mph into limp mode near 30 mph.
- RPMs spike unexpectedly while cruising or accelerating, accompanied by shaking and little forward movement despite pressing the gas pedal.
- Vehicle struggles to accelerate uphill or around turns, with owners needing to floor the pedal to maintain speed.
- Some owners report the engine required full replacement after dealership diagnosis, in one case after a software update tied to a knock sensor issue.
- A small number of complaints describe fire or burning smells linked to leaking fuel injectors or engine compartment fires while driving.
When 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe engine complaints were filed
First complaint May 30, 2018, latest Sep 22, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Santa Fe model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are engine problems in the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe?
- Engine issues make up 59 of the 109 total complaints filed for the 2018 Santa Fe, or 54% of all complaints for that model year.
- At what mileage do engine problems typically occur?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 21,900 miles for engine-related complaints on the 2018 Santa Fe.
- Is there a recall for the 2018 Santa Fe engine?
- This dataset lists no related recalls specifically tied to the 2018 Santa Fe engine complaints, though some owner narratives mention a knock sensor software update.
- Were there any fires reported with the 2018 Santa Fe engine?
- Yes, NHTSA data shows 3 fire incidents and 1 injury among the engine complaints for this model year.
- How does the 2018 Santa Fe compare to other years for engine complaints?
- The 2018 model's 54% engine complaint share is lower than 2017's 73% and 2012's 75%, but higher than more recent years like 2023 (23%) and 2024 (13%).