2018 Hyundai Santa FE Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Santa Fe most often describe engine trouble: sudden loss of power, knocking or rattling noises, and, in several cases, a dealer finding that the engine needs replacement, often at low mileage. A second recurring theme is that many owners report their vehicle went into limp mode or shut down shortly after a knock-sensor software update or related service. Brake-related complaints cluster around the 22V056000 ABS recall and around cases where owners describe reduced braking or a soft pedal, while steering complaints describe a binding or sticky feel at highway speed.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine failure / engine replacement needed

   • 42 complaints (38%)
   • median 31,000 mi at 2.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the engine suddenly losing power or shutting off while driving, sometimes with a knocking or rattling noise but often with no warning light beforehand. In many cases the dealer told them the engine needed to be replaced, and some owners report being quoted several thousand dollars or being told the vehicle was out of warranty. A few describe smoke or a burning smell after the engine stopped. Reports span from under 1,000 miles to over 140,000 miles, with many clustered under 60,000 miles and several between 80,000 and 145,000 miles.

   8 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing oil changes at the recommended intervals, and have a pre-purchase inspection listen for knocking or tapping. Ask whether any engine warranty extension applies to this vehicle and whether the knock-sensor software update was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “May 26, 2024 I was driving on a freeway with my grandson. I heard a knocking/clicking sound from my 2018 Santa Fe. No warning lights came on. The car lost all power. I had to navigate the traffic and coast to a stop. Unfortunately we were on the side of the freeway right before a very busy entrance ramp. An 18 wheeler swerved to avoid hitting us. That's when I decided it was not safe to wait in the car for a tow truck. My car was taken to a Hyundai dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11595221, filed 2024-06

   “We took our 2018 Santa Fe in for service because the check engine light came on and we lost power when accelerating. We were told that it has catastrophic engine failure and that we need a full engine replacement. On a less than 5 year old car. We are being blamed for this although we have kept up with regular oil changes and service. We were told that we could not get any warranty on the engine. We have been quoted $7,500 for an engine replacement and a 1 year warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11550374, filed 2023-10
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS recall part unavailable / brake warning lights

   • 12 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 4.4 yrs old
   • filed 2022

   A number of owners received notice of recall 22V056000 for the ABS module and reported that the dealer did not yet have the part, leaving the repair outstanding. Separately, some complaints describe the ABS, electronic parking brake and cruise-control lights coming on together and the brake pedal needing much harder pressure to stop the vehicle. Recall-related reports were filed mostly in 2022; brake-performance complaints appear from low mileage up to higher-mileage vehicles.

   Recall 22V056000

   What to check: Check the vehicle's recall status by VIN with a dealer and confirm that the ABS module recall repair has actually been completed, not just scheduled. Watch for a brake pedal that feels firm or requires extra effort, and for warning lights that stay on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”

   NHTSA complaint #11468691, filed 2022-06

   “The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”

   NHTSA complaint #11468632, filed 2022-06
3. 3
   Engine

   Limp mode / power loss after knock-sensor software update

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 18,950 mi at 1.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2024

   Several owners say the vehicle went into limp mode or lost power within days or miles of a dealer software update related to the knock sensor. Complaints describe the speed dropping sharply on the highway, a flashing check engine light, and the dealer replacing the wiring harness or the engine as a follow-up. Some owners report the same symptom returning after the repair. Mostly reported between roughly 14,000 and 27,000 miles, typically shortly after a dealer software update.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the dealer whether the knock-sensor detection software update and any associated harness work were completed, and whether the engine was inspected under an extended warranty program.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A recall letter from Hyundai on my 2018 Santa Fe on a knock sensor took it to my dealership they did what ever the recall was 3 miles down the road my car went intp limp mode took me from 70mph to 30 call the dealer had to limp it back they hah it for 3 weeks had the wire harness replaced asked they had any trouble with this as we were going on vacaton they said no half way through our trip to south dakota it went into limp mode again this time the speed was 80mph on the highway I called Hyundai doesnt seem they care if we were killed or not …”

   NHTSA complaint #11233455, filed 2019-07, 16,000 miles

   “Took the vehicle in for an oil change. Dealership put a new computer update on car due to bad engines. The next day 1-30-19 the vehicle had a error come on the car putting it in safe mode not allowing the car to move over 67 MPH. Had it towed to the dealership. Murdock hyundia of lindon. They did a test to determine that the engine needed to be replaced. This took 29 days for the dealership to fix and my car is not the same. The motor seems sluggish. Car is only 6 months old with 14000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11183217, filed 2019-02, 14,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Sticky or binding steering at highway speed

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • median 9,100 mi at 1.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2023

   Owners describe the steering wheel feeling as though it sticks in one position and then jerks or overshoots when they try to correct, which makes it hard to hold a straight line at higher speeds. Some describe the condition appearing after 20 to 30 minutes of driving and worsening with speed, and a few say the dealer could not reproduce or repair it. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 18,000 miles, typically at highway speeds.

   Recall 18V118000

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed and feel for a notch or sticking point in small steering inputs. Ask whether the steering wheel assembly recall 18V118000 has been completed, though that recall concerns a different symptom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Yesterday when I was teaching my vehicle I suddenly marked steering wheel on the board. And on the brakes every time I put the emergency parking brake it makes a loud sound on the left rear side.”

   NHTSA complaint #11131646, filed 2018-09, 6,954 miles

   “When driving the vehicle on the highway at speeds higher than 60mph, the steering wheel seems to stick in one position and jerk when you try to adjust the steering in the slightest.”

   NHTSA complaint #11149837, filed 2018-11, 18,000 miles

Buying note. The engine is the main thing to look at on this model year: get a pre-purchase inspection that checks for noise and oil consumption, and ask for proof that oil changes were done. Confirm the ABS and steering recalls are completed and check for stored airbag fault codes before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.