2018 Hyundai Santa FE Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 54about this part
- Share
- 49%of 110 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 16,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 54 complaints about the engine of the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE, 49% of the 110 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 16,000 miles. 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The car began shuttering while driving down a main street (45-50mph). When we pulled over we smelled gasoline and burning. The car was towed to Hyundai service department. The service department informed my the fuel injectors were leaking causing a fire. The are replying the fuel injectors and told me it would be wise to have them replace all sparks plugs ($190) while they had the engine opened up.”
NHTSA complaint #11385531, filed 2020-12, 35,000 miles“When driving on a back road going about 35-40 MPH, all of a sudden the rpms spiked way up and the car started shaking. As I pressed the gas pedal the car would barely move but the rpms would go extremely high. Every time I had a stop light and tried accelerating once the light turned green the car would barely move and rpms would just keep reving up real high. I was afraid I was going to get hit or rear ended. Huge safety concerns.”
NHTSA complaint #11140655, filed 2018-10, 4,638 miles“I was parking the car. The car was stopped and my hand was on the gear shift. The car accelerated suddenly. The car jumped the curb I was facing and ended up in a grass median. I had to push the brake very hard to get the car to stop.”
NHTSA complaint #11185946, filed 2019-03, 815 miles“About a month ago I was driving home to Santa Fe new mexico with my wife and dog. The vehicle began to sputter and died on the side of the road. I called blue link which is the Hyundai road side assistance club and they towed my vehicle into fiesta Hyundai in Santa Fe. At first they said my oil was over filled. I called jiffy lube where I had it service 5 days prior and they sent their manager to Hyundai. Upon his arrival the service manager at Hyundai said they made a mistake and it was a fuel injector that was stuck on and filed the cylinder with fuel causing the vehicle to shut down. …”
NHTSA complaint #11194354, filed 2019-04, 27,000 miles“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 offered a few hundred dollars our vacation was…”
NHTSA complaint #11233455, filed 2019-07, 16,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11038430Oct 8, 2026Certain Palisade (LX2) and Santa Fe (NC) vehicles equipped with Lambda II 6-cylinder engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the…
- 11038456Oct 7, 2026Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures…
- 11029907Feb 11, 2026Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 26-EM-002H…
- 11028951Feb 11, 2026Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. This bulletin describes the procedure to…
- 11028950Feb 11, 2026Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. This service procedure describes to inspect the…
- 11022378Aug 15, 2025The warranty coverage of certain engines for repairs and replacement has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles (15years or 240,000km) from the date of original retail…
- 11021408Jul 30, 2025Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. This bulletin describes the procedure to…
- 11021407Jul 30, 2025Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. The vehicle will be repaired based on the…
- 11012335Dec 31, 2024Certain 2013 – 2019 model year Santa Fe/Santa Fe XL vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may experience abnormal engine noise or engine damage. At Hyundai, we are…
- 11006230Aug 5, 2024The warranty coverage for engine repair or replacement related to engine noise or damage has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 5% |
| 2025 | 14 | 10% |
| 2024 | 13 | 8% |
| 2023 | 35 | 16% |
| 2022 | 54 | 27% |
| 2021 | 37 | 22% |
| 2020 | 81 | 37% |
| 2019 | 73 | 36% |
| 2018 | 54 | 49% |
| 2017 | 650 | 67% |
| 2016 | 151 | 64% |
| 2015 | 161 | 63% |
| 2014 | 274 | 56% |
| 2013 | 273 | 45% |
| 2012 | 228 | 64% |
| 2011 | 64 | 35% |
| 2010 | 37 | 14% |
| 2009 | 60 | 17% |
| 2008 | 60 | 11% |
| 2007 | 54 | 8% |
| 2006 | 3 | 3% |
| 2005 | 11 | 5% |
| 2004 | 16 | 5% |
| 2003 | 8 | 3% |
| 2002 | 10 | 6% |
| 2001 | 7 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE
19 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsEngine cooling
3 complaintsSeats
3 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsForward collision avoidance
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology