2018 Hyundai Santa FE Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 7%of 110 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 8,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the steering of the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE, 7% of the 110 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 8,000 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“6 months after I purchase a brand new 2018 Santa Fe grande my vehicle start cutting off when I turn the wheel a certain way I reported it to the company it will not detect on the machines so they cannot fix it so I'm stuck with a car that continue to cut off and nobody knows why”
NHTSA complaint #11307896, filed 2020-02, 1,100 miles“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“Steering exhibits stiction after driving for 20-30 minutes. This becomes worse as speed is increased. Small movements of the wheel produce no steering effect but resistance is felt. When the resistance is overcome, the result is slight over steer. Under these conditions it is difficult to drive in strait line as constant corrections and re-corrections are required back and forth. The effect is that the steering feels to freeze until a minimum break out force is applied, resulting in an overshoot past the intended point. …”
NHTSA complaint #11289739, filed 2019-12, 10,200 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“At 118,000 miles Downhill brake, transmission and 4 wheel drive were damaged from the hyundai dealership not fullfilling warranty. They disconnected my tow hitch and my transmission was burning .. smelled like a bon fire. Took me 1 year to repair and have transmission changed through warranty but they didnt change the other components that were damaged due to negligence from the hyundai dealership. The dealership was very rude and didnt dedication their attention or care to truly finding what was wrong with my vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11676848, filed 2025-07Related recalls
- 18V118000Feb 17, 2018Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The steering wheel assembly may break, possibly…Covers: Hyundai Santa FE 2018
Related service bulletins
- 10215599Jun 3, 2022Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this…
- 10211680Apr 8, 2022Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this…
- 10211678Apr 8, 2022Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this…
- 10203272Oct 1, 2021Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this…
- 10180985Sep 9, 2020Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this…
- 10180981Sep 9, 2020This bulletin provides information regarding replacement of the column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) system as separate components.
- 10179246Aug 10, 2020Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this…
- 10179244Aug 10, 2020This bulletin provides information regarding replacement of the column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) system as separate components.
- 10170896Jan 3, 2020This bulletin provides information regarding replacement of the column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) system as separate components.
- 10167762Oct 15, 2019Certain 2017-2018MY Santa Fe (NC), 2016MY Veloster (FS), 2014MY Elantra (MD), and 2016-2017MY Azera (HG) vehicles may experience a warning lamp being illuminated intermittently…
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 5% |
| 2025 | 5 | 4% |
| 2024 | 3 | 2% |
| 2023 | 3 | 1% |
| 2022 | 4 | 2% |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% |
| 2020 | 6 | 3% |
| 2019 | 12 | 6% |
| 2018 | 8 | 7% |
| 2017 | 27 | 3% |
| 2016 | 3 | 1% |
| 2015 | 6 | 2% |
| 2014 | 52 | 11% |
| 2013 | 95 | 16% |
| 2012 | 16 | 5% |
| 2011 | 20 | 11% |
| 2010 | 8 | 3% |
| 2009 | 17 | 5% |
| 2008 | 14 | 3% |
| 2007 | 38 | 6% |
| 2006 | 4 | 4% |
| 2005 | 7 | 3% |
| 2004 | 11 | 4% |
| 2003 | 17 | 6% |
| 2002 | 16 | 10% |
| 2001 | 13 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE
54 complaintsBrakes
19 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsElectrical system
9 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 31, 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