Reliable Auto DB

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe holds 109 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 10 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Santa Fe years here — under the median of the other years, which is 33. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Brake control module and Steering wheel.

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
Photo by Elise240SX, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

109

Per year

10

Recalls

2

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (54 of 109), then Hydraulic brakes (12) and Powertrain (10). Those filings include 6 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Santa Fe has 966 complaints, 62 per year, and the 2019 has 200 complaints, 23 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall Brake control module 2022-02-03 · NHTSA campaign 22V056000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall steering, steering wheel 2018-02-17 · NHTSA campaign 18V118000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (109 total)

Engine
54
Hydraulic brakes
12
Powertrain
10
Electrical system
9
Steering
8
Service brakes
7
Air bags
6
Fuel and propulsion system
5
Speed control
5
Engine and engine cooling
3
Seats
3
Exterior lighting
2
Forward collision avoidance
2
Back-over prevention
1
Seat belts
1
Structure
1
Tires
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 10 more Show less
Crash-flagged

6

Fire-flagged

4

Injury reports

5

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

112018132019620204202119202213202322202415202562026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "While driving, the vehicle developed a strong odor of engine oil, followed within minutes by illumination of the red oil pressure warning light. Inspection determined that a bolt had exited the engine's timing assembly,…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-22
  • "See attached letter for complaint"
    Engine, Engine and engine cooling · filed 2026-06-16
  • "On April 13, 2026, I arrived home and parked the vehicle, engaging the traditional shifter into the "Park" position and turning off the engine. After exiting and standing on the ground to retrieve a purse from the…"
    Powertrain, Service brakes · filed 2026-05-02
  • "My wife was driving the vehicle by the left lane on route 9A northbound on elmsford at a speed around 35 mph. The vehicle suddenly came to stop completely while driving. My wife tried to start it but it didn't start. We…"
    Engine · filed 2026-04-11
  • "Catastrophic Engine Failure - Cam phasers blew apart and severely cracked the valve covers. This occurred with no prior warning lights. Minutes before failure, there was engine hesitation and noise and then severely…"
    Engine · filed 2026-03-13

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Santa Fe all-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 18 24 20 MPG $3250
Santa Fe front-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 18 25 21 MPG $3100
Santa Fe Sport all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 19 26 22 MPG $2950
Santa Fe Sport all-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 20 26 22 MPG $2950
Santa Fe Sport front-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 28 23 MPG $2800
Santa Fe Sport front-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 21 27 24 MPG $2700
Santa Fe Sport Ultimate all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 19 24 21 MPG $3100
Santa Fe Sport Ultimate front-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 27 23 MPG $2800
Santa Fe Ultimate all-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 17 22 19 MPG $3400
Santa Fe Ultimate front-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 17 23 20 MPG $3250

Specs and fitment

3rd generation (DM), 2012–2018
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-20 or 5W-30 (2.4L and 3.3L V6 per manual) , 5 qt capacity
Tire size 235/60R18 to 235/55R19 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 5,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 17V358000. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Next year 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe See every Hyundai Santa Fe model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe holds 109 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 10 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Santa Fe years here — under the median of the other years, which is 33. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Brake control module and Steering wheel.

What are common problems with a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (54 of 109), then Hydraulic brakes (12) and Powertrain (10). Those filings include 6 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Is the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Santa Fe has 966 complaints, 62 per year, and the 2019 has 200 complaints, 23 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe been recalled?

The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Owners have filed 109 complaints about the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe is 21.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Santa Fe take?

5W-20 or 5W-30 (2.4L and 3.3L V6 per manual)

What does NHTSA recall 17V-358 cover on the Hyundai Santa Fe?

NHTSA campaign 17V358000.

What generation is the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe?

3rd generation (DM) (2012-2018).