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2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe carries 2 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering steering wheel/handle bar and control unit/module. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Engine knocking and failure requiring replacement.” Hyundai's owner's manual splits service into Normal and Severe schedules. Most US drivers qualify as Severe due to short trips, extreme temperatures, or stop-and-go traffic. Hyundai Assurance covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance on new vehicles. The Theta II 2.0L and 2.4L engines (2011-2019) are subject to TSBs around oil consumption — strict adherence to oil intervals matters.

2 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Campaign #18V118000 · Feb 17, 2018

Issue: 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.

Risk: A steering wheel separation while driving can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Campaign #22V056000 · Mar 2, 2022

Issue: 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.

Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: 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 data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

    Action #AQ23002 · opened Nov 17, 2023

    The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electron…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Engine knocking and failure requiring replacement

ENGINE

43 NHTSA complaints · 2018-12 → 2026-04

“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 reduced power, causing a safety issue while driving”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11724023
“1)CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS,2)STOP DRIVING IT,3)YES,4)YES,5)NO THIS IS THE 3.3 LITER ENGINE AND IT START KNOCKING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11592786
“My vehicle was turning off without any warning, last oil change was in October 2023, and had the oil changed this month. Engine started making loud noises from top, and eventually louder knocking noises from below”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11580596

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Service brake hydraulic recall parts unavailable

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

13 NHTSA complaints · 2022-04 → 2022-10

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11491063
“The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brake, Hydraulics) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11469801
“Hyundai initiated a recall campaign 218 on 02/02/2022 for: VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ("ABS") MODULES THAT COULD MALFUNCTION INTERNALLY AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OVER TIME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11466967

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear camera blue-screen failure

VISIBILITY/WIPER

3 NHTSA complaints · 2020-05 → 2025-04

“Rear reverse camera stopped working. Image became grainy, then flickered, then went to a blue screen. Can't see anything behind the vehicle when backing up is a big safety hazard”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11653919
“Reverse Camera malfunctioning most days. A few days a year it works, but usually it's just a blue screen. Other 3 cameras work fine all the time”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11546354
“THE REAR CAMERA HAS A BLUE SCREEN THIS IS KNOWN FOR HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11323084

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering wheel and column looseness or instability

STEERING

6 NHTSA complaints · 2018-03 → 2023-10

“I have noticed for the past year that my steering column feels loose. It makes a popping noise and really makes noise on rough pavement”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11552596
“STEERING BECOMES UNSTABLE DURING DRIVING ON WINDY DAYS. STEERING TRAYS TO OVER COMPENSATE FOR WIND AND BECOMES SCARY TO DRIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11079904
“WE LEASED THIS NEW VEHICLE ON APRIL 21ST 2018. AT THE TIME, WE DID NOT KNOW IT HAD AN OPEN RECALL FOR A FAULTY AND DANGEROUS STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN CONNECTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11089898

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel injector failure causing power loss or fire

ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2019-04 → 2025-06

“Two fuel injectors on bank 2 are failing intermittently causing the engine light to flash and stay on (P0300 errors) and the car loses power”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11669452
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11194354
“This will be the fourth time our vehicle has to go to the dealer. We purchased this car in April of this year and the car has lived more at the dealer service department than with us. The first time, the car started smoking and left us stranded”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11430225

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine failure after knock sensor recall update

ENGINE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2019-02 → 2019-07

“MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON NJ PARKWAY IN HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC DOING 70 MILES AN HOUR. CAR THEN STUTTERED AND SLOWED DOWN, WITH HER HAVING TO MOVE THREE LANES OVER WHILE TRYING TO GET OVER BRIDGE. HYUNDAI BLUE LINK CAME ON AND TOLD HER TO GET CAR IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11191162
“DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE PARKWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ENGINE FELT LIKE IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN, CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING, ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING, SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, BLUE LINK NOTIFICATION SYSTEM ADVISED TO GET TO SERVICE TODAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11191553
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11183217

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag non-deployment in crash

AIR BAGS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2022-08 → 2023-06

“I was T boned on the driver then hit a pole. NO AIRBAGS deployed. I was traveling around 45 mph. Other vehicle speed unknown”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11522993
“The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while his fiancee was driving at 45 mph, a deer impacted the driver's side of the vehicle. No air bags deployed. The contact stated the air bag warning light was illuminated after the impact”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11478317
“The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 30-35 MPH, the contact was rear-ended by another vehicle, hit on the driver's side by a truck, and rear-ended again; however, the air bags failed to deploy”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11529607

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 3,750 mi

Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal service: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Sonata, Santa Fe, Tucson 2011-2019): never extend — oil consumption issues are documented in Hyundai TSBs.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. AWD Tucson and Santa Fe owners benefit from rotation at 5,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, calipers, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Elantra and Sonata front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required to maintain ABS and ESC pump life.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Severe service or dusty conditions: 15,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Severe service: every 30,000 miles. Normal: 60,000 miles. Use Hyundai SP-IV or SPH-IV — substitutes can cause harsh shifting and torque converter damage.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on Theta II, Lambda II, and Smartstream engines. 1.6T (Veloster N, Kona N): 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 30,000 mi

Hyundai Long-Life Coolant (pink): first change at 60,000 miles, then every 30,000. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it damages the cylinder head gasket on GDI engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on most Hyundai models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Replace at 90,000 miles on most models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

40 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

6

complaints mentioning a crash

4

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe reflects Hyundai's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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