Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗ABS Unit May Cause Engine Compartment Fire
- 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.
- Consequence
- An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- 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.
Steering Wheel May Detach from Steering Column
- 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.
- Consequence
- A steering wheel separation while driving can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (109)
109 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 109 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 54 | 49.5% |
| Service brakes | 19 | 17.4% |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 11% |
| Power train | 10 | 9.2% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 8.3% |
| Steering | 8 | 7.3% |
| Air bags | 6 | 5.5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 4.6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 4.6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 2.8% |
How 2018 compares with other Santa Fe years
Best and worst Santa Fe years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 493 | 3 |
| 2015 | 254 | 2 |
| 2016 | 236 | 3 |
| 2017 | 968 | 6 |
| 2018 | 109 | 2 |
| 2019 | 201 | 2 |
| 2020 | 213 | 2 |
| 2021 | 166 | 7 |
| 2022 | 199 | 5 |
| 2023 | 210 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 23 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 396 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 23 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 396 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 | 425 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 427 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 | 457 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 433 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 475 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2018 Santa Fe for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 22V056000 (brake), 18V118000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
Owners filed 109 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (54), Service brakes (19), Unknown or other (12) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 20 city, 27 highway and 23 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
NHTSA rated the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (15% rollover risk).
How does the 2018 Santa Fe compare with other years?
Among the 2014–2021 Hyundai Santa Fe model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (109) and the 2017 the most (968). The 2018 drew 109. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.