108 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Engine · verdict CAUTION 66/100
“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 cabin, the vehicle spontaneously and rapidly began reversing. As the vehicle gained momentum, I was struck by the driver-side door, which knocked me down and resulted in the vehicle running over me. The v”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe owner
“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 called the police to come help us due to the ongoing traffic while the towing was on its way. Our mechanic told us the engine was seized and needs a replacement. The vehicle is a 2018 and has only 11”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe owner
“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. Vehicle was towed to local Hyundai dealer who identified the cam phaser failure ausing external engine damage of the valve covers and complete loss o”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe owner
| Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 17/02/2018 | Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar SAFETY | 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 |
| 03/02/2022 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module SAFETY | 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 |
On the federal record it scores 66/100: 108 owner complaints (13.5 per year on the road) and 2 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems.
The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Engine, with 53 of 115 categorised reports.
The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe scored 66/100 on the federal record.