2018 Hyundai Santa Fe
Common Problems
Ranked from 42 federal NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
12 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Airbag Deployment Failure
10complaintsHigh severityElectricalAirbags fail to deploy during collisions, increasing the risk of injury or death.
- 2
Recall Issues with Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9complaintsMedium severityBrakesIssues with the service brakes hydraulic system, leading to delays in recall repairs and potential safety risks.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 22V056000
- 3
Engine Knocking and Unusual Noise
7complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine produces knocking and unusual noises, indicating potential internal component failure.
- 4
Engine Seizure Due to Excessive Oil Consumption
7complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine seized due to excessive oil consumption, leading to catastrophic failure.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Engine Failure During Acceleration
6complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine stalls or fails to accelerate properly, leading to loss of power and potential dangerous situations.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Engine Stalling and Loss of Power
5complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine suddenly stalls and loses power without warning, often accompanied by check engine light flashing.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Engine Overheating and Coolant Issues
4complaintsMedium severityEngineCoolant levels are low, leading to engine overheating and potential engine failure.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Engine Failure Due to Connecting Rod Bearings
2complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine failed due to connecting rod bearings seizing, causing a complete loss of power.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Engine RPM Spike During Deceleration
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine RPMs spike suddenly when decelerating, especially on hills or corners, without any warning indicators.
- 10
Engine Seizure Due to Oil Pressure Sensor Failure
2complaintsHigh severityEngineOil pressure sensor failure led to oil leaking onto the engine block, causing engine seizure and potential fire risk.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Steering Issues Causing Difficulty in Control
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringSteering exhibits stiction and resistance, making it difficult to maintain straight-line control and increasing the risk of accidents.
Related recall: 18V118000
- 12
Vehicle Speed Control Malfunction
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe vehicle speed control malfunctions, causing the engine RPMs to spike and the car to shake at moderate speeds.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.