NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 422 owner complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Most complaints involve engine (244) and service brakes, hydraulic (49). The EPA rates it 21–24 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“This vehicle has been suffering from substantial engine oil consumption, burning oil at an alarming and unsafe rate. I have repeatedly brought the vehicle to Washington Hyundai to address this under the engine class-action lawsuit terms, but the dealership continues to run repetitive tests without a resolution. This is a critical safety issue. Excessive oil consumption poses a severe risk of sudden, catastrophic engine seizure or stalling while operating at high speeds on the highway.”
“The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, several warning lights illuminated and the ABS message was displayed. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired. The contact referenced a recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not under recall. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.”
“Bought this as a used vehicle with around 77k miles. The SUV was running fine for a little while until I drove onto the highway. It eventually began to bog down and there was hesitation and jumping instead of acceleration. This continued my entire trip home with the check engine light on. The car was only driven for about 300-400 miles in the time I had it. When I brought it to have an oil change, they found metal shavings in the oil. From what I’ve been reading, this has been a common problem for this vehicle. It has been sitting in a Hyundai service center for at least a month now with no real responses from Hyundai themselves. They told me they would not fix the problem due to lack of maintenance from prior owners and that they were marking my title (doesn’t make sense since I bought this with a clean title). According to what Hyundai told me, this issue was brought up by a previous owner in January 2026 with no repairs. How can you change the status of my title while refusing to repair a problem caused by a manufacturers defect?”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Sport FWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 27 | 24 | $2,500 | 379 |
| Santa Fe Sport FWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | $2,600 | 388 |
| Santa Fe Sport Ultimate FWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,600 | 396 |
| Santa Fe Sport AWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 22 | $2,750 | 410 |
| Santa Fe Sport AWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 22 | $2,750 | 406 |
| Santa Fe Sport Ultimate AWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 24 | 21 | $2,850 | 425 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
4 safety recalls as of Nov 12, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 422 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (244), service brakes, hydraulic (49), fuel/propulsion system (38). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport at 21–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 5 out of 5 stars overall.