Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound and there was fire coming from underneath the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she immediately veered to the side of the road and exited the vehicle with her son. The contact stated that the fire died out before the fire department arrived. A fire department report was filed. There was no police report filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that a fractured rod in the engine block had caused the engine to explode, and the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer also informed the contact the fire had burned the electrical wiring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to cover half of the repair. …
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while her son was driving 60 MPH in the far-left lane with the contact seated in the front passenger's seat, the contact and the driver noticed a burning odor. The driver was able to pull into the median. The driver and the contact exited the vehicle. The Fire Department was contacted and arrived on the scene and confirmed that there was no fire. Additionally, the contact stated that there was no smoke. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being towed to the residence, she noticed that there was oil leaking onto the flatbed of the tow truck, and there were metal shavings in the oil. The contact stated that after the vehicle was towed to the residence, a mobile mechanic inspected underneath the vehicle and noticed that there was a hole in the engine. The contact took photos of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while conducting a routine inspection on the vehicle, the contact noticed that the coolant was low in the coolant reservoir. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer where the vehicle was inspected. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer suggested that the vehicle remain at the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating, and failed to exceed 65 MPH. The vehicle later lost motive power with the ABS and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
June 21, 2024. During travel at high speed (70mph) on NYS Thruway, engine began making loud noise. sounded like something was loose and flapping. WITHOUT WARNING- no instrument warning lights came on, engine seized and power stopped. At no time during my drive did I observe any instrument warning lights. I was able to get over to the side of the road. The temperature gauge remained unchanged. I was concerned about fire in the engine and got as far away from the car as possible. I was 200 miles into my 300 mile journey. After waiting over an hour to have my car towed to the dealer, I was told that there were 3 Hyundai's with similar issues the week before and that the car would likely need an engine replacement due to "excessive oil consumption". …
In September 2024, my 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe experienced an unexpected engine lock-up while driving, creating an immediate safety hazard. Vehicle lost power, began smoking, and posed a potential fire risk. Fire department responded to prevent the engine from catching fire and had to spray the engine compartment with high-pressure water. Following this incident, vehicle remained in Hyundai's possession for ~9 months for engine-related repairs. When we picked up the vehicle after the prolonged repair period, front-facing camera had completely stopped functioning. This camera has always worked prior to the engine lock-up and was functioning the day of the incident. This was reported to the dealership, Hyundai Motor America. A case manager (Nemesh) took the case. Very supportive, helpful and provided a thorough process for investigating the situation. …
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe SE with 98000. miles lost power while driving, would not accelerate. No warning prior to event. No check engine light prior.Had the vehicle towed to Dealership for diagnostics. Dealership technician pulled codes P0018; P0300; P0302; P0304; P0306. I was told the repairs needed were: Replace left intake camshaft, CVVT, and timing chain tensioner. I had requested the dealership contact the National Consumer Affairs for Hyundai Motor America to put in a claim on the 100,000. mile warranty. After several weeks they declined to fix or offset the repair costs for this claim. they stated the following; "HMA Is Declining To Provide Assistance Due To The Malfunction Being Out Of Warranty Caused By The Time In Service And Mileage Of The Vehicle. …
Vehicle started normally except for a few chirps that began today, belts are due for replacement so assumed this was it. No unusual noises, behaviors, sounds or performance issues until an hour later; coming to a light where a left turn was to be made, the car started stalling - still no noises or indicators lit. Upon starting the turn the engine shut completely off, and was just barely able to coast to the shoulder. The vehicle's power completely cut, and attempting to start the vehicle did nothing. Checked the oil, and the dip stick was completely dry, however it was above the low level notch when checked 2,000 miles previously. Upon filling the oil up and jumping the battery which had depleted from sitting with the hazard lights on, the vehicle started but has a very loud knock. …
May 26, 2024 I was driving on a freeway with my grandson. I heard a knocking/clicking sound from my 2018 Santa Fe. No warning lights came on. The car lost all power. I had to navigate the traffic and coast to a stop. Unfortunately we were on the side of the freeway right before a very busy entrance ramp. An 18 wheeler swerved to avoid hitting us. That's when I decided it was not safe to wait in the car for a tow truck. My car was taken to a Hyundai dealership. We received a call that the engine needs to be replaced and was quoted $20,000 for a new engine.I have spoken with a case manager at Hyundia corporate. He says they are waiting on the dealership to request a goodwill warranty because my car was 3,000 miles outside of the 100000 mile warranty. The dealership was suppose to submit it last week but as of today it has not been done. …
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. We towed vehicle to the dealer where we purchased at Balise Hyundia in Springfield MA. The vehicle has 84,000 miles and we've always maintained it. There were no warning indicators that there was an issue with the engine. After further research I've discovered numerous articles and complaints regarding Hyundai's 3.3-liter engine after certain number of miles. The engines are failing, and I'm concerned we may be victims of an issue that has existed with these engines. This is a safety issue because there is no warning the engine is failing, the car turns off without warning, and the potential of an overheating engine causing a seizure and fire is always a concern.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
Engine complaints in other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 56 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe, 51% of the model year's 109 complaints. The component named most often is engine › oil/lubrication › sump/tank › drain plug (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 22,000 miles, and 56% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.