10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,390 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems

engine problem

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2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Oct 062023

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We took our 2018 Santa Fe in for service because the check engine light came on and we lost power when accelerating. We were told that it has "catastrophic engine failure" and that we need a full engine replacement. On a less than 5 year old car. We are being blamed for this although we have kept up with regular oil changes and service. We were told that we could not get any warranty on the engine. We have been quoted $7,500 for an engine "replacement" and a 1 year warranty. They do not make the engine any longer so it is not even a true replacement. We brought it in to Hyundai of Metairie. They will not answer or return our calls. Do not buy a hyundai.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #22

Jun 272023

Santa Fe

  • 142,732 miles
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 failure mileage was approximately 142,732.

- Williamston, NC, USA

problem #21

Aug 012023

Santa Fe

  • miles
while driving on a highway the engine lock up, and I was fortunate to get to the side of the road. Vary scary

- Clarksville, MD, USA

problem #20

Jun 222023

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Failed oil pressure sensor which was leaking oil through the wiring harness; could have caused a fire from oil dripping on exhaust system. Oil pressure sensors should only fail electrically, not from allowing high pressure oil to leak out. Dealer states there have been some cases where the oil flowed through the wiring harness to the vehicle ECU, rendering a severe problem in controlling the vehicle. Dealer repair invoice attached. Besides the oil pressure sensor the wiring assembly had to be replaced from the oil contamination.

- Sylacauga, AL, USA

problem #19

Aug 062023

Santa Fe

  • miles
This vehicle has 113,000 miles on it and the engine is blown. The warranty for these cars expires at 100 thousand miles. This vehicle was properly maintained and should not fail. I cannot claim this under auto insurance and the dealer wants to charge me 185 dollars to tell me on paper that I need to pay 20000 dollars for a new engine.

- Highland Mills , NY, USA

problem #18

Jun 042023

Santa Fe

  • 144,000 miles
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.

- Rock Island, IL, USA

problem #17

May 052023

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving about 60-65 mph on the interstate, and with no dashboard lights illuminated, the car started making a loud clanking noise. Without warning, there was 1 additional loud noise and the engine froze, excessive smoke came from the front of the car and underneath the car. I pulled over to the side of the road. There was an oil trail behind the car and under the car. The car is now being inspected by our local Hyundai dealership and awaiting warranty approval.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #16

Jul 012022

Santa Fe

  • miles
Losing half a quart of oil every 1000 miles, that would be about 3 quarts every 6000 miles This is not normal for a 2018 car with 65700 miles on it Car had an Oil Consumption Test by dealer No warning lights have come

- Brooksville, FL, USA

problem #15

Nov 242022

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • miles
I bought my 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.3L a year and a half ago with 58k miles from a dealer in Clarksville, MD. On October 18th 2022 with 70k miles my Hyundai Santa Fe starting making a loud noise in engine so I took it to a Hyundai dealer where I was told my engine would need to be replaced and was quoted 19.1k to replace it. I'm the second owner of the car so technically not under warranty. Hyundai is paying half of repair and rental extended warranty is paying the other half and a 10 day rental. Car has been there for a month parts still aren't there and was told it could take months to get my car back.

- Parkville , MD, USA

problem #14

May 222022

Santa Fe

  • miles
With no dashboard lights illuminated, the engine completely seized while driving 60 MPH on the highway. I was thankfully able to get it off to the side. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership and is currently awaiting a warranty approval for a new engine.

- Waxahachie, TX, USA

problem #13

Sep 012021

Santa Fe

  • 0 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact-€™s daughter owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

- Woodstock, IL, USA

problem #12

Dec 282020

Santa Fe

  • 35,000 miles
The car began shuttering while driving down a main street (45-50mph). When we pulled over we smelled gasoline and burning. The car was towed to Hyundai service department. The service department informed my the fuel injectors were leaking causing a fire. The are replying the fuel injectors and told me it would be wise to have them replace all sparks plugs ($190) while they had the engine opened up.

- Port St. Lucie, FL, USA

problem #11

Jul 142019

Santa Fe

  • 16,000 miles
A recall letter from Hyundai on my 2018 Santa Fe on a knock sensor took it to my dealership they did what ever the recall was 3 miles down the road my car went intp limp mode took me from 70mph to 30 call the dealer had to limp it back they hah it for 3 weeks had the wire harness replaced asked they had any trouble with this as we were going on vacaton they said no half way through our trip to South Dakota it went into limp mode again this time the speed was 80mph on the highway I called Hyundai doesnt seem they care if we were killed or not offered a few hundred dollars our vacation was ruined I dont feel safe in this SUV but cant seem to get help from Hyundai I will never buy another one

- Wisconsin Rapids, WI, USA

problem #10

Jan 072019

Santa Fe

  • 150 miles
Engine noise when starting Hyundai Santa Fe 2018 stationary

- Universal City, TX, USA

problem #9

Mar 222019

Santa Fe

  • 12,600 miles
I was driving on the interstate at 70 mph and the engine suddenly shut off, it has been at the Hyundai garage in dubois, pa for 3 weeks waiting for a new engine and it is a new vehicle with only 12.600 miles?

- Falls Creek, PA, USA

problem #8

Apr 012019

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • 27,000 miles
About a month ago I was driving home to Santa Fe New Mexico with my wife and dog. The vehicle began to sputter and died on the side of the road. I called blue link which is the Hyundai road side assistance club and they towed my vehicle into fiesta Hyundai in Santa Fe. At first they said my oil was over filled. I called jiffy lube where I had it service 5 days prior and they sent their manager to Hyundai. Upon his arrival the service manager at Hyundai said they made a mistake and it was a fuel injector that was stuck on and filed the cylinder with fuel causing the vehicle to shut down. They replace the fuel nozzle after 3 days I got the vehicle back and headed to mckinney Texas, I made it to wichita falls Texas and the car sputtered and died again this time not even turning over when you pushed the button. Once again I called blue link and they towed the vehicle into Hyundai to be serviced. They called me the next day said they would look at it and advise me. They never called me back so I had to call them. They said that the catalytic converter blew off. They said they would have it in the morning. That nerve happened and they have not called me back since and that was 6 days ago. This vehicle pouring fuel into a cylinder is a fire hazard. This time it built up enough combustion to blow the catalytic converter completely off. I do not know the reason for this as of yet as they are non responsive but I have filed a lemon law case against Hyundai and am awaiting their decision. This car is not safe and I refuse to get back onto it again. It has stranding myself and my family dog included twice now on the side of the road.. the vehicle was in motion when the engine died both times.

- Santa Fe, NM, USA

problem #7

Mar 092019

Santa Fe

  • 21,900 miles
Driving vehicle on the parkway at approximately 65 mph, engine felt like it was shutting down, car stopped accelerating, engine light was blinking, speedometer stopped working, blue link notification system advised to get to service today. This occurred one week after the car received a software update for a knock sensor recall. Car has been in service since 3/9/19; dealership replaced wiriing harness per Hyundai's recommendation, when they test drove the vehicle, the issue has not resolved. They are waiting for Hyundai to advise of next steps. I do not feel safe ever getting back in this vehicle due to all of the current issues surrounding Hyundai engines, including fires.

- Shrewsbury, NJ, USA

problem #6

Mar 232019

Santa Fe

  • 27,000 miles
My wife was driving on NJ parkway in heavy rush hour traffic doing 70 miles an hour. Car then stuttered and slowed down, with her having to move three lanes over while trying to get over bridge. Hyundai blue link came on and told her to get car immediately to the dealer. When taken to dealer they said due to the knock sensor update the engine will need to be replaced at 27,000 miles? this was done by Hyundai two weeks ago. Update to yesterday 3/23/19 and same thing happened to her again going to work on the NJ parkway. I then took the car to the dealer, same issues, same computer screen showed in the car and will be needing now second engine at 29,000 miles. Two blown engines under 30,000 miles, Hyundai admits the problem to us and not sure why others are having issue. Received rental car both times. Will see how Hyundai rectify this problem, they should buy back cars from owners and reimburse time missed from work, pain and suffering as well as the stress of driving on, amir highway and losing power in your car.

- Howell, NJ, USA

problem #5

Feb 232019

Santa Fe

  • 815 miles
I was parking the car. The car was stopped and my hand was on the gear shift. The car accelerated suddenly. The car jumped the curb I was facing and ended up in a grass median. I had to push the brake very hard to get the car to stop.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #4

Jan 302019

Santa Fe

  • 14,000 miles
Took the vehicle in for an oil change. Dealership put a new computer update on car due to bad engines. The next day 1-30-19 the vehicle had a error come on the car putting it in safe mode not allowing the car to move over 67 mph. Had it towed to the dealership. Murdock hyundia of lindon. They did a test to determine that the engine needed to be replaced. This took 29 days for the dealership to fix and my car is not the same. The motor seems sluggish. Car is only 6 months old with 14000 miles.

- Nephi, UT, USA

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