Certain 2012 – 2017 model year Accent, 2012 – 2017 model year Azera, 2013 – 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2013 – 2019 model year Santa Fe, and 2012 – 2017 model year Veloster vehicles may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may be set. At Hyundai, we are committed to providing vehicles of outstanding quality and value. In an effort to meet this commitment, the warranty coverage for the Occupant Classification System (OCS)/Occupant Detection System (ODS) under these conditions has been extended to 18 years/unlimited mileage from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use (whichever occurs first) and is valid for original and subseq
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport electrical problems
severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
3fires
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of Hyundai Santa Fe Sport we track for electrical problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 19.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. This bulletin provides instructions for updating the Engine Control Module (ECM) to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. The California Air Resources Board has determined that these vehicles may be releasing air pollutants which exceed Federal and California standards.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Following completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain vehicles may exhibit a brief hesitation or rough shifting condition during cold start operation. If present, this condition is expected to occur only within approximately the first 1-3 minutes after engine start, while the catalyst is reaching its normal operating temperature.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Following completion of Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II Emissions Improvement), certain vehicles may exhibit a brief hesitation or rough shifting condition during cold start operation. If present, this condition is expected to occur only within approximately the first 1-3 minutes after engine start, while the catalyst is reaching its normal operating temperature.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a cluster of electrical and engine failures in 2018 Santa Fe Sports that have turned otherwise routine ownership into safety hazards. The most serious: three separate fire incidents—one while parked with rear brake lights illuminated, another under the hood while parked at a restaurant, and a third with the engine smoking while driving. All required fire department response; one vehicle was a total loss.
Oil system problems plague multiple units. One owner faced a $7,000 repair bill (denied warranty coverage) after oil from a leaking pressure sensor contaminated the PCM and main engine wiring harness; Hyundai couldn't source replacement parts for over a year. Other owners report severe oil consumption—3 quarts per 1,000 miles on one vehicle—despite regular maintenance, with dealers unable to pinpoint the root cause even after consumption tests.
Engine failure while driving appears in several complaints. One owner had the engine die in traffic after camshaft and knock sensor replacement; the fix lasted 24 hours before the check engine light returned. Campaign 953 (wiring harness and software update) was deployed on at least one vehicle but the owner remains fearful enough to cancel vacations.
Electrical gremlins run through the data: headlight switch failures with battery drain, ABS module failure denied under warranty, rearview camera displaying blue screen at 60,000 miles with no update available, and a passenger airbag sensor failure where Hyundai admits no parts exist. One window motor heated up dangerously; the owner disconnected it himself. Starter failures occurred at 25,000 and 60,000 miles, the latter prompting a mechanic to comment on the unusual failure rate. One dealer reported Campaign 953 parts still unavailable months after recall notice issued.
Failure modes owners describe
Engine fire while parked
Vehicle caught fire while parked and shut off, with flames and smoke visible under the front passenger side or hood area. One incident occurred at 10,000 miles with rear brake lights illuminated; another at unknown mileage with engine smoking and catching fire on highway. A third report mentions fire under the hood while vehicle was parked at a restaurant.
When: 10,000 miles (first reported incident); varying mileage for others
Symptoms owners cite: flames visible under vehicle; smoke from hood area; fire while parked and engine off; engine smoking while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Fires extinguished by fire department or employees; vehicles towed to dealer. One owner noted confirmed fire recall from 2022; vehicle could not be saved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fire recall campaign referenced (2022); one contact noted parts unavailable; recall parts listed as available for 2018 Santa Fe Sport model but dealer reported parts not yet available. Campaign 953 mentioned in context of engine wiring issues.
Oil pressure sensor leak causing PCM and wiring harness oil contamination
Oil pressure sensor leak allows oil to pass through the entire main wiring of the engine until it reaches the PCM, causing electrical malfunction. Owners report oil light coming on when braking or turning, and after oil changes or consumption tests, oil light continues to illuminate. One owner reports the dipstick completely out of oil 1,500 miles after dealer oil change.
When: Reported at 4,000 miles after last oil change; oil light returns after oil changes and consumption tests; 1,500 miles after service oil change
Symptoms owners cite: oil light comes on while turning or braking; engine rattling when accelerating 0–40 mph; car jerking between 30–40 mph on acceleration; engine shaking at 45+ mph; engine light coming on; vehicle deemed unsafe to drive
Repairs/costs cited: $7,000 repair required (PCM replacement, oil pressure switch replacement, engine control harness replacement); parts on backorder for over a year. Not covered under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai dealer initiated warranty claim process under 100K warranty; two consumption tests performed; Hyundai dealer stated vehicle not consuming oil after tests; later diagnosed as oil leak from oil pressure sensor; customer directed to Hyundai customer care; ultimately told parts on backorder and repairs not covered.
Excessive oil consumption and burning
Engine burns or consumes oil at accelerated rate. One owner reports 3 quarts burned in 1,000 miles; another reports car down to one quart after 4,000 miles and completely out of oil 1,500 miles after service oil change despite regular maintenance every 6,000 miles.
When: Oil light began coming on close to 90,000 miles on one vehicle; reported at 4,000 miles post-service on another
Symptoms owners cite: oil light illumination; engine rattling and jerking; car smells of gas and oil; oil leak
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports combustion cleaning performed; oil light continues to come on. Service agents stated vehicle burns oil at accelerated rate with no resolution offered.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: After consumption tests, Hyundai stated vehicle was not consuming oil; later identified as oil leak from oil pressure sensor. One contact reports ABS light came on after brake recall service.
Engine failure and stall while driving
Engine stops working while driving in traffic, creating unsafe conditions. One owner reports engine light came on, camshaft and knock sensors were replaced, engine light goes off for 24 hours then returns, and car dies in middle of traffic and cannot exceed certain speed. Another reports engine stopped in traffic; Hyundai attributed to lack of maintenance despite owner conducting regular maintenance.
When: One report at unknown mileage; Campaign 953 engine issues triggered at 11,000 miles (engine light 80 miles into vacation)
Symptoms owners cite: engine light illumination; engine stops while driving; car cannot exceed certain speed after repair; engine dies in traffic
Codes mentioned: P0012 or similar camshaft codes (implied by camshaft replacement), knock sensor codes (implied by knock sensor replacement)
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft and knock sensors replaced on one vehicle; issue recurred. One owner reports Campaign 953 wiring harness replacement and software update performed at dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 953 addressed via wiring harness replacement and software update (updated twice—once in March, once at service); owner reports fear of engine failure and has cancelled vacations. Hyundai customer care told owner to take vehicle back to dealer; owner requested new engine with no success. Video about Campaign 953 circulating online.
Headlight and electrical switch failure
Headlights suddenly illuminate without vehicle being turned on, draining battery. Light switch fails to turn off high beam headlights. Junction block failure with melted interlock casing, fuse, and relay; switches not responding.
When: Approximately 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: headlights illuminate with vehicle off; battery drain; high beam headlights will not turn off; switches not responding
Repairs/costs cited: Junction block replacement required; interlock casing, fuse, and relay had melted. Vehicle not repaired at time of complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed and case opened. Vehicle was previously included in a recall for another junction box repair; specific recall campaign number not provided.
Engine misfiring with electrical malfunction
Electrical malfunction causes engine to misfire. Owner reports different issue than previous mechanical problems.
When: Unknown timing
Symptoms owners cite: engine misfiring; check engine light (blinking)
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic diagnosed electrical issue; no repair details provided.
Starter failure
Starter fails prematurely. One owner reports starter failure at 25,000 miles with no prior warning lights; mechanic noted unusual failure at such low mileage. Same mechanic reports replacing starter on second 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe in one week, that vehicle with 60,000 miles.
When: 25,000 miles (first report); 60,000 miles (second report by same mechanic)
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle will not start; lights remain on on instrument panel
Repairs/costs cited: Starter replacement performed; broken part not retained for inspection; mechanic noted unusual failure rate for this model.
ABS module failure
ABS module stops working, leaving vehicle without ABS braking function. Manufacturer refuses to cover under warranty, claiming computer component exclusion. Occurs after recall service for brakes and electrical fire hazard.
When: After brake recall service; oil light began at 90,000 miles on same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: car no longer has ABS; ABS light illumination; engine burns oil (3 quarts per 1,000 miles); oil light on; check engine light on; vehicle smells of gas and oil
Repairs/costs cited: Not covered under warranty due to computer component classification.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty claim denied on basis of computer component exclusion.
Rear window electric motor fire hazard
Electric motor for left rear window heats up and makes unique sound every 2–4 minutes. Owner disconnected motor due to fire risk during driving.
When: Unknown timing
Symptoms owners cite: motor heating up; unique sound every 2–4 minutes; fire hazard risk
Repairs/costs cited: Motor disconnected by owner to prevent fire.
Rearview camera display failure and GPS malfunction
Rearview camera displays blue screen while in reverse, obstructing driver visibility. GPS shows wrong directions, causing vehicle to enter wrong lane. Multiple unknown warning lights illuminate while driving.
When: Approximately 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: blue screen on rearview camera in reverse; obstructed driver visibility; GPS showing incorrect directions; unknown warning lights illuminating
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired. Contact informed vehicle too old for update.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed of issue; contact told vehicle too old for update.
Passenger airbag sensor failure with no parts available
Passenger airbag light comes on. Passenger airbag plate sensor underneath passenger seat has failed. Hyundai reports no parts available in existence to fix issue and no aftermarket parts sufficient for safety application. Hyundai advises not to place anyone in front seat but cannot confirm whether airbag will deploy improperly or fail to deploy in crash.
When: Day after purchase (July 2024); unresolved for 9 months
Symptoms owners cite: passenger airbag light on; unknown airbag functionality status
Repairs/costs cited: No parts available; no repair timeline provided. Passenger seat declared unsafe for use.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai customer care called every 3 days for 3 months with no updates; stated no supplier contract for part; no aftermarket parts acceptable for safety; advised not to place anyone in front seat but would not clarify whether airbag will deploy randomly or fail to deploy in crash.
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had electrical trouble with your 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 19 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 24,828 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Hyundai/Santa Fe Sport.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.