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2018 hyundai Santa Fe Sport engine problems

moderate 155 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100

Complaints
155
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$3,100

What owners are reporting 11 most recent

engine · filed 12/29/2025

The vehicle developed loud engine knocking and abnormal noise consistent with known Hyundai engine defects. The vehicle is unsafe to operate and has been retained at an authorized Hyundai dealership since October 25, 2025. Hyundai vehicles with similar engine failures have been documented to catch fire, including while parked. Despite the known defect pattern, the manufacturer is refusing warrant…

engine · filed 12/29/2023

This is a certified preowned vehicle. I am the second owner. I do my own maintenance. Currently this engine/vehicle has 64553 miles, I noticed it starting to use oil around the high 40k mile mark. There are no oil leaks. I have to add oil multiple times between oil changes and I just read that some of these can lock up and completely stop. I suspect this would be caused by people not checking thei…

engine · filed 12/26/2024

2018 Hyundai Santefe 2.4L engine burned oil at a high rate and due to this caused 4k oil changes obsolete. The car need an oil change every 2k miles and still would have high build up. Hyundai claimed engine failure was due to gaps in the oil changes them being done around 4.5k miles in the start. Many people have had engine failures with these car and they are still selling them with the defectiv…

engine · filed 12/23/2024

Driving on highway, when accelerator failed to maintain, the car started to jerk. After blocking traffic behind me, I was able to pull car over on the side of the busy highway, with smoke coming from hood. This was well after dark, and it was towed to a local and dependable mechanic. He had told me the engine was cracked. I am in the process of finding out if I am eligible for the extended warrant…

engine · filed 12/19/2024

I was on the highway and pressed the gas and the car started shaking. Wouldn’t go up in speed so I pulled off the highway and parked it. Checked the oil and it was almost empty even though I had an oil change about a month ago. Service center says it need a whole new engine at 108k miles. How is this possible? They say there were pieces of the valve in the fourth cylinder which also had lots of o…

engine · filed 12/19/2023

HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION: To the documented tune of 40 quarts consumed April17 - December 15, 2023, encompassing 24,116 driven miles. Hyundai America and this dealer knows all about this issue and is stalling on the remedy because it requires total engine replacement. Presently I am experiencing a P1326 engine knock sensor fault and I'm told by my mechanic a prospective catalytic converter failure …

engine · filed 12/12/2024

The component that is malfunctioning is my engine. I took it into the dealership and they said I had cylinder scoring on my engine from excessive oil consumption. My safety was put as risk as my car threw itself into limp mode in the middle of the high way while going over 70 mph. I had to immediately pull over on the side of the highway and somehow get it back home while not being able to accel…

engine · filed 12/12/2024

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the was a burning oil smell permeating the interior of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the piston rings in cylinders one and three. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign…

engine · filed 12/12/2022

My 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has a blown engine and will cost over $9000 to replace. Unfortunately my car is out of warranty at 120,000 miles. It has become known to me that this particular car, and thousands of others, has known problems with the engines. So much so, that a software update for a sensor was available in 2017, oil consumption issues and civil law suits have been highly publicized. I wa…

engine · filed 12/08/2024

The engine is sucking oil faster than it normally would and could put me at danger. If it sucks up too much oil too soon I could lose control of my car in the winter and be the cause of an accident.

Common questions

How serious is the engine problem on the 2018 hyundai Santa Fe Sport?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 155 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the engine typically fail?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?

No active recalls currently cover engine 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.

Other problem areas on this vehicle

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. 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.
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