NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 153 complaints against the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has generated 1004 NHTSA complaints and has 2 active recalls. If your 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Hyundai pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 388 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “Catastrophic Engine Failure – Cam phasers blew apart and severely cracked the valve covers. This occurred with no prior warning lights. Minutes before failure, there was engine hesitation and noise and then severely reduced power, causing a safety issue while driving. Vehicle was towed to local Hyundai dealer who identified the cam phaser failure ausing external engine damage of the valve covers and complete loss of oil. This occurred only 3,000 miles after an oil change.” (NHTSA Complaint #11724023)
Brake defects affecting safety may qualify for California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, which applies to defects likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has generated 116 NHTSA complaints related to braking, including ABS failures, grinding, reduced stopping power, and warning lights. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.” (NHTSA Complaint #11491063)
The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has generated 72 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “I am the original owner almost at the end of my powertain warranty. At 93 – 94,000 I started to notice whe accelerating, like a distinct shift into different gears at anywhere between 5-7miles and in incrediments up to 40-45 mph. I have brought to the dealer and this week, will be the four time, which they keep telling me if they can not get a code or necessarily re enact there is nothing they can do. I currently have 97,000 and am bringing it back in this week. PLease help.” (NHTSA Complaint #11610838)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 32 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “Q: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A: Two fuel injectors on bank 2 are failing intermittently causing the engine light to flash and stay on (P0300 errors) and the car loses power. Q: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A: Driving to Newark airport on [XXX] the car suddenly lost power and was quickly coming to a halt. LUCKILY I was was in the middle lane and was able to get to the shoulder without incident. This also happened to my daughter when she was in WA state, driving to work on the highway (the car was serviced but the fuel injectors were not replaced – see attached receipt). Q: Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? A: Yes. An independent service center performed a injector value load test which determines the amount of blocked pressure the injector is performing under load. The values and the math show that more than 1 injector on bank 2 are failing. Q: Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? A: I had the vehicle in the Hyundai dealer but they did not do the injector load test and only wanted to replace all the coil packs and plugs. I had two other independent service facilities confirm the issue is with fault fuel injectors. Hyundai has the parts on hold and is not releasing any due to this issue. I do NOT understand how this is not a recall circumstance. I am fortunate that in both instances an accident did not occur. Q: Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? A: Yes, the engine light comes on – at first blinking, then steady. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)” (NHTSA Complaint #11669452)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 32 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “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”. This issue is a safety risk as it could have resulted in catastrophic engine fire, as well as safety issues on the Thruway with other cars and lots of traffic. Engines are backordered. Dealer did a full inspection and submitted paperwork on June 28, 2024 to Hyundai for a decision on whether this is covered under warranty. I was told we would have an answer within a few hours. Have been assigned a “liason” with Hyundai and have been in regular contact. However, Hyundai has asked for an additonal time in order to make a decision. No word as of July 11, 2024.” (NHTSA Complaint #11601191)
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe by the NHTSA or Hyundai. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A steering wheel separation while driving can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will check the production lot number of the steering wheel assembly, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 26, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 173.
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s nu
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Hyundai to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Hyundai must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe qualifies as a lemon under California law, Hyundai may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Hyundai a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Hyundai dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Hyundai pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Hyundai a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Hyundai is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
Get a free case evaluation. Hyundai pays our fees if you win — you pay nothing upfront.
Check My Refund Amount →