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Buying a used 2018 Hyundai Santa FE? Check these 2 recalls first
Only two recalls, but both are serious: a steering wheel that may break off and a brake module that can spark an engine fire, which Hyundai told owners to park outside for until repaired. NHTSA has 108 unverified owner complaints on file, half of them engine-related (53), plus 19 on service brakes and 12 hydraulic, with 6 crashes, 4 fires and 6 injuries reported. Engine and brake history are the threads to pull on this year.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Confirm the steering wheel recall repair was performed on this specific VIN.
- Confirm the brake module fire recall was completed — it carried a park-outside advisory.
- Ask for engine and brake service history, including any warranty or dealer work.
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Hyundai dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2018 Hyundai Santa FE
| Recall | Area | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Santa Fe steering wheel may break off | Steering | critical |
| Hyundai Santa Fe brake module can spark engine fire · park outside | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | critical |
What owners have reported to NHTSA
108 complaints filed for this model year, including 6 mentioning a crash, 4 a fire and 6 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 53 | None found |
| Brakes | 19 | Yes |
| Power Train | 10 | None found |
| Electrical System | 9 | None found |
| Steering | 8 | Yes |
| AIR Bags | 6 | None found |