Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Recalls

The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport has 21 recalls covering the full 2013–2018 production run, with the most serious being an anti-lock brake module defect on 2017–2018 models where an internal short circuit can start an engine compartment fire while the vehicle is parked or being driven.

The 2018 model year carries additional safety concerns beyond the ABS fire risk. The front coil springs can fracture under load, puncturing a tire and causing loss of control. The side curtain airbags have a diffuser component that can detach during deployment, preventing the curtain from inflating properly in a crash. These three issues make 2018 the most recall-dense year in the production run.

The 2017 model year has a driver's seat belt anchor bolt that may not have been tightened to specification during assembly, allowing the belt to pull free from its anchor point in a collision. The 2016 model year has a separate seat belt concern where the wiring to the buckle sensor can be damaged by the seat height adjuster, affecting the buckle monitoring system.

Going back to the 2013–2015 model years, the ABS module fire risk also applies here: brake fluid can seep into the module, cause a short circuit, and start an engine compartment fire. On 2013–2014 models, engine bearing wear from a machining issue can cause the engine to seize while driving. A follow-on recall for 2013–2014 vehicles covers a high-pressure fuel pipe that may have been damaged or misaligned during prior engine replacement work, creating a fuel leak and fire risk near ignition sources.

The 2013–2017 model years share a hood latch cable that can corrode and bind, leaving the secondary latch disengaged. If the primary latch is then accidentally released, the hood can fly open while driving. The 2013 model year alone has additional issues: rear parking assist sensors that can short circuit and pose a fire risk, and engine oil passages that can be restricted by metallic debris, leading to premature bearing wear.