2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 18, 2026 · Brakes · 170,000 miles · GA · fire

The contact owned a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. No warning lights illuminated. The contact pulls over to the right side of the road, exits the vehicle, and notices flames coming from the engine, and smoke starts coming inside the vehicle. The contact mentioned that a bystander gave him a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire, the flames stopped, then a couple of seconds later, the failure persisted. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to J&J Towing. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating to the failure of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V810000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.

Filed Oct 12, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · AZ · fire

My husband was driving our vehicle on the highway when the engine began to smoke and the caught fire. Unfortunately it was not able to be saved. We filed a claim with our carrier and are pending an inspection. We looked up our vin and confirmed a fire recall from 2022.

Filed Oct 6, 2025 · Driver assistance, Engine · TX

I have taken my car to the dealership now 3 times for the same recall issue. This time, they are telling me Hyundai will not repair my car on their end because of "sludge buildup" to which i was not aware. I submitted all records of maintenance and they are refusing to fix my vehicle. I now have an inoperable, because not safe, vehicle that is legally required to be fixed by Hyundai for it's recall, but is not being fixed. Recall 237 If I were to try to drive the vehicle, it could put lives at risk. It will not accelerate quickly, could go up in flames, and does not go the speed limit on highways which are required for me to get home and to work. The recall was confirmed by the dealer as the check engine light flashed and caused a certain code to pop up for maintenance. The solution would be for Hyundai to fix the car, but they are refusing and saying the whole engine needs to be replaced now even though there's nothing wrong with the engine.

Filed Sep 22, 2025 · Engine · 113,700 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. No warning light was illuminated. Upon inspection, the contact noticed suds on the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, who discovered a low engine oil level and performed an oil change. The contact stated that the failure recurred with black smoke coming from the exhaust pipes after starting the vehicle. The dealer and two other dealers, Cooper Hyundai (110 S Quintard Ave, Anniston, AL 36201) and Serra Hyundai (1503 Gadsden Hwy, Trussville, AL 35235) were made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,700.

Filed May 12, 2025 · Engine · 99,501 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 50 MPH, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's husband was able to pull over to the side of the road and ended up inside a ditch before the vehicle came to a stop. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, who confirmed that the engine had failed; and there was gasoline intrusion into the engine, causing engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a manager would contact her. The vehicle remained at the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 99,501.

Filed Dec 23, 2024 · Engine · AL

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 warranty, for I meet all requirements

Filed Sep 6, 2024 · GA · fire

Stopped at a red light and car caught on fire under the hood

Filed Aug 12, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · TN

I got my oil changed 98,161 March 1 2024 at mechanic shop Mechanic shop checked oil March 29 2024 at 98,867 a total of 706 miles driven since last oil change. They added 2.5 quarts of oil. So i did my own research online found out the Hyundai 2018 Santa Fe Sport Turbo 2.5 Theta engines has excessive oil consumption problems that will cause Engine to seize/lock up, catch on fire, and other mechanical problems. I have an extended warranty TXXI and TXXC. Oil consumption leaks into the pistons and rod bearings and will cause a knocking in the engine. The oil is already in spark plugs and pcv valve which i replaced. But it will continue to keep happen over and over. I don't want my engine to catch on fire with me in it or at all that's why i am proactive in getting this solved now its already a problem. I contacted Wilson Hyundai dealership they did an 2 month oil consumption test Oil change i had to drive it for 1000 miles It failed. Then they did combuster chamber cleaning i had to drive it for another 1000 miles it failed again. So they submitted claim to corporate that i needed an engine. Corporate declined saying i was over my miles they had the wrong mileage it was a way just to deny me but dealership had correct miles so they could not follow through with that lie. So Corporate made Dealership send another claim in this time corporate denied it saying i was over my warranty. No i was not i started this at 98, 867 miles When 2.5quarts had to be added. I also had to wait a week to get into Wilson dealership because they were backed up in appointments i was at 100,212 miles and so where other Hyundia dealerships others were 1-2 months out in appointments. I had to be in a rental car for 2 months had to pay for it and still pay car note paid for oil testing which i was told i would be reimbursed for repairs and car rentals but they did not honor it nor did they pay goodwill pay for all of my inconvenience 2 month long testing and it failed and they still denied/ lied

Filed Aug 8, 2024 · Engine · 100,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact observed smoke coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and after an oil consumption test, it was determined that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact was informed that the engine was consuming 2-quarts of oil every 700 miles and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Mar 26, 2024 · Engine · VA

Hydndai will not fix my engine until it catches on fire and or seize- There was a lawsuit and as per the settlement - the warranty is extended for the engine but the claim form and service agent said in order for the engine to be approved for replacement I would have to wait for it to seize or catch on fire. As a mother who drives with her children I find this unsafe for them or to others as this can cause an accident and or it can be fatal. They still have these recalled vehicles in there lots and our scamming people!!

Filed Feb 27, 2024 · Engine · NC

During a dealer-suggested "oil consumption test" and driving down the interstate with cruise control on, SUV suddenly started experiencing reduced power and emitting a burning smell with no apparent warning lamps or messages. Exited the highway immediately and came to a stop on the side of the road and engine quit before even being able to put it in Park. Engine is 2.4L in-line GDI Theta II. Hoping to tow it to the dealer by week's end to have them pay for a replacement engine and get reimbursement.

Filed Sep 20, 2023 · Brakes · 77,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control warning light illuminated, indicating that traction control had been activated. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle before the vehicle lost motive power. After a visual inspection, the contact observed smoke coming from underneath the vehicle. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure but replaced the ABS fuse. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the ABS module. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who confirmed a failure with the ABS module. The contact was informed that the module was leaking brake fluid. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the brake sensor. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred; the traction control warning light illuminated, indicating that the traction control had activated, and the ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000. The contact stated the vehicle was taken back to the dealer the ABS module was replaced 3 times since January 2023, it was defective. Hyundai USA was contacted but each time there was a problem and they refused to do anything.