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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Hyundai Santa Fe Sport2013–2018

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🚙 SUV
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
2013–2018
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
1.5/yr · seg. median 0.0
Limited data — provisional
Safety
Moderate
0 inj.
Open Federal Investigation
Audit Query: service brakes, hydraulic
3% of AQ investigations historically become recalls
3
Recalls
0
Complaints
2017
Best Yr
0
Injuries
Avoid 2018
6
Years Analyzed
3
Total Recalls
0
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2018

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#2 WORST
2017

1 recall · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 3 past investigations into the Santa Fe Sport became recalls.

OPEN · AQAudit Queryopened Nov 2023NHTSA #AQ23002
hyundai and kia abs module fires
Component: service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module · affects 2013–2018
⚠ Historically, 3% of AQ investigations became recalls — an Audit Query into a recall's execution.
Recently concluded investigations
EA21003 · engine · closed Feb 2024→ Became recall
DP22003 · engine · closed Dec 2023Closed, no recall

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 11, 2026.

Hyundai Santa Fe Sport — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
201820——
73
77
74
Avoid
201710——
80
70
77
Caution
201600——
80
63
74
Excellent
201500——
80
56
72
Excellent
201400——
80
50
70
Excellent
201300——
80
45
68
Excellent

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Santa Fe Sport compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2018 (Buyer Score 74).

Best: 2018
2018 · 74

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2017 (Buyer Score 77).

Best: 2017
2017 · 772016 · 742015 · 722014 · 702013 · 68

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Santa Fe Sport to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every Santa Fe Sport model year.

Which Santa Fe Sport years have the most problems?+

The 2018, 2017 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2018 Santa Fe Sport leads with 2 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Santa Fe Sport problems?+

See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar suv vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every Santa Fe Sport year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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