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2008 Hyundai Santa FE Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 541 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE, most often about the fuel system (51% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles). It is 4th of 26 Santa FE model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2008 Hyundai Santa FE problems
Fuel system
273 complaints · 51%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
The gas gauge began fluctuating between half full and empty. The check engine light came on. I took it to my nearest o'reilly's where they tested it and said it was a fuel sensor problem. After a couple weeks it began to seemingly work again, but I began having serious problems with it a few weeks after that. My gauge…
My 2008 Hyundai Santa FE limited fuel level indicator is fluctuating causing the check engine light to come on. Fuel level sensor would indicated and empty tank after the tank was filled and then randomly would correct itself. This has happened several times over the last two weeks.
Electrical
74 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, alternator/generator/regulator, instrument cluster/panel.
My vehicle has had a fuel gauge that would move up and down while car is still. Today the check engine light came on with a code p0464-fuel level sensor. The fuel in vehicle is at half and the gauge would go all the way to empty (with empty light coming on) then it would go back to half and move every now and then.…
The dash lights started flashing, the wipers stopped working in the middle of a down pour, the lights went dim. The traction system started detuning the engine. All dash lights on. We find that it is a leaky value cover gasket. Drips on the alternator and causes it to go bad. The service manager said "they are all…
Air bags
70 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 13,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag off warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that they had to recalibrate the air bag. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact that the vehicle was…
2008 Hyundai Santa FE - passenger side front airbag light indicates that the airbag is not working when a passenger, who weighs around 170 lbs is in the seat. I have brought this car to two different dealerships for repair, on four separate occasions. The first time, they couldn't recreate the issue, I left the…
Engine
70 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 79,000 miles.
Once my car has gone 200 miles on a tank the check engine light comes on and the fuel gauge is not accurate. The fuel gauge will show completely empty and then change to more than 1/4 tank and back. Once the tank is refilled the check engine light goes off and then comes back on and acts the same after again going 200…
(2008 Hyundai Santa FE) the vehicle gas gauge is sticking on empty after filling it up and the check engine light comes on. After 1/4 tank of gas has been consumed the gas gauge will read normal. The check engine light will also go off. There has not been a loss in power to the engine or any other indicators that…
Speed control
52 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
Was second vehicle at stop light with foot on brake. Vehicle suddenly lunged forward overriding brake, and hit back of vehicle in front causing damage and possible injury to other driver. Had pedestrians been in front, could easily have run over them. Months prior, twice on same day engine power died while driving.…
Tl contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa FE. While driving approximately 15-20 MPH, the vehicle began to accelerate. The contact engaged the brakes but the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact put both feet on the accelerator pedal but it continued. The contact shifted into neutral, reverse and park which stopped…
Brakes
29 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles.
The fuel gauge on my 2008 Hyundai Santa FE at around 67k miles started reading empty and then it started reading normal and then empty. Finally it has only read empty for the past couple thousand miles. I was hoping that it would fix itself which it never did. Wishful thinking. I ended up bringing my Santa FE into the…
I was backing out of a driveway when the accelerator began racing. I was able to stop the vehicle and put it in drive while my foot was on the brake, when the car raced forward, accelerating out of control. I had my feet on the brakes but the brakes did not work and the car continued accelerating forward crashing into…
Transmission
24 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Hyundai's slave cylinder is a faulty part known about online and in mechanic shops. It has failed twice in 65,000 miles and caused additional damage. It recently failed while driving as the vehicle slowed to turn and shifted to accelerate again. The clutch was damaged by this part and we had a $2,000 bill. There was…
I was backing out of a driveway when the accelerator began racing. I was able to stop the vehicle and put it in drive while my foot was on the brake, when the car raced forward, accelerating out of control. I had my feet on the brakes but the brakes did not work and the car continued accelerating forward crashing into…
Body and structure
20 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that while reversing out of his driveway at 1 MPH, the front end on the passengerâs side of the vehicle collapsed almost causing the wheel to detach. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. There was no injury sustained. The contact had…
Driving down a road at night and the sunroof suddenly flew off the top of car. I have been driving a rental since it happens and have contacted Hyundai corp and finally received a call from them on feb tues 27th but have not resolved what they are going to do about this with me or carstar collision center where my car…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Hyundai Santa FE recalls
Lights: switch
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'on' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 22, 2013. Owners may contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Full defect summary
Hyundai motor company (hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 accent, model year 2007-2011 azera, sonata and sante fe,2006-2011 tucson, 2009-2011 elantra touring, 2007-2010 elantra, 2008-2011 veracruz, 2009-2011 genesis, 2010-2011 genesis coupe, 2007-2008 entourage, and 2006-2008 tiburon vehicles. Originally, in april 2013, hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 accent and tucson, model year 2007-2010 elantra, model year 2007-2011 santa fe, model year 2008-2009 veracruz, model year 2010-2011 genesis coupe, and model year 2011 sonata vehicles. In september 2013, hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk: Improper classification or detection may cause the front passenger airbag not to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the classification software free of charge. The safety recall began on september 7, 2012. Owners may contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Full defect summary
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 santa fe vehicles manufactured from april 19, 2006, through july 7, 2008. The occupant classification system (ocs) may need recalibration to accurately detect small statured adults.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: If the clock spring develops high resistance, in the event of a crash, the drivers air bag will not deploy and will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.
Fix: Hyundai dealers will replace the vehicle's driver's air bag clock spring contact assembly free of charge. The safety recall began in november 2011. Owners may contact hyundai customer connect center at 1-800-633-5151.
Full defect summary
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 hyundai veracruz vehicles manufactured from december 26, 2006, through march 21, 2008, and model year 2007-2008 hyundai santa fe vehicles manufactured from april 19, 2006 through march 20, 2008. The clock spring contact assembly for the driver's air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) may become damaged through usage over time. The driver's air bag electrical circuit will experience a high resistance condition, potentially causing the driver's air bag to not deploy.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Overloading your vehicle may adversely affect handling and braking and may cause tire damage, resulting in tire failure and a crash without warning.
Fix: Hyundai will mail corrected certification labels along with the instructions to the affected owners. The customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The recall began on august 5, 2008. Owners may contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Full defect summary
Hyundai is recalling 88,943 my 2007-2008 hyundai santa fe vehicles equipped with p235/60r18 tires. These vehicles fail to comply with the labeling requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110 "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles." the black certification label affixed to the driver's side center pillar, incorrectly lists the gross axle weight ratings (gawr).
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated october 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (etc) system on certain kia vehicles resulting in the opening of dp21-003. Accordingly, model year (my) 2005-2016 kia optima/k5, my 2006-2015 kia sorento, my 2007-2016 hyundai elantra, my 2007-2016 hyundai santa fe, my 2006-2015 hyundai sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a vehicle owner questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (odi) number 11439675.on november 12, 2021, odi opened defec
Questions about the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (273 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); electrical (74 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); air bags (70 complaints, typically around 13,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 1, 2013 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Hyundai Santa FE?
- It is 4th of 26 Santa FE model years by number of complaints, with 541 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.