2008 Hyundai SANTA FE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
541 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
74,209 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 461 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 215 of 541 complaints (39.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 71 | 13.1% |
| Braking behavior | 67 | 12.4% |
| Engine operation | 39 | 7.2% |
| Steering behavior | 29 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 215 |
| Electrical System | 70 |
| Engine | 60 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 57 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 50 |
| Air Bags | 49 |
| Power Train | 22 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 19 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 215; Electrical System: 70; Engine: 60; Fuel System, Gasoline: 57; Vehicle Speed Control: 50; Air Bags: 49; Power Train: 22; Air Bags:Frontal: 19
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 72 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 44 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 116 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 112 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 92 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 72; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 116; 75,000 to 99,999: 112; 100,000 to 149,999: 92; 150,000 and above: 25
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (116). 80 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2009 | 31 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2011 | 24 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 46 |
| 2014 | 100 |
| 2015 | 74 |
| 2016 | 53 |
| 2017 | 43 |
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2019 | 27 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2008: 22; 2009: 31; 2010: 18; 2011: 24; 2012: 17; 2013: 46; 2014: 100; 2015: 74; 2016: 53; 2017: 43; 2018: 30; 2019: 27; 2020: 17; 2021: 7; 2022: 7; 2023: 7; 2024: 8; 2025: 8; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 71 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 67 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 39 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10476877 · 2012-09-24 (September 24, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE FROM ONE READING TO ANOTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IN THE FUEL TANK HAD FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 11/14/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDS GAS ON A DAILY BASIS. THE MILEAGE RANGE FAILS TO SHOW; WHEREAS IT JUST BLINKS. THE VEHICLE BURNS FUEL. UPDATED 11/19/2012 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10476877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510618 · 2013-05-04 (May 4, 2013)
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND GOING OFF. WHAT I NOTICED WAS THAT IT WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH MY GAS GAUGE INDICATING THAT I HAD NO FUEL (LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GAUGE WAS ON E) EVEN AFTER I HAD FILLED THE TANK. THE SITUATION SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF UNTIL THIS WEEK- NOT ONLY DID THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND STAY ON, BUT THE GAUGE CONTINUED TO INDICATE THAT I HAD NO FUEL. EVEN MORE WORRISOME WAS THE FACT THAT WHEN I WENT TO PUT FUEL IN THE TANK, THE GAS PUMP CUT OFF (INDICATING THAT THE TANK WAS FULL) AFTER 3 GALLONS OF GAS. I K…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232020 · 2008-06-23 (June 23, 2008)
I HAVE A 4 MONTH OLD 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO GET READY TO BRAKE FOR MY EXIT. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING AND PULLING THE CAR FORWARD. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK. I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BREAKS TO SEE IF MAYBE THE CRUISE CONTROL KICKED IN, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T GO NEAR THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, MUCH TO MY HORROR, I HAD NO BRAKES!!!! I PUNCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR A BUNCH OF TIMES AND NOTHING!!!!!! I HAD TO STEP ON THE EM…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,065 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235253 · 2008-07-22 (July 22, 2008)
I HAVE A NEW 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 1,500 MILES. AFTER DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AND DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER STOPPING FOR THE EXIT RAMP, I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AGAIN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO ACTION WHATSOEVER. I TRIED AGAIN AND IT STOPPED. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS STILL FULL. I CHECKED FOR ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF LIQUID LEAKS AROUND THE WHEELS, BUT OBSERVED NONE. TWO HOURS LATER THE SAME OCCURRENCE AND THE NEXT DAY THE SAME OCCURRENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS AS I KEPT DRIVING SLOWLY A…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10374446 · 2011-01-03 (January 3, 2011)
ON 12/26/2010,MY HUSBAND AND 2 CHILDREN WERE RETURNING FROM NJ TO CT VIA THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY, NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AND THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE. FOUR TIMES DURING THAT TRIP, OUR HYUNDAI SANTA FE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. EACH TIME THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED THERE WAS NO PRECIPITATING EVENT, JUST A SUDDEN AND RANDOM LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED BY THE ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH. HE HAD TO COAST THRU TRAFFIC, FIND A SAFE PLACE TO STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN TO REGAIN POWER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER IN MERIDE…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,375 miles reported. Look up ODI 10374446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10401350 · 2011-05-17 (May 17, 2011)
I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF A REGULARLY MAINTAINED 2008 HYUNDAI SANTE FE (45,000 MILES). ON A JAN 2011 TRIP FROM TX TO MI THE CAR LOST POWER AT NIGHT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING, THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP AND EVENTUALLY STALLED COMPLETELY. MANEUVERING TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT POWER WAS VERY RISKY AND SCARY. ONCE STOPPED THE CAR EASILY RESTARTED ONLY TO LOSE POWER AGAIN 10 MILES DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE OIL LIGHT STAYED ON BETWEEN BOTH EPIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10401350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268413 · 2009-05-11 (May 11, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY PERFORMED A FOUR WHEEL BALANCING ON THE VEHICLE THREE SEPARATE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE, BUT THERE WERE NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274999 · 2009-06-25 (June 25, 2009)
SAFETY DEFECT WITH HORN ACTIVATION IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL HORN PAD IS NEED TO ACTIVATE THE HORN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN A POTENTIAL COLLISION /CLOSE CALL SITUATION OCCURRED. THE CENTRAL AREA OF THE STEERING WHEEL CONTAINS THE DRIVER AIR BAG INTEGRATED WITH THE HORN ACTIVATION SUBSYSTEM. THE MANUAL PRESSURE NEEDED TO ACTIVATE THE HORN IS WHAT I BELIEVE IS EXCESSIVE AND APPEARS TO BE GREATER AS YOU MOVE AWAY FROM THE CENTER OF THE HORN-PAD TO THE EDGE OF THE PAD. I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454525 · 2012-04-09 (April 9, 2012)
AT 59,000 MILES LEFT SIDE RUNNING LIGHTS INOP. SENT TO DEALER THEY SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS STATED AT 50,000 MILES. WORKED GOOD FOR 3 WEEKS TOOK ON A TRIP PUT 10,000 MILES ON IT. NOW AT 70,000.. ELECTRICAL ISSUES STARTED BACK UP.NO TAILLIGHTS LEFT BACK,TOUCH BRAKE DASHBOARD LEFT TURN GLOWS 1/2 BRIGHTNESS.PUT LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ON WORKS. TOUCH BRAKE LEFT SIDE BLINK ACTS LIKE BURNED OUT LIGHT. FILL WITH FUEL READS CORRECT MOST OF THE TIME. WENT TO STOP STARTED CAR BACK UP GAUGE READ EMPTY WITH LIGHT ON, STOPPED FOR GAS 3…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10491973 · 2013-01-09 (January 9, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 12V354000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: SENSOR/ CONTROL MODULE) AND 11V472000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT TENSION SENSOR WIRING HARNESS CLIP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,784 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369819 · 2010-12-09 (December 9, 2010)
TL*THE 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 THE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD FIND NO SIMILAR FAILURES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIME…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10514334 · 2013-05-30 (May 30, 2013)
SEE ATTACHED EMAIL UPDATED 06/04/2013*LJ THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OSC) DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY RECOGNIZE SMALL-STATURED ADULTS, CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEACTIVATE WHEN SUCH PERSON OCCUPY THE FRONT SEAT. ALSO, THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN, AN ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE, AND A WHINING SOUND UPON ACCELERATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514334 at NHTSA ↗