2008 Hyundai SANTA FE: complaints, problems and recalls

2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE - PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION WITH AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON @ 250 MILES - LESS THAN 24 HRS AFTER PURCHASE. DEALER CLEARED CODE - PROBLEM RECURRED LATER SAME EVENING - NOW PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SEEMS AS IF THE 2007 MODEL ISSUE HAS CARRIED OVER TO THE 208 MODEL. NOT HAPPY - BAD START FOR WHAT IS MARKETED AS A SAFE CAR - WHAT GOOD IS 8 AIRBAGS IF THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225757 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED HAS A VIBRATION BETWEEN 40 - 60 MPH AND HYUNDAI HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES. THEY HAVE ELIMINATED THE TIRES AS BEING INVOLVED WITH THE PROBLEM. TIRES AND WHEELS HAVE BEEN REBALANCED A NUMBER OF TIMES INCLUDING PUTTING ON A NEW SET OF TIRES WITH THE SAME VIBRATION. MOST IMPORTANT THE SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN OBSERVED BY THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS MYSELF ON THREE OTHER BRAND NEW 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE'S. MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 1,400 MILES. I AM IN …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225998 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2008 -AWD -HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN APRIL 2008... THE PROBLEM IS WITH MY "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) "... SINCE THE VERY FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP THE "TPMS" MALFUNCTION LIGHT GOES ON.. INFACT THE FIRST DAY THE DEALERSHIP RE-SET THE '"TPMS" TWICE... I NOW HAVE ABOUT 500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE "TPMS" WILL MALFUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY... IT WILL STAY-ON FOR TWO TO THREE DAYS THEN GO OFF FOR A DAY OR TWO... *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228325 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATES WHEN THE CONTACT'S WIFE IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HIS WIFE WEIGHS 103 LBS. WHEN AN OCCUPANT WEIGHTING 110 LBS OR MORE IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAGS WORK FINE. THE CONTACT HAS ATTEMPTED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER OWNER, BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,980 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,656.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,656 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230371 at NHTSA ↗

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG "OFF" INDICATOR LIGHTS WHEN A 115 POUND, 5'8" ADULT SITS IN THE SEAT (INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT). LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI NATIONAL 1-800 COMPLAINT LINE INDICATE THAT THE INDICATOR LIGHT IS PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATIONS. I BELIEVE SPECIFICATIONS (SUPPOSEDLY A 130 POUND MINIMUM FOR FULL FUNCTIONING OF PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM) ARE INAPPROPRIATE AND RESULT IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230462 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH-PITCHED NOISE COMING FROM THE RADIO. SHE CALLED THE DEALER ON MARCH 4, 2008 AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. ONCE AT THE DEALER, THEY INSPECTED THE RADIO AND INFORMED HER THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER THE PART FOR THE REPAIR. ON MARCH 21, 2008, THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS. THE DEALER SENT HER A CERTIFIED LETTER, NOTIFYING HER TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. ON APRIL 18, 2008, THE CONTACT PICKED UP HER V…

Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232140 at NHTSA ↗

RE: FAILURE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG TO BE ACTIVATED. HYUNDAI 2008 SANTA FE WITH 150 MILES I AM A 145LB 5'8" MALE. 75% OF THE TIME WHEN I AM SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT, THE FRONT AIRBAG FAILS TO "TURN ON". EVEN THOUGH I'M SITTING UPRIGHT WITH MY FEET PLACED ON THE GROUND, EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE SENSORS LOCATED IN THE SEAT CUSHION FAIL TO RECOGNIZE ME AS AN ADULT. I HAVE VISITED THE HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEIR EQUIPMENT SAYS THE SENSORS ARE WORKING. I HAVE NUMEROUS WITNESSES AT THE DEA…

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232249 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-06-19 (June 19, 2008)

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).

Consequence: OVERLOADING YOUR VEHICLE MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT HANDLING AND BRAKING AND MAY CAUSE TIRE DAMAGE, RESULTING IN TIRE FAILURE AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2011-09-09 (September 9, 2011)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2012-07-25 (July 25, 2012)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)

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 not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.