What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2008 Hyundai Santa FE

Typical pattern

4.1% of complaints about the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2008 vehicle — around the middle of the 262 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is fuel / propulsion (214 complaints), typically at 7.8 yr or about 80,100 miles.

Complaints
715
Median age at failure
7.3 yr
Median mileage
75,000 n=604
Crash / fire / tow
7.1% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Fuel / propulsion
214 reports · 80,100 mi
7.8 yr
0%
Electrical system
75 reports · 83,000 mi
8.6 yr
6.7%
Air bags
70 reports · 13,000 mi
3.1 yr
7.1%
Engine
60 reports · 88,000 mi
8.8 yr
5%
Fuel system
58 reports · 72,000 mi
6.3 yr
1.7%
Speed control
52 reports · 52,000 mi
5.3 yr
15.4%
Power train
24 reports · 65,000 mi
7.0 yr
8.3%
Structure
22 reports · 70,000 mi
11.9 yr
27.3%
Other
19 reports · 88,000 mi
9.8 yr
15.8%
Electronic stability control (esc)
16 reports · 120,000 mi
8.9 yr
6.2%
Service brakes
16 reports · 101,356 mi
8.3 yr
25%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

13V113000 2013-04-01
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

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

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.

12V354000 2012-07-25
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

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.

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.

11V472000 2011-09-09
Air bags:frontal

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.

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.

08E055000 2008-09-03
Trailer hitches

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,387 TRAILER HITCH WIRING HARNESSES EITHER INCLUDED WITH A TRAILER HITCH OR SOLD AS A SERVICE PART MANUFACTURED BY THULE TOWING SYSTEMS AND DISTRIBUTED BY HYUNDAI FOR INSTALLATION ON MY 2007-2008 SANTA FE AND VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE ACCESSORY TRAILER HITCH WIRING HARNESS CONVERTER MODULE IS MOUNTED TO THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER REINFORCEMENT. SOME CIRCUIT BOARD COMPONENTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY SEALED TO PREVENT MOISTURE CONTACT. THE MOISTURE MAY RESULT IN CIRCUIT BOARD CORROSION POSSIBLY CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.

A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING AND DAMAGE TO THE CONVERTER MODULE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

08V272000 2008-06-19
Equipment:other:labels

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).

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

08E016000 2008-02-07
Trailer hitches

THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY RECALL 08E-055. HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,387 TRAILER HITCH WIRING HARNESSES EITHER INCLUDED WITH A TRAILER HITCH OR SOLD AS A SERVICE PART MANUFACTURED BY THULE TOWING SYSTEMS AND DISTRIBUTED BY HYUNDAI FOR INSTALLATION ON MY 2007-2008 SANTA FE AND VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE ACCESSORY TRAILER HITCH WIRING HARNESS CONVERTER MODULE IS MOUNTED TO THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER REINFORCEMENT. HIGH CURRENT LEAKAGE OR A SHORT CIRCUIT OF CAPACITOR C1 COULD CAUSE HEAT RELATED DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS CONVERTER MODULE.

EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AREA AND MAY POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 240 mi 7 mo in service
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
Air bags 2,656 mi 8 mo in service
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.
Air bags 20 mi 6 mo in service
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
Other 6,200 mi 7.7 yr in service
SUN VISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE DROPS DOWN INTO VISION OF DRIVER WITHOUT WARNING. OTHER YEARS OF HYUNDAI HAVE A RECALL FOR THE SAME DEFECT AND THIS YEAR CONTINUES THE SAME PROBLEM.

Other Santa FE model years

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