2008 Hyundai Santa FE problems
NHTSA has received 718 complaints about the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE, and 38% of them involve fuel system. Next are electrical system (10%) and air bags (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 718 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 38% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 32 and 11
- Injuries and deaths
- 23 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 75,000 miles 605 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 69 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 39 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 83 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 143 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 108 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 64 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 49 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 21 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 20 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 5 |
| 200k+ miles | 4 |
What the data shows
Of the 605 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 75,000 miles. For fuel system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 80,000 miles (244 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 32 complaints mention a crash; 11 complaints mention a fire; 23 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2008 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 26 model years of the Hyundai Santa FE with enough data (230 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai santa fe. While driving 45 MPH, the passenger side seat became excessively hot. The passenger observed that the seat was on fire. A fire report was not filed. The contact extinguished the fire. The passenger sustained burn injuries to her hands and buttocks but did not receive medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,002.
The last week for nov. 2008 I purchased a new santa fe for my wife. On 12/26/2008 she was involved in a head on wreck. My 25 yr. Old daughter who is very petty about 110 lbs. Was riding in the passenger seat and the air bags did not deploy. Due to the air bags not deploying she was injured very seriously. I had no idea that there were prior complaints about the air bags it appears that there has been quite a few complaints I hope something is done before someone is killed. The manufacture needs to fix this problem.
My 2008 hyundai santa fe has a defect in the passenger side air bag sensor. When my wife sits in the passenger seat of the car the "pass airbag off" light comes on which indicates that in the event of a collision her airbag will not deploy. She weighs 145 pounds, but if I get in the passenger seat then the light goes out, I weigh 210 pounds. There is obviously a problem with the weight sensor. This is a serious safety issue, I have heard from many other owners of similar vehicles complain of the same problem.
While driving on highway, gas pedal stop responding. I was able to go to the curb and put car into parking, then I had problem to shut engine off, only second or third attempt was successful. After couple of minutes I start the ignition and engine warning light come on . Car is drivable, but it hesitates when I push the pedal.