NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
A PROBLEM IS REGARDING FUEL GAUGE FAILURE /CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ,GOES OFF ,FUEL GAUGE REGISTER ON EMPTY WITH LIGHT INDICATOR ANYTIME TANK IS LESS THAN FULL.
FUEL LEVEL GAUGE BECOMES ERRATIC AND DOES NOT INDICATE CORRECT FUEL LEVEL IN GAS TANK. RECENTLY "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON AND DIAGNOSIS BY MECHANIC WAS "FUEL LEVEL SENSOR A, CIRCUIT INTERMITTENT". THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND SHOULD NOT OCCUR ON A VEHICLE AT THIS STAGE. I HAVE NOW BECOME AWARE THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON DEFECT IN THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE LINE OF VEHICLES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED AND, DUE TO THE CONTACT ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE ROAD DIVIDER. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED SHOULDER AND BACK INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL BEARINGS ON THE FRONT AXLE WERE WORN OUT. THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALSO. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESC AND ABS SENSORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
MY 2008 SANTA FE WITH 109,000 MILES SUDDENLY SHUT OFF ON ME WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THE STOP SIGN WAS ON A SLIGHT TURN AND I NEVER REALIZED IT UNTIL I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND SAW ALL THE LIGHTS LIT ON THE DASH. I PUT CAR IN PARK AND IT RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUES. LATER THAT DAY I WENT TO START THE CAR AND ENGINE MADE A LOUD CLUNK SOUND AND CAR SHOOK FOR A SECOND. I DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE IT THAT DAY. IT HAS BEEN 3 DAYS SINCE THE FIRST SHUT DOWN AND SO FAR THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING LIKE NORMAL. CALLED HYUNDAI AND MADE NOTE OF MY COMPLAINT BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE OR SO MAYBE THEY ARE NOT AT LIBERTY TO SAY IF THEY HAVE. THEY NEVER GAVE ME AN ANSWER EXCEPT TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. I SEE RECALL WAS PUT OUT FOR THE 2010-2012 MODEL YEARS BUT NOT FOR OLDER MODELS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE ROUTINELY INSPECTED FOR EMISSIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE DETAILS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,129.
ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATES. CAR LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING, AND STALLS.
MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE FUEL GAUGE OVER A MONTH AGO. EVERY TIME I FILL UP THE TANK, THE GAUGE WILL GO TO "E" AND THE "LOW FUEL" LIGHT COMES ON, DESPITE A FULL TANK. AT TIMES THE METER WOULD STARTING MOVING UP TOWARDS "FULL" BUT THEN BOUNCE AROUND. I UNDERSTAND IT'S CLOSE TO $!000 TO GET THIS FIXED - BUT I HAVE READ ABOUT SO MANY OTHER HYUNDAI SANTA FE USES WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE IN PLACE. CURRENTLY I'M JUST DRIVING LOCALLY AND I JUST FILL UP EVERY TIME I TAKE THE CAR OUT, BUT ON THE HIGHWAY FOR LONG TRIPS THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. VERY SURPRISED THERE IS NOT A RECALL WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS.
FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS READS AS EMPTY, REGARDLESS OF MOVEMENT OR AMOUNT OF GAS IN TANK, LEAVING DRIVER TO RUN OUT OF GAS IN UNDESIRABLE PLACES. REPAIR IS APPROX 600-800 DOLLARS. MANY COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE RECALLED. HAS TO DO WITH THE FUEL SENDING SENSOR OR SOMETHING I WAS TOLD.
TOOK MY CAR TO A TWO MECHANICS WHO BOTH SAID THERE IS A GAS LEAK IN THE EVAPORATOR OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. I READ ONLINE THAT THIS ISSUE IS COMMON WITH SANTA FES AND I BELIEVE THE COMPANY SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND GET THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE FIXED.
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET (APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH), MY CAR SUDDENLY DISPLAYED THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AS WELL AS THE "ECS OFF" INDICATOR AND AT THAT SAME TIME, I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND MY CAR SLOWED TO A STOP. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED WITH THE SAME RESULTS. WHEN I RESTARTED, THE "ECS" INDICATOR WAS NO LONGER LIT, BUT THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT REMAINED ON UNTIL THE DECELERATION OCCURRED AGAIN AND THEN BOTH LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. WHEN I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR WHAT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES SO I THOUGHT IT WAS BEST TO FILE A COMPLAINT.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. ON 7/27/2016 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL SENDERS. ON 9/9/2016 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS FULL, THERE WERE VERY STRONG FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE MAINTENANCE REP STATED THAT THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS SEALED PROPERLY. HE ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE FUEL TANK PURGE VALVE FOR WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT THE GAS WILL EXPAND. IN EIGHT YEARS THIS HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE. NOW IT IS NOVEMBER AND THERE ARE STILL GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I AM NOW TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK FOR A THIRD TIME. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG THAT NOBODY CAN SIT IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT, THERE ARE STRONG GAS FUMES PRESENT.
TAKATA RECALL MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS PAINT THAT CHIPPED AWAY ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE, RIGHT ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD. THE PAINT STILL CONTINUES TO REMOVE ITSELF FROM THE BODY IN CHUNKS. THE ISSUE BEGAN ABOUT A YEAR AGO. AND I DO NOT EXPECT PAINT TO REMOVE ITSELF WITH ANY RUST/ ROCK CHIPS IN THE AREA OF PAINT MISSING. THE SUV HAS 136,800 MILES ON IT, BUT PAINT SHOULD NOT BE COMING OFF IN CHUNKS. I LOOKED ONLINE AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THEIR HYUNDAI. IT'S NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH THE SANTA FE. IT'S ALSO SONATA'S, ELANTRA'S AND OTHER HYUNDAI MODELS. THE MISSING PEARL WHITE PAINT NOW SHOWS BARE METAL AND IS NOW SHOWING SIGNS OF SURFACE RUST.
WHILE AT A STOP IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. ALTHOUGH MY FOOT WAS PLANTED HARD ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE CONTINUED RACING, AND IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS GOING TO PUSH HIS CAR DOWN THE STREET! I SHIFTED INTO PARK AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. LUCKILY THERE WAS ONLY $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR, AND NO ONE WAS HURT. I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO MALFUNCTION, AND IT HAD TO BE DRIVER ERROR. THREE MONTHS LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN TO A LESSER DEGREE, IN AN OPEN AREA. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN, AND IT WAS FINE UNTIL YESTERDAY. IT HAS BEEN 4 MONTHS SINCE THAT LAST INCIDENT, BUT THIS ONE EVEN WAS WORSE THAN THE FIRST. ONLY THING IS, NOW I KNOW TO PUT ALL MY WEIGHT ON THE BRAKE, SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE CAR OFF AS FAST AS I CAN. THIS ONE FRIGHTENED ME SO BADLY, I WILL NOT DRIVE IT AGAIN. IT IS GOING TO SIT AT THE DEALER UNTIL THEY FIND OUT WHAT TO DO. I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE DRIVE IT, SELL IT OR EVEN TRADE IT IN UNTIL I KNOW IT IS SAFE! EVERY TIME IT HAPPENED, THE CAR WAS ON A CITY STREET, STATIONARY, AND HEADING STRAIGHT. THE ENGINE REVS UP SO LOUD, IT SOUNDS LIKE AN AIRPLANE! YESTERDAY I COULD TELL THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR STOPPED NEXT TO ME HEARD IT AND LOOKED AT ME! I HAVE OWNED THIS SANTA FE SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW, AND PEOPLE TELL ME IT LOOKS LIKE A NEW CAR. I KEEP UP WITH THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE AND ALWAYS TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. UNTIL LAST JULY, IT HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT CAR. THE ACCIDENT I HAD WITH IT WAS THE ONLY ACCIDENT I HAVE HAD IN 50 YEARS OF DRIVING! PLEASE GIVE ME SOME IDEAS ON WHAT TO TELL THE DEALER TO REPLACE, REPAIR OR DISCONNECT. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!
HYUNDAI DEALER SAID MY BALL JOINTS WERE BAD, $750.00 FOR REPAIRS, HYUNDAI HAS RECALL I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. DRIVERS AIR BAG ILLUMINATED, GOING IN FOR REPAIR FRIDAY COST UNKNOWN. AGAIN I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT RECALL. I HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT RECALLS.
FUEL GUAGE READS EMPTY WHEN AT LEAST HALF FULL.
FUEL GUAGE SHOWS FALSE READING, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TANK IS FILLED AND SHOWS EMPTY READING. GUAGE WILL START RISING AFTER MANY MILES (ONE HUNDRED OR MORE). FUEL GUAGE WILL DROP TO EMPTY. CAR IS STATIONARY WHEN FILLING, BUT GIVING FALSE READINGS WHEN MOVING ANYWHERE. WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE ARE GOING TO RUN OUT OF GAS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED!
WHEN I AM DRIVING, BOTH FREEWAY AND CITY DRIVING, THE CAR WILL STUTTER SLIGHTLY AND THEN THE ESC OFF LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I LOSE ACCELERATION AND HAVE TO PULL OVER, TURN MY CAR OFF, WAIT A MINUTE OR TWO, AND THEN RESTART THE CAR. THE ESC OFF LIGHT GOES AWAY AND I ONCE AGAIN HAVE ACCELERATION BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. THE PROBLEM OFTEN REPEATS ITSELF DURING THE SAME TRIP, SOMETIMES 30 MINUTES LATER, SOMETIMES JUST 2 MINUTES LATER. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH WAS REPLACED DURING THE RECALL CAMPAIGN 09V122 WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING. A FEW MONTHS AGO THIS STARTED AGAIN, IT IS ALL THE SAME ISSUES AS I HAD BEFORE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH WAS REPLACED DURING THE LAST RECALL. BECAUSE I LOSE ACCELERATION WITH NO WARNING AND QUICKLY FALL TO 20MPH AND BELOW, I HAVE TO QUICKLY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DO MY BEST TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WHICH IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU ARE LOSING MOMENTUM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO DISENGAGE AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND A BURNING ODOR WAS NOTICED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE IDLING FOR AWHILE AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNITS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
MY MOTHER PURCHASED A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, AWD 2.7L V6 MODEL BRAND NEW IN 2009. HER FUEL GAUGE FAILED AT AROUND 110,000 MILES APPROX. I NOTICED OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE...SO I THOUGHT I'D MENTION THAT HER FUEL GAUGE ALSO QUIT WORKING! SHE TOOK IT IN TO GET FIXED, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS A PRETTY COSTLY JOB! MAYBE WITH EVERYBODY PUTTING THEIR HEADS TOGETHER, THIS ISSUE CAN GET MORE ATTENTION AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO A RECALL. THANKS!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM AND WHEEL BEARING SEIZED AND WERE UNUSUALLY WORN. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE THE TIRES DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,644.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A WHINING NOISE. ALSO, WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND OR FROM THIRD TO FOURTH GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PURGE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,432.
2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BROKEN DRIVER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE THAT SPLIT IN HALF. ALSO, WATER SOLVENT CONTAINER SPLIT DUE TO COLD WEATHER TEMPERATURES. CONSUMER UNABLE TO ADD WASHER FLUID. *SMD
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. FUEL GAUGE WILL READ EMPTY EVEN AFTER JUST FUELING. FUEL GAUGE WILL OCCASIONALLY READ A RANDOM LEVEL THEN DROP TO EMPTY WITHIN SECONDS. OBD CODES STATES FUEL SENSOR ERRORS.
THIS PERTAINS TO REPAIR COST OF $850.56 FOR MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE FUEL GAUGE THAT WAS NOT READING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE PERTAINS TO MANUFACTURE'S DEFECT AND HYUNDAI SHOULD INITIATE A RECALL. ADDITIONALLY, MY HYUNDAI ONLY HAS ABOUT 58,360 MILES TO HAVE A MAJOR REPAIR COST OF $850.56.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, MY FUEL GAUGE IS COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONAL. I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC AND NOW JUST FILL THE CAR UP WEEKLY TO AVOID ISSUES. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ENGINEERING ISSUE GIVEN THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH IT OCCURS IN THIS VEHICLE.
AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE I NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE ACTING ERRATICALLY (OCCASIONALLY WIDELY SWINGING) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVENTUALLY ILLUMINATED. DEALER SERVICE FOUND CODE P0464: "INSPECTED CLUSTER FOR ANY LOOSE CONNECTIONS OR DAMAGE, NO ISSUE FOUND WITH CLUSTER OR WIRING. REMOVED THE SENDING UNITS AND FOUND SEND UNITS OUT OF SPEC WHEN MOVING BY HAND AND OHM SENDERS. REPLACED BOTH SENDING UNITS AND CLEARED CODES." *TR
MY CHECK ENGINE WILL COME ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE SENSOR WILL MOVE ERRATICALLY. I CAN GO PUT GAS IN THE CAR AND IT WILL STILL SAY EMPTY. I DO NOT KNOW IF I NEED GAS OR NOT. VERY UNSAFE WHEN TRAVELLING WITH KIDS. I KEEP PITTING GAS IN BECAUSE I'M AFRAID I'LL RUN OUT. HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND IT SHOWED THE REASON WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON IS BECAUSE OF THE FUEL GAUGE SENSOR. REAL PAIN. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BEFORE IT CAUSES SERIOUS BODILY HARM TO SOMEONE. THE VEHICLE CAN BE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION IT DOESN'T MATTER IT WILL STILL GO HAYWIRE.
AT 140,000 MILES, THE FUEL SENSOR FAILS TO SHOW THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE INDICATOR MOVES FROM HALF TO EMPTY IN AN INSTANT. AFTER RE-CRANKING AND DRIVING A BIT, THE FUEL NEEDLE WILL THEN SLOWLY RETURN TO SHOWING UNDER HALF A TANK. THE RANGE INDICATOR DOES NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT RANGE DUE TO FAULTY SENSOR. I HAVE TO WATCH THE TRIP MILEAGE TO KNOW THE AMOUNT OF FUEL I HAVE. ALL PROBLEMS START AT ABOUT A 1/2 TANK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. CALLING DEALER BUT I KNOW THE ANSWER AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS. I DON'T REALLY HAVE THE $$$ TO FIX.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE APPROX 60MPH ON HWY 277 WHEN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF.
THE FUEL LEVEL SENSORS IN THIS CAR HAVE FAILED. REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE IN THE TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE READS THAT THERE IS NO FUEL, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS "ON" AT ALL TIMES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT CAN LEAD TO A SITUATION WHERE THE DRIVER RUNS OUT OF FUEL (SINCE THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE) AND THE CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THAT HAS NOT YET HAPPENED TO ME, BUT IT COULD. BASED ON A SHORT INTERNET SEARCH FOR OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE, AND DISCUSSING THE ISSUE WITH LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOPS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE ON THE NHTSA SITE THAT THIS COMMON PROBLEM HAS LED TO A RECALL, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED AND THE FUEL GAUGE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
I HAD MY SANTA FE SERVICED ON 04/05/16 FOR FUEL GAUGE SENSOR,WAS NOT READING APPROPRIATE GAS LEVEL. I HAVE ONLY 72000MILES AND SOMTHING LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.I WAS TOLD THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE CAR,WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE.WE OWNED 8 CARS BEFORE SANT FE AND IT NEVER HAPPENED. IT IS A SPENDY REPAIR OF $388.99 MARTA
THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR FAILED AT AROUND 55,000 MILES,WHICH RESULTED IN THE DRIVER BEING UNABLE TO TELL HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE TANK. FUEL TRANSFER UNIT AND FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING EMPTY AND ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 05/10/16*LJ *TR
WHILE IN MOTION ON THE CITY STREET GOING 45 MILES PER HOUR THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SHUT OFF. LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH THE VEHICLE. HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WAIT FOR 2 MINS THEN RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WORKED FINE. BUT AFTER DRIVING A WHILE LONGER THE ESC SHUT OFF AGAIN. HAD TO REPEAT THE PROCESS OF TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING THE CAR AGAIN. WHILE MAKING A TURN A LITTLE WHIKE LATER IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT ENTIRELY TO THE FLOORBOARD AND REMAINED STUCK WHEN IT WAS RELEASED. THE CONTACT VIOLENTLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER FEW MINUTES, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RELEASED AND FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE REOCCURRED TWICE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
GAS GAUGE SENSOR NOT READING LEVEL OF GAS IN THE CAR. ONLINE I READ MANY OTHERS WITH THE SANTE FE, ESPECIALLY 2007-2008 YEAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I ONLY HAVE 80, 000 MILES AND IT IS NOT READING THE APPROPRIATE GAS LEVEL AND FLUCTUATES. THE GAS ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND A MECHANIC READ THE CODE THAT IT IS THE GAS GAUGE SENSOR. I HAVE READ ACCOUNTS ONLINE OF THE CAR READING GAS AT ZERO AND TURNING THE CAR OFF. I AM NOW TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR AND HAVE FILLED THE GAS UP EVERY DAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. WHEN THE MECHANIC WIPED OUT THE CODE I FILLED UP THE TANK AND THE NEXT DAY DROVE OVER AN HOUR AND THEN THE GAS READ JUST ABOVE HALF FULL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED A RECALL WHEN IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE A CAR JUST SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED?
WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR ON ITS OWN AND NO AMOUNT OF BRAKING COULD BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. AT THE TIME I WAS TRAVELING AT 55MPH AND THE CAR SHOT TO 70MPH. FINALLY AFTER PUMPING BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES THE PEDAL POPPED UP WITH AN AUDIBLE SOUND. HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY AS WELL SAME THING. I HAVE READ THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IS THE CULPRIT AND THE DEALERSHIPS CITE DRIVER ERROR, AND FLOOR MATS, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS TOLD. I AM ATTACHING A LETTER SENT TO HYUNDAI AND THE NHTSA. HAPPEND THE FOLLOWING DAY AS WELL.
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.
MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME STAYS ON AND THEN SHUTS OFF. MY GAS GAUGE KEEPS MOVING UP AND DOWN. ONCE I FILL MY GAS TANK COMPLETELY THE GAS WILL SHOW FILLED AND ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO OFF AND THEN WITHIN AN HOUR THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE GAS GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY AND THE FUEL LIGHT COMES ON SHOWING THE CAR AS EMPTY. THEN WITHIN 20 MINUTES THE GAS GAUGE WILL MOVE BACK UP AND THE GAS GAUGE WILL SHUT OFF BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. THIS WILL HAPPEN CONSTANTLY WITH THE GAS GAUGE GOING UP AND DOWN.THIS OCCURS WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION ON CITY STREET OR EXPRESSWAY. MY MECHANIC BASICALLY TOLD ME IT'S THE GAS GAUGE BUT HE IS STILL INVESTIGATING.
THE GAS ELECTRIC FLOAT DOESN'T WORK IT A 'LL WAYS SHOWS I HAVE NO GAS I HAVE TO FILL EVER 2 DAYS JUST SO I DON'T RUN OUT. BUT HAVE GOTTEN STUCK IN THE SIDE IF THE ROAD 5 TIMES SINCE PROBLEM HAPPENED. HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT FIXED DUE TO MO GET ISSUES FOR IT.
WHEN DRIVING AND YOU HIT THE BREAKS, THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTS TO STALL, OR IF YOU USE THE HIGH OR LOW BREAMS THE RADIO SHUTS OFF AND THE GPS TURNS ON OR YOU LOSES IT ALL, WHILE ON HIGH WAY WAY IF YOU USE YOUR HIGH OR LOW BEAMS THE ENGINE STARTS TO STALL THEN KEEPS GOING CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND YOU HAVE TO BREAK QUICKLY TO AVOID HITTING YOU AS YOU LOOSE ALL POWER FOR A MATTER OF SECONDS THIS HAPPEN WHILE MOVING OR PARKED, I MHAVE INSTALLED TWO NEW ALTERNATORS IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS AND THE PROBLEM CONIINUES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES, SEVERAL MORE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR BESIDES DRIVE AND NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
THE FUEL SENSOR FAILS TO SHOW THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE INDICATOR MOVES FROM FULL TO HALF EMPTY TO FULL TO 1/4. THE RANGE INDICATOR DOES NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT RANGE EITHER. IT WILL SHOW 320 MILES REMAINING AND THEN IMMEDIATELY MOVE TO 100 MILES AND BACK TO 300...ETC.
THE VEHICLE SO FAR HAS HAD TWO INSTANCES OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION, NOT JUST SUDDEN BUT WHILE DRIVING AND PERFORMING A PASSING MANEUVER OR NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY THE TRANSMISSION WILL GET STUCK ON A GEAR, PRESSING THE BRAKE OR SHIFTING TO MANUAL MODE, ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT UP OR DOWN OR BACK TO D OR N WILL NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION. I JUST KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PUT HAZARDS ON, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE (LEFT KEY IN ACCESSORIES) AND THEN COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. THE MINUTE I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF I GAINED STOP CONTROL, PRIOR, MASHING ON THE BRAKE WASN'T STOPPING THE CAR. ONCE I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I WAITED A MINUTE OR SO, CAREFULLY RESTARTED THE CAR AND THINGS WERE BACK TO NORMAL. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED BE STUCK ON 5TH GEAR, BUT WHEN I SHIFTED FROM D TO MANUAL AND BACK THE ACCELERATION RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE STUCK ON 3RD, THE INITIAL DESCRIPTION ABOVE IS ABOUT THE 2ND INSTANCE. TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WILL AVOID RABBIT STARTS OR INITIATING ANY RAPID ACCELERATION, WHICH SEEMS TO BE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION OR SOME SENSOR IS GETTING BAD DATA. MY GUESS IT'S THE THROTTLE BODY POSITIONING SENSOR. ALTHOUGH I WOULD ASSUME THAT IF THE COMPUTER/TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCE A BAD SIGNAL OR LOSS OF SIGNAL FROM A SENSOR THAT THE DEFAULT ACTION WOULD BE TO SHUT OFF... NOT LOCK IN A GEAR WITH NO MEANS TO STOP OTHER THAN SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE.
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE CITY THE OTHER NIGHT. THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND AS WE APPROACHED A GREEN LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION THE CAR DIES AND COMES TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AS THE LIGHT WAS CHANGING. LUCKILY WE WEREN'T REAR ENDED OR T BONED. COME TO FIND OUT WE RAN OUT OF GAS EVEN THOUGH IT READ HALF A TANK. THANKS HYUNDAI FOR TRYING TO KILL US.
DEFECTIVE FUEL SENSOR. DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FUEL GAUGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING ERRATICALLY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO STOP DUE TO UNSURE IF I HAD A FUEL LEAK OR IF SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO THE ENGINE. AFTER CHECKING THERE WAS NO LEAK I CONTINUED HOME EVEN THOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND FUEL GAUGE SHOWED NO GAS. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR OF VEHICLE. IN NEW YORK STATE MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. REPAIRS COST ME OVER $800. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 72,000 MILES. I FEEL HYUNDAI SHOULD COMPENSATE THE CONSUMER FOR AN OBVIOUS DEFECT WHEN THEY HAVE TO MAKE A REPAIR THAT IS NOT RELATED TO WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE.
2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, 78K MILES. FUEL GAGE READING STARTING BOUNCING AROUND. SHOWED HALF FULL ON A FRESHLY FILLED TANK. EVENTUALLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ERROR CODE P0464 (FUEL LEVEL SENSOR 'A' ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WAS INTERMITTENT FOR A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME.). FUEL SENSORS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. AN INACCURATE FUEL READING IS A SAFETY CONCERN, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ISSUE THAT CAN LEAD TO UNEXPECTED VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. THE NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THE WEB CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL SENSORS IN THE 2008 SANTA FE SUGGESTS STRONGLY THAT A RECALL IS WARRANTED.