2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Complaint Log

AS OF LATE, THE FUEL GAUGE HAS BEEN ACTING VERY ERRATICALLY. THE LOW FUEL LIGHT IS LIT EVEN WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL. AS I'M DRIVING, THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON THE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATES FROM EMPTY TO 3/4 OR FROM FULL DOWN TO EMPTY. SEEING THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING, HYUNDAI SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL - OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THE FUEL SENSOR. OVERALL, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A REALLY GOOD VEHICLE, BUT THIS FUEL GAUGE THING IS STARTING TO DRIVE MY CRAZY. I'M AFRAID ONE DAY I'LL RUN OUT OF GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE BECAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE IS GIVING ME A FALSE READING! *TR

THE FIRST TIME I CAME OUT TO START MY CAR AND LOOKED UP, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE STARTER. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED AND APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER, I NOTICED A BRUSHING SOUND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. OVER TIME IT BECAME MORE OFTEN. I RETURNED THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO THE INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP. THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT THE NOISE. IN THE MEAN TIME I TOOK TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE STARTER AND TO TAKE IT BACK AND HAVE IT REPLACED. I RETURNED TO THE INDEPENDENT DEALER AND THEY REPLACED, IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD IT WASN'T CATCHING. TWO WEEKS LATER IT STARTED THE SAME BRUSHING SOUND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT AND IN THE MEAN TIME THE CAR WHILE WARMING UP HAD A BURNT SMELL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP PUT THE CAR ON A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND PUT A NEW STARTER IN. MY CAR WAS HELD FOR 5 DAYS. THEY TOLD ME OIL HAD LEAKED FROM THE STARTER AND THAT WAS WHERE THE SMOKE CAME FROM AND THE BRUNT SMELL. WITHIN A WEEK THE CAR WHEN STARTED HAD THE BRUSHING SOUND AGAIN. I TRIED TO RECORD THE SOUND AND AFTER I STARTED 4 TIMES IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND WOULDN'T START. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN. IT IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. *TR

OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, THE GAS GAUGE WILL SHOW EMPTY AND WARNING LIGHTS COME WHEN YOU JUST FILLED UP THE GAS TANK COMPLETELY FULL. AT OTHER TIMES, THE GAS GAUGE WILL GO FROM FULL TO 1/2 TANK. OTHER TIMES WHEN YOU START THE CAR, IT WILL SHOW EMPTY WHEN IT HAS 1/2 TANK. SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE GAS GAUGE IS NOT WORKING. I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE CAR OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. TO FIX THE PROBLEM, HYUNDAI WANTS EITHER $400 OR $700 TO REPLACE EITHER ONE OR TWO FUEL SENSORS. OF ALL THE CARS I HAVE OWNED, I HAVE NEVER HAD A FUEL GAUGE GO BAD. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HYUNDAI RIGHT NOW ! WITH AS MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL GAUGE REPORTED, THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE HYUNDAI. *TR

FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ ACCURATELY. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE GAS TANK IS FULL, THE GAUGE WILL SHOW ANYWHERE BETWEEN EMPTY AND FULL AT INTERMITTENT TIMES. WHILE THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONS FINE, THE FUEL GAUGE DEFECT CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE TO TURN ON AND THEREFORE REQUIRES A $1000 REPAIR TO PASS PA STATE INSPECTIONS. *TR

GAS GAUGE AND DIGITAL DISPLAY SHOW EMPTY WHEN THE CAR HAS JUST BEEN FILLED WITH FUEL. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE LATER IN THE DAY, THE GAUGE SHOWS 1/2 TANK AND THE DIGITAL DISPLAY READS 70 MILES. I PUT 15.5 GALLONS OF GAS IN AND SHOULD HAVE A FULL TANK AND OVER 270 MILES. *TR

FUEL SENSOR IS BAD AND CAUSING THE FUEL NEEDLE TO FLUCTUATE AND GIVE INCORRECT WARNINGS ABOUT LOW FUEL AND AMOUNT OF FUEL LEFT IN THE FUEL TANK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR CIRCUIT WAS PROVIDING ERRONEOUS FUEL LEVEL READINGS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 02/27/14*LJ

CAMPAIGN 103 RECALL. I HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 SANTA FE BUT NEVER RECIEVED A RECALL NOTICE.

AFTER FILLING THE 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH FUEL, I STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE FUEL GAUGE WAS ON E AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WAS ON. LATER THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE MOVED BUT NOT TO FULL. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THAT FIRST INCIDENT. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER ACCURATELY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OCCASIONALLY. THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY MILEAGE INDICATOR IS ALSO INCORRECT. THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL REMAINS IN THE TANK. *TR

I WENT TO PUT MY CAR INTO REVERSE AND IT GOT STUCK AND WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR ANY OTHER GEAR FOR THAT MATTER. THE WHOLE SHIFTER IS NOW BEING REMOVED. *TR

MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR IS FLUCTUATING CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WOULD INDICATED AND EMPTY TANK AFTER THE TANK WAS FILLED AND THEN RANDOMLY WOULD CORRECT ITSELF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS. *TR

AS I CAME TO A STOP, I NOTICED THAT MY FUEL GAUGE WAS FLUTTERING UP AND DOWN. THEN MY FUEL LIGHT CAME ON AND I KNEW THAT I HAD JUST FILLED THE TANK THE DAY BEFORE, SO I HAD PLENTY OF GAS. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN VERY ERRATIC, BUT MOSTLY SHOWING THAT I'M ON EMPTY. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP TRACK IS ON MY TRIP METER BUT THAT CAN BE A LITTLE WORRISOME--I'M ALWAYS WORRIED THAT I AM MISCALCULATION. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON NOW TOO. *TR

LIKE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY WHEN IT WAS FULL. IT WOULD JUMP ERRATICALLY FROM FULL TO EMPTY AND IN BETWEEN. COST OVER $550 TO FIX. *TR

WAS SECOND VEHICLE AT STOP LIGHT WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD OVERRIDING BRAKE, AND HIT BACK OF VEHICLE IN FRONT CAUSING DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHER DRIVER. HAD PEDESTRIANS BEEN IN FRONT, COULD EASILY HAVE RUN OVER THEM. MONTHS PRIOR, TWICE ON SAME DAY ENGINE POWER DIED WHILE DRIVING. HYUNDAI REPLACED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. *TR

GAS GAUGE STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. GAS TANK IS FULL AND IS REACTING WILDLY. DEALER SAYS IT'S A $650 FIX. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL !!! SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THE FUEL GAUGE ON DASH HAS BEGUN FLUCTUATING WILDLY EVEN WITH FULL TANK OF GAS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT YET BUT BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ I AM ANTICIPATING A PROBLEM CODE COMING SOON. MY RESEARCH IS POINTING TO THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR ATTACHED TO THE FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, ONLY THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY APPEARS TO BE AVAILABLE AND AS SUCH, IT IS HIGHLY COSTLY TO CORRECT. HYUNDAI SHOULD PROVIDE A RECALL FOR THIS DUE TO THE HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAS ALSO BEEN NOTED THAT THIS HAS CAUSED VEHICLES TO STALL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY CREATING A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MYSELF. WHEN THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND IT BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE FOR A CURRENT LIST OF MANY OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2008/HYUNDAI/SANTA+FE/FUEL+SYSTEM. *TR

FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET KEEP LEAKING OIL ON TO THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO GO OUT . THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPEN THE CORE OF THE ALTERNATOR BURNED .I HAVE REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR 3 TIMES AND VALVE COVER GASKET TWICE. HYUNDAI HAVE A RECALL ON THE VERACRUZ FOR THIS SOME ISSUES BUT WILL NOT RECALL THE SANTA FE FOR THIS ISSUES .

THE FUEL GAUGE ON DASH HAS BEGUN FLUCTUATING WILDLY EVEN WITH FULL TANK OF GAS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT YET BUT BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ I AM ANTICIPATING A PROBLEM CODE COMING SOON. MY RESEARCH IS POINTING TO THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR ATTACHED TO THE FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, ONLY THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY APPEARS TO BE AVAILABLE AND AS SUCH, IT IS HIGHLY COSTLY TO CORRECT. HYUNDAI SHOULD PROVIDE A RECALL FOR THIS DUE TO THE HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAS ALSO BEEN NOTED THAT THIS HAS CAUSED VEHICLES TO STALL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY - THIS HASN'T HAPPENED TO ME YET BUT CERTAINLY INCREASES MY CONCERN. *TR

UPON TURNING THE ENGINE ON, MY GAS GAUGE SHOWED EMPTY WHEN I KNEW THERE WAS MORE GAS THAN THAT. THEN IT STARTED TO FLUCTUATE UP AND DOWN . I CHECKED MY RANGE INDICATOR AND IT WAS BLINKING THE WORD "RANGE" (WHICH NORMALLY DOESN'T) AND THE NUMBERS WERE DASHES ONLY. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT SHOWED QUARTER TANK THEN EMPTY AND BACK TO SOME GAS. THE RANGE INDICATOR STARTED GOING UP AND DOWN IN NUMBERS AS WELL. I PUT GAS IN JUST TO SEE IF IT HELPED BUT DIDN'T, SHOWING ABOUT 30 MILES FLUCTUATION IN THE RANGE INDICATOR. I CHECKED SOME FORUMS AND APPARENTLY IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR SANTA FES 2008 RIGHT AS THEY REACH 60,000 MILES (AS THE WARRANTIES END AND IT COSTS OVER $600 TO REPAIR!). IT IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL , AS IT POSES A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF A CAR RUNS OUT OF GAS ON A HIGHWAY OR ANYWHERE DUE TO THE FAULTY GAS FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V472000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

DRIVING FROM MY WIFE'S WORK ALL THE SUDDEN THE GAS LEVEL GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE GAS TANK WAS 3/4 FULL. DROVE 1/2 A MILE AND IT MARKED 1/2 A TANK, STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, WENT TO EMPTY AGAIN IS BEEN DOING IT FORM THAT DAY ON. AFTER TAKING CAR DEALER I WAS TOLD THE REPAIR IS ROUGHLY $680.00 . THIS IS MY 3RD SANTA FE THAT I PURCHASED 2001 2004 & 2008 AND I ONLY ENCOUNTERED SUCH PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 I HAVE SEEN VARIOUS COMPLAINS ON SUCH " PROBLEM" AND WHY IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A "RECALL" BUT THE MANUFACTURER SEEMS IGNORE IT. *TR

OK SO MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR MONTHS NOW DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SENSOR. I WENT TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY QOUTED ME A PRICE OF 800 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL CONSIDERING THAT SO MANY OF THERE CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. IT'S SAD THAT THEY WOULD MUCH RATHER WAIT TIL SOMEONE DIES OR CRASH TO RECALL THIS ISSUE. *TR

I OWN A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 40000 MILES THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE AND IS MOSTLY READS THAT THE TANK IS EMPTY. IT COST ABOUT $650 TO REPLACE . MY OPINION IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. IT ALSO CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. *TR

I'M ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SENSOR FAILING.THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY AND THEN LATER THAT I HAVE FUEL. I CALLED MY DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY SAID AT THIS TIME THERE'S NO RECALL OUT FOR THIS REPAIR, BUT AGREED THAT THERE SHOULD BE. THIS CAN BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. I LOVE MY VEHICLE AND WOULD HATE FOR THIS TO CAUSE ME TO SWITCH IF I'M GOING TO CONTINUALLY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD STEP UP AND THAT CARE OF THIS FAULTY PART. *JS

AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHED ABOUT 70,000 MILES, THE GAS GAUGE STARTED TO SHOW ERRATIC LEVELS AND THEN AFTER A MONTH THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AT ALL. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF ALSO THEN STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. *TR

WITHIN THE PAST WEEK I NOTICED MY FUEL GAUGE DROP TO EMPTY AND THE FUEL LOW LIGHT GO ON. I HAD PLENTY OF GAS KNOWING THAT I HAD JUST FILLED UP THE DAY BEFORE. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE THE FUEL GAUGE WENT UP TO 3/4 FULL AS WHERE I EXPECTED IT TO GO. SUDDENLY THE GAUGE WAS GOING DOWN AND THAN BACK UP AGAIN. I PUSHED THE TRIP BUTTON TO SEE THE RANGE OF MILES TO EMPTY AND IT WAS ALSO DROPPING AND CLIMBING. I SEEMED TO WORK IT'S SELF OUT AND WAS FINE FOR THREE DAYS. THAN I WAS DRIVING AND THE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO AGAIN AND RETURNED TO 1/2 FULL, THAT'S WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THAT SAME DAY I DROPPED IT OFF TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER. THEY WERE BUSY AND LOOKED AT THE CAR THE NEXT DAY. THEY TESTED THE CAR AND CAME UP WITH CODES THAT STATED FAILED FUEL LEVEL SENSORS. REPLACE FUEL LEVEL SENSORS A AND B. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AS FOLLOWS, QTY.OF 2 #31115 PACKING FUEL PUMP, QTY. OF 2 # 31152 RING LOCK, QTY OF 1 #94430 SENDER ASSY, AND QTY OF 1 #94460 SENDER ASSY . THIS REPAIR AT THE DEALER COST ME 714.39 AFTER TAXES ,CODE CHECK AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEES. AFTER I AGREED TO THE REPAIR, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS YOUNG. I WAS AMAZED WHEN I RESEARCHED THIS ON LINE, THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF VEHICLES. HOW MANY CARS HAVE TO FAIL BEFORE THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE SENSORS. *TR

AFTER FILLING TANK GAUGE SHOWED EMPTY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. NOT SURE OF. HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE, SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

THE SENSOR FOR THE GAS TANK WENT BAD, IN OUR OPINION, PREMATURELY. WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE, AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SANTA FES, EVEN THOSE NEWER THAN OURS. IMPACT: WHEN THE SENSOR FAILS, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYS 'EMPTY' NO MATTER WHAT AMOUNT OF FUEL IS IN THE TANK, RENDERING THE FUEL GAUGE TOTALLY UNRELIABLE TO THE DRIVER. THE CAR COULD RUN OUT OF GAS ANYWHERE-- FOR EXAMPLE, ON A HIGHWAY--POTENTIALLY CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO NOT JUST THE DRIVER BUT ALSO TO OTHER DRIVERS AROUND HIM. WE WONDER WHETHER A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS SENSOR. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT MANUAL FORCE CAUSING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NECK, STOMACH AND CHEST BRUISING, AS WELL AS LACERATIONS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

THE GAS GAUGE FLUCTUATES ON MY CAR AS WELL AND I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 33,000 MILES! ONE MINUTE THE CAR WILL REGISTER 1/2 OF A TANK OF GAS, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL GO TO EMPTY AND THE GAS LIGHT COMES ON. WAIT A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND IT COMES BACK UP. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER YESTERDAY, TOLD THE SERVICE AGENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND SHE SAID THAT THEY HAVE TO CHARGE A $108 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I THEN GET A CALL THAT IT IS THE FUEL ASSEMBLY PARTS A & B AND WILL COST $615 PLUS TAX. OF COURSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY HUSBAND CALLED A FRIEND'S MECHANIC AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND HE KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT IT WAS WITHOUT HAVING TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC. THEN I LOG ON TO THIS SITE AND CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. HYUNDAI KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT YET THE DEALER WILL HIT YOU WITH A DIAGNOSTIC FEE THEN A REPAIR FEE. NOW THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT MY LOCAL MECHANIC INSTEAD OF A DEALERSHIP! *TR

FOR PAST 2 YEARS MY FUEL TANK WILL SENDER IT'S FULL WHEN IT'S BEEN LOW AND ONLY TOO 5 GALS IN A 19 GAL. TANK. I HAVE READ OVER MANY TIMES COMPLAINTS THAT THE GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK?? I'VE BEEN QUOTED $425 TO REPAIR IT? IT'S A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTE FE LIMITED. THE CHK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON MY MECHANIC USED THE CAR DETECTOR SYSTEM. IT STATES FUEL CAP ISSUES. I REPLACED THAT $70 LATER IT NOT WORKING. I'VE DEALT WITH THIS FOR TOO MANY YEARS

AT APPROXIMATELY 60000 MILES,I NOTICED THAT MY FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT REGISTERING CORRECTLY. WOULD FILL IT UP AND THE GAUGE WOULD REGISTER A 1/4 TANK, PROBLEM GOT WORSE IN THE PROCEEDING WEEKS. CHECK ENGINE CAME ON TOOK IT TO AUTO PARTS PLACE AND THEY SAID THE FUEL SENSORS WERE BAD. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR $440. NO HELP FROM DEALER. EXTENDED WARRANTY NOT HELPFUL EITHER. *TR

I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND THE FUEL GAUGE BEGAN TO MOVE UP AND DOWN, SHOWING EMPTY, THEN OVER HALF FULL, THEN JUST UNDER HALF. I SWITCHED TO THE MODE INDICATING HOW MANY MILES LEFT UNTIL I WOULD BE OUT OF GAS, WHICH ALSO FLUCTUATED BY OVER 75 MILES. THIS FLUCTUATION IS CONSISTENT AND NOW IS BECOMING A BIG CONCERN IN REGARDS TO LONGER TRIPS MY YOUNG FAMILY TAKES. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BASED ON THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ABOUT THIS SAME MALFUNCTION. SHOULD MY FAMILY BE STRANDED ON A ROADSIDE, OR WORSE YET, GET INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, HYUNDAI WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGLIGENCE ON THEIR PART TO ACT ON A KNOWN VEHICLE DEFECT. *TR

THE GAS GAUGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING BETWEEN HALF FULL AND EMPTY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO MY NEAREST O'REILLY'S WHERE THEY TESTED IT AND SAID IT WAS A FUEL SENSOR PROBLEM. AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS IT BEGAN TO SEEMINGLY WORK AGAIN, BUT I BEGAN HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH IT A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT. MY GAUGE NEVER REGISTERS FULL AFTER FILLING IT. SOMETIMES IT STARTS OFF AT EMPTY (LIGHT ON) BUT AS I DRIVE IT CREEPS UP TO HALF FULL. I BEGAN INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE ONLINE AND AM SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER 2008 SANTA FE OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY IT IS A DEFECTIVE PART ON HYUNDAIS BEHALF. I NEVER KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. I HAVE TO USE MY TRIP METER TO ESTIMATE WHEN I NEED TO FILL IT. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THE COST TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND IT IS EXPENSIVE - BETWEEN $500 - $800. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY HYUNDAI. *TR

AS NOTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY FUEL GAUGE WILL NOT REGISTER THE AMOUNT OF FUEL, IT FLUCTUATES FROM EMPTY TO A 1/4 TANK TO 3/4 TANK. THE FUEL SENSORS ARE BAD. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BASED ON NHTSA COMPLAINTS BUT YET IT APPEARS THAT HYUNDAI WILL NOT TAKE ACTION. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN RIGHT AFTER I HIT THE 60,000 MILE MARK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ESC AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESUMED UPON RESTARTING; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED EIGHT TIMES. IN ADDITION, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HESITATION WOULD FOLLOW. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER EACH REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,099.

MY FUEL GAUGE IS VERY ERRATIC ;WE NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL WE HAVE.IT FLUCTUATES FROM FULL TO EMPTY AT WILL CAUSING US TO TRY TO JUDGE BY THE MILES DRIVEN OR FILL UP EVERY FEW DAYS. I WOULD HATE TO RUN OUT OF GAS ON AN INTERSTATE IN MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE OF A MISCALCULATION ON THE MILEAGE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE COMPANY SEEMS AWARE OF IT. *TR

OUR USED SANTA FE'S WARRANTY EXPIRED ON APRIL 28TH, 2013. A MONTH LATER, THE FUEL GAUGE AND MILEAGE REPORTING STARTED TO FLUCTUATE WILDLY, AND FOR THE PAST MONTH WE'VE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE FUEL SENSOR ASSEMBLY IS FAULTY. THE ACCURATE REPORTING OF THE FUEL LEVEL IS NOW IMPOSSIBLE AND IT IS CLEAR TO US THAT THIS WILL BE AT LEAST A $600 REPAIR JOB. HYUNDAI DEFLECTED OUR E-MAILS TO THEM, SO I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO ALSO WRITE A LETTER TO THEM BY POSTAL MAIL. THE ADDRESS THEY GAVE US IS HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA P. O. BOX 20850 FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA 92728-0850. IT IS RIDICULOUS TIMING THAT THIS OCCURS AFTER AN EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT AND RIGHT AFTER THE SECOND-OWNER WARRANTY EXPIRED. A SYSTEM LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT FAIL WITH ONLY 44K MILES ON A VEHICLE, AND HYUNDAI CAN'T CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, AND OWNERS WHO HAVE GONE AHEAD AND DONE THIS REPAIR FOR EXORBITANT FEES NEED TO BE REIMBURSED. IN RECENT NEWS, ASIANA AIRLINES REPRESENTED THE HONOR AND INTEGRITY OF KOREAN CORPORATE CULTURE, I'D EXPECT THE SAME FROM HYUNDAI WHO HAS THUS FAR FAILED IN THEIR DUTY TO THE CUSTOMER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING FROM MARSHALL, NC TO ASHEVILLE, NC, MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THEN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL AND THE FUEL GAUGE STARTED TO ACT CRAZY TELLING ME THAT THE TANK WAS EMPTY. UPON NOTICING THIS PROBLEM, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. WHEN I TOOK IT IN, THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC FOR $45.00 AND CAME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT BOTH FUEL SENSORS HAD GONE OUT. THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THE JOB WOULD COST AROUND $600.00 OR SO. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED ESPECIALLY ON A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT THAT OLD. I WENT HOME AND LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP ON LINE, ONLY TO FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, SOME EVEN WITH NEWER HYUNDAI VEHICLES. MY WIFE AND I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND SAFETY ISSUE ITEM. IF THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, THEN OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. THIS SITUATION IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE WHEN THEIR FUEL MAY BE LOW, THEY MAY BE DRIVING ALONG AND STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY OR THEY MAY BE IN A REMOTE AREA. *TR

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM TWO RECALLS: (1) STOP LAMP SWITCH AND (2) PODS RECALIBRATION. I WAS INFORMED THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD HAD COME ON AND STAYED ON AFTER THE RECALIBRATION OF THE PODS. I NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE PODS SYSTEM OR AN AIR WARNING LIGHT IN THE DASH PRIOR TO THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD HYUNDAI WOULD PAY TO EITHER REPLACE THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT TENSIONER OR THE ENTIRE SEAT. THEY DID NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND RENTED ME A CAR FOR 4 DAYS. REPLACING THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT LESS THAN A YEAR LATER (4-15-14) THE AIR LIGHT HAS COME ON AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT IT'S THE SCALE IN THE SEAT AND THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $2400+. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS WERE NOT AFFECTED -- ONLY THE PASSENGER'S AND I WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE SERVICE TECH QUICKLY RETURNED THE CAR AND WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY PAPERWORK RESULTING FROM THE INSPECTION. MY HUSBAND AND I DID NOT ELECT TO REPLACE THE SEAT AT THIS TIME WHILE WE RESEARCH THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, MY HUSBAND AND I DID NOTICE THAT THE PODS "OFF" LIGHT TURNS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT WHICH IS CONFUSING SINCE THE ADVISOR SAID THE SCALE ISN'T WORKING. NOW WE ARE LEFT WITH A 6-YEAR-OLD CAR THAT HAS AN EXPENSIVE SAFETY ISSUE. WE CAN'T SELL IT TO A PRIVATE PARTY BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE AND THE TRADE-IN VALUE HAS DRAMATICALLY DECLINED. *TR

ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR THIS WHEN I CALLED DEALERSHIP. FUEL GAUGE WILL GO BELOW 'E' TO 1/2 TANK IN SECONDS. SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON, THE GAUGE IS BELOW 'E' AND WILL STAY THERE FOR A WHILE THEN GO BACK UP TO GAS LEVEL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON SAYING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. CLEARED CODE. IT STAYED OFF FOR WEEK OR SO, AND HAS COME BACK ON. I HOPE THIS BECOMES A RECALL...TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! *TR

ON 5/15/13 I HAD MY STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACED PER RECALL CAMPAIGN 110. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I NOTICED COLD ENGINE FLUCTUATION AND SURGING. THIS HAS HAPPENED REGULARLY, WITH THE ENGINE SOMETIMES FLUCTUATING UP TO NEARLY 2000RPM WHILE THE CAR IS IN PARK. GRADUALLY, THE ISSUE PROGRESSED TO DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AND A SHAKING/HESITATION FEELING WHILE DOWNSHIFTING THAT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO STALL OUT, BUT IT DOES NOT. THIS BEGAN 6/20/13. ALSO ON 6/20/13 MY CHECK ENGINE DASH LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT SHUT THE ESC OFF. ADDITIONALLY, THE AWD SYSTEM LIGHT WAS FLASHING. UPON RESTART, ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO GRISMER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THEY FOUND ERROR CODES: C1513, C1611, P1295, P2106, AND P2135. I REVISITED MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER (VOSS HYUNDAI) AND THEY STATE THAT THEY BELIEVE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IS WORKING PROPERLY AND THAT THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY REFUSED TO COVER THIS COST DUE TO BEING OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BY GRISMER THAT THE TPS ISSUE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE STOP LAMP SWITCH ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING ALSO RELATES DIRECTLY TO SERVICE BULLETIN #TSB-09-FL-003-1. *TR

AT START UP I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE WAS NOT REGISTERING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. IT STAYED PEGGED AT ZERO AMOUNT OF FUEL. LATER AND NO IT REGISTERS SOMETIME AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. SOMETIMES IT REGISTERS FULL WITH A FULL TANK AND THEN SINKS TO HALF A TANK AND LATER TO ZERO, HARDLY INDICATING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,500. UPDATED 06/18/13*LJ UPDATED 06/21/2013 *JS

FUEL GAUGE SHOWS DIFFERENT MEASUREMENTS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. FULL TANK OF GAS MAY SHOW ON THE GAUGE AS EMPTY. THE NEXT TIME MAY SHOW 1/2 A TANK OF GAS. HAVE TO TRACK MILEAGE TO KNOW WHEN TO GAS UP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DISPLAY THE ACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READINGS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

MY 2008 SANTA FE LTD THAT SUFFERED A LOSS OF THE LEFT REAR QUARTER GLASS, INCLUDING THE FRAME MOLDING, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A FEW DAYS AGO. THE GLASS COMPANY STATED THAT IT APPEARED TO HAVE ACTUALLY BREAK OFF OF THE BOLTS AND SIMPLY FLY OFF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY THING LEFT ON THE VEHICLE WAS THE URETHANE ADHESIVE, WHICH WAS STRETCHED OUT AROUND THE BACK OF THE QUARTER PANEL. ANOTHER INTERESTING NOTE IS THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER GLASS, IT APPEARS TO BE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME PHENOMENON, AND MAY COME OFF AT ANY TIME. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH INFORMED ME THAT MY AUTO IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE AT THIS TIME. CONSIDERING THAT MY AUTO INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE IS $500, I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OUT OF POCKET FOR $338.55. *TR

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 KNEW THAT IT SHOULD TAKE MORE THAN 3 GALLONS TO FILL MY TANK, AND SO I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC. DIAGNOSIS: BOTH FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSORS NEED TO BE REPLACED.... TO THE TUNE OF $650 WORTH OF PARTS/LABOR. I WAS ADVISED THAT FUEL SENSORS ARE NOT USUALLY FAULTY, AND SO CAME TO THIS WEBSITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE THAT I MAY HAVE MISSED. *TR