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2008 Hyundai Santa FEProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 541 owner complaints about the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

2008 Hyundai Santa FE
40
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.5× the Santa FE median · #7 of 24 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints54135 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage80kFuel/propulsion system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 20, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE has problems

541 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Fuel/propulsion system2150
Electrical system744
Air bags705
Engine603
Fuel system, gasoline581
Vehicle speed control528
Power train242
Structure203
Service brakes164
17 other systems10712

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2008 Hyundai Santa FE recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Brake lights: switch

Recall 13V-113 · Apr 1, 2013 · 1,712,336 vehicles

Risk. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive

Recall 12V-354 · Jul 25, 2012 · 199,118 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Air bags: frontal

Recall 11V-472 · Sep 9, 2011 · 205,233 vehicles

Risk. 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,…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Other: labels

Recall 08V-272 · Jun 19, 2008 · 88,943 vehicles

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.

Mileage at failure

When do fuel/propulsion system problems start?

80kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 189 fuel/propulsion system complaints. 71% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
4under 30k miles135under 100k miles54100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Fuel/propulsion system

41 owners mentioned a cost

$700median

Middle half: $600 – $800

Fuel system, gasoline

9 owners mentioned a cost

$750median

Middle half: $615 – $800

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other Santa FE year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Santa FE median. How we score

'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2008 Hyundai Santa FE safety ratings

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe 4-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2008 Hyundai Santa FE frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2008 Hyundai Santa FE side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Rollover: 4 stars (16.9% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesDP21003 · closed Jun 20, 2023
    No recall
In owners' words

What Santa FE owners report

Recent fuel/propulsion system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The fuel tank level sensor failed and yes can be inspected. Check engine light goes on and fuel says empty with little yellow light.My mechanic checked my car and told me it was the fuel tank level sensor. Check engine light goes on and the fuel needle goes up and down to empty. When I fill the…
Complaint 11492623 · Nov 7, 2022
THE FUEL GAGE KEEPS MARKING THE WRONG LEVEL OF GAS. FIRST IT WENT CRAZY GOING UP AND DOWN. AFTER SENSORS WERE CHANGED, IT STAYED AT HALF OF TANK EVEN WHEN FULL. NOW THE FUEL SYSTEM WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE WHEN IT REACHES A CERTAIN GAS LEVEL, THE CHECK ENGINE SHOWS UP. ITS RANDOM…
Complaint 11416636 · May 14, 2021 · 110,000 miles
FUEL GAGE DOES NOT WORK. FILL UP CAR WITH GAS AND THE TANK SHOWS EMPTY FOR DAYS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. GETTING NEW SYSTEM DOES NOT FIX THIS ISSUE. EACH DAY YOU GET IN THE CAR IT WILL SHOW A DIFFERENT AND INACCURATE READYING. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER ONLINE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS.
Complaint 11408357 · Apr 16, 2021 · 120,000 miles

Own a 2008 Santa FE?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.