Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel/propulsion system215
- Electrical system74
- Air bags70
- Engine60
- Fuel system, gasoline58
- Vehicle speed control52
- Power train24
- Structure20
- Unknown or other19
- Electronic stability control (esc)16
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 36 2008 Santa Fe vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 18 people died inside them, and 5 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe failed the safety check 3.18% of the time — 28% more often than the average 2008 passenger car (2.48%). Median odometer at inspection: 138,293 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe cars on Dutch roads are the 2.7 petrol (139 kW, 186 hp) and 2.2 diesel (114 kW, 153 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.7 petrol | 139 kW 186 hp | 294 |
| 2.2 diesel | 114 kW 153 hp | 36 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
336 first registered in 2008 are on Dutch roads; 2% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €39,830.
Most common APK defects
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)181
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde179
- Band onvoldoende profiel170
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af120
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt115
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect98
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling96
- Stuurkogel te veel speling96
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
492 cars built in 2008 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 252 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 922 of these cars first registered in 2008 took their annual MOT test. 53% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2008 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 24.1% | 19.8% |
| Suspension | 20.5% | 17.2% |
| Brakes | 14.2% | 11.3% |
| Steering | 10.8% | 3.2% |
| Tyres | 7.9% | 7.6% |
| Visibility | 5.4% | 6.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
466 2008 cars are on the New Zealand register; 1% arrived as used imports, 98% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 11.5–12.3 L/100 km (about 19–20 mpg US), CO₂ 265–283 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 9.8 | 11.5 |
| Santa Fe · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 13.6 | 9.8 | 11.9 |
| Santa Fe · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 13.7 | 9.9 | 12.0 |
| Santa Fe 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 9.9 | 12.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe.
| 2021653 26 Oct 2021 | Engine Issue: On certain vehicles, engine oil can leak from the valve cover onto the alternator. If this happens, the charging system could stop working and cause a … |
| 2020233 27 May 2020 | Electrical Issue: Certain vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer wiring harness kit that could fail. Over time, this could result in a short circuit that can… |
| 2016309 16 Jun 2016 | Engine This recall was replaced by Transport Canada Recall No. 2021-653. On certain vehicles equipped with a 3.3L V6 engine, engine oil can leak onto the alternato… |
| 2013099 3 Apr 2013 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the stop lamp switch may fail and cause intermittent operation of the brake lights. Failure of the brake lights to illuminate when the brak… |
| 2012231 24 Jul 2012 | Airbag On certain vehicles equipped with an advanced airbag system, the Passive Occupant Detection System (PODS), installed in the right front seat of the vehicle, may… |
| 2011333 9 Sept 2011 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the clockspring assembly for the driver's airbag may become damaged and fail. As a result the airbag may not function as intended, and the… |
| 2008206 10 Jun 2008 | Label On certain vehicles, the compliance label contains Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) values that exceeds the capacity of the tires. Loading the vehicle beyond ti… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
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.
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.
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).
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Hyundai told its dealers about the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10253276 | Some Santa Fe (CM) vehicles may have an engine that potentially leaks oil from the front cylinder banks valve cover onto the alternator. Oil could damage the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven without recharging the battery, the engine will eventually shut off, increasing the risk of a crash. This bulletin outlines the procedures to inspect for T-joint leakage and install an oil protector to address this issue. |
| 10253274 | Some Santa Fe (CM) vehicles may have an engine that potentially leaks oil from the front cylinder banks valve cover onto the alternator. Oil could damage the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven without recharging the battery, the engine will eventually shut off, increasing the risk of a crash. This bulletin outlines the procedures to inspect for T-joint leakage and install an oil protector to address this issue. |
| 10251285 | This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, which could lead to poor wiping performance and/or possible scratching of the windshield glass. Follow the procedure in this bulletin to properly remove the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all new wiper blades. |
| 10247610 | Some Santa Fe (CM) vehicles may have an engine that potentially leaks oil from the front cylinder banks valve cover onto the alternator. Oil could damage the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven without recharging the battery, the engine will eventually shut off, increasing the risk of a crash. This bulletin outlines the procedures to inspect for T-joint leakage and install an oil protector to address this condition. |
| 10247609 | Some Santa Fe (CM) vehicles may have an engine that potentially leaks oil from the front cylinder banks valve cover onto the alternator. Oil could damage the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven without recharging the battery, the engine will eventually shut off, increasing the risk of a crash. This bulletin outlines the procedures to inspect for T-joint leakage and install an oil protector to address this issue. |
| 10247189 | This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services. |
| 10245012 | Some Santa Fe (CM) vehicles may have an engine that potentially leaks oil from the front cylinder banks valve cover onto the alternator. Oil could damage the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven without recharging the battery, the engine will eventually shut off, increasing the risk of a crash. This bulletin outlines the procedures to inspect for T-joint leakage and install an oil protector to address this issue. 1. If the alternator voltage is less than 14.0V and there is evidenc |
| 10245011 | Some Santa Fe (CM) vehicles may have an engine that potentially leaks oil from the front cylinder banks valve cover onto the alternator. Oil could damage the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven without recharging the battery, the engine will eventually shut off, increasing the risk of a crash. This bulletin outlines the procedures to inspect for T-joint leakage and install an oil protector to address this issue. The service procedure contained in TSB 23-01-076H-1 (or latest version |
| 10243322 | Some Santa Fe (CM) vehicles may have an engine that potentially leaks oil from the front cylinder banks valve cover onto the alternator. Oil could damage the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven without recharging the battery, the engine will eventually shut off, increasing the risk of a crash. This bulletin outlines the procedures to inspect for T-joint leakage and install an oil protector to address this issue. The service procedure contained in TSB 23-01-076H (or latest version) |
| 10243321 | Some Santa Fe (CM) vehicles may have an engine that potentially leaks oil from the front cylinder banks valve cover onto the alternator. Oil could damage the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven without recharging the battery, the engine will eventually shut off, increasing the risk of a crash. This bulletin outlines the procedures to inspect for T-joint leakage and install an oil protector to address this issue. |
| 10235566 | Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moisture trapped between the PPF and the paint. |
| 10230904 | This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation. |
| 10217258 | Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for correcting load carrying capacity information indicated on tire placards when vehicle weight has been increased before retail sale. This limit is the lesser of 1.5% of GVWR or 100 pounds. If the total added weight exceeds the lesser of the limit, a label must be added to the driver-side B-pillar within 25mm (1 inch) of the original tire placard. |
| 10217251 | Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain components of the engine intake system accordingly during engine short block or sub-assembly replacement. |
| 10196577 | The warranty coverage for the clock spring has been extended to 15 years with unlimited mileage from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs first. This warranty coverage applies to both the original and subsequent owners. Refer to the warranty and service parts information outlined in this bulletin whenever clock spring replacement is required. |
| 10196546 | Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicles owners manual. Use of other ATF may result in improper shift quality or other drivability conditions. Use of other DCT and IVT gear oil may result in reduced durability. Hyundai does not approve the use of any aftermarket ATF or gear oil additives. |
| 10190044 | This bulletin provides the service procedure for engine connecting rod bearing clearance testing. Perform the procedure outlined in this bulletin to fulfill the Bearing Clearance Test inspection requirements to determine next required steps. |
| 10190038 | This bulletin provides best practice recommendations when performing brake service procedures. |
| 10189989 | This bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain vehicles listed below. |
| 10183963 | This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear around the brake caliper area. |
| 10183960 | This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. For all wheel/tire balance claims, the Tire Balance Data Sheet must be fully completed including imbalance and Road Force Variation (RFV) data. The Data Sheet can be found at the end of this bulletin. |
| 10178175 | This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to moisture accumulation in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. The TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes, or during normal driving operation. |
| 10177599 | These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no longer be sold as they do not meet CARB standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected. |
| 10176182 | This bulletin provides information on tire maintenance best practices and procedures for dealers and customers to maximize tire life and performance. |
| 10176178 | This bulletin describes the general guidelines to help disinfect and protect vehicle exterior/interior surfaces using recommended safe chemical products. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation