2008 Hyundai Santa FE problems
Owners have filed 718 complaints about the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE with NHTSA. Fuel/propulsion system accounts for 29.9% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of electrical system at 10.4%.
Complaints718
Crashes32
Fires11
Injuries23
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Fuel/propulsion system 29.9% · 215
Electrical system 10.4% · 75
Air bags 9.7% · 70
Engine 8.4% · 60
Fuel system, gasoline 8.1% · 58
Vehicle speed control 7.2% · 52
Power train 3.3% · 24
Structure 3.1% · 22
Severity
Of those complaints, 32 describe a crash, 11 describe a fire and 23 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 25 model years of the Hyundai Santa FE in this data, 2008 sits 4th by complaint volume. 2017 draws the most.
Filings are rising — 37 in the last three years against 30 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 75,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Nhtsa: oct, 24, 2012 component:equipment adaptive. 2008 Hyundai Santa FE. Action no: 947168 service bulletin number:1041335 component: fuel/propulsion system , safety issue due to the wrong gas reading, vehicle may stop suddenly if no fuel, gage reading wrong 1*tr. Hyundai finds service bulletin but no recall or order to replace.Admit's to that year has problems but not willing to help in anyway to repair. Fuel/propulsion system · reported at 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that the fuel tank misread the amount of fuel in the tank on more than one occasion. In addition, the fuel tank was incapable of being filled completely and could only be filled up to five gallons. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 130,000. Fuel/propulsion system · reported at 130,000 miles
Fuel gauge not working properly, it is moving erratically. The gas tank is full while the gauge is showing empty, the check engine light is on. I am just worried that I might be strained somewhere when the tank is really empty. I can't trust the gauge now. This should be recalled already since there are so many complaints about it . I feel like I should not pay for the repair as it is a manufacturer defect . Fuel/propulsion system · reported at 90,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…