Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 70 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 70, in the owner's own words
My suv was involved in a Roll Over accident. The front driver tire blew out causing the driver to hit the curb which caused the SUV to roll 4 times. The driver was ejected from the vehicle while wearing a seat belt and not one air bag deployed. Major safety issues
My car has a recall, and the dealership is unable to fix it. There is also an issue with the oem control module that they are unable to get the part and unable to fix this because they do not have the correct software.
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer after receiving notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V936000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 12V354000 (Air Bags). The dealer diagnosed the vehicle that the brake lamp switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that while driving, the TPMS, passenger seat belt, and the ESC warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the valve cover gasket and alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR DRIVERS AIRBAG. EXPERIENCING HIGH RESISTANCE CODE. RECALL 11V472000 COVERED SOME 2008 MODELS BUT NOT MINE. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER STARTING VEHICLE ON 08/03/2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V472000 (AIR BAGS) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,580.
CAMPAIGN 103 RECALL. I HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 SANTA FE BUT NEVER RECIEVED A RECALL NOTICE.
AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CAUSING AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON. VEHICLE WAS MADE APRIL OF 2008 THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL FOR VEHICLES MADE IN MARCH OF 2008 FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (BENTLEY HYUNDAI, 3805 UNIVERSITY DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35816) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 229,000.
ON 9/26/2017 AT 3:55 P.M. I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING ON HWY 97 IN CALIFORNIA AT APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH. NO MORE THAN 10 MILES OUTSIDE THE CITY OF WEED. I HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD OR BLEW A TIRE. THE CAR FIRST WENT LEFT AND THEN RIGHT. THE BREAKS FELT AS THOUGH THEY LOCKED. WHEN THE CAR HIT AN ASPHALT CURB IT WENT AIRBORNE (THERE WERE NO GUARD RAILS) AND WENT INTO A SMALL EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BUT LANDED UPRIGHT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I ALSO BELIEVE THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO WHEN A CRASH OCCURS. I SAY THAT BECAUSE THE RIGHT SIDE MY HEAD HIT THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE AND I RECEIVED A LARGE HEMATOMA. INITIALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THE ROOF HAD CAVED IN. WHEN I SAW THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY IT WAS THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROOF THAT HAD CAVED IN. WHAT ALSO MAKES ME BELIEVE THERE IS A SEATBELT ISSUE IS I WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER IN 1985 AND DID NOT SUFFER ANY HEAD INJURIES AS THE SEAT BELT KEPT ME TIGHTLY IN THE SEAT.
2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DESIGN FLAW WITH AIRBAG. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE PROPELLANT THE DEPLOYS THE AIRBAG THE CONTAINED A CHEMICAL THAT LEFT THE CONSUMER WITH TWO SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON THE ARM. UPDATED 09/18/2017*JS *JS
A FEW DAYS AGO AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION ON THE COMPUTER PERFORMED ITS NORMAL CHECK, HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED CONTINUOUSLY ON. THIS CONTINUES TO STAY ON EACH TIME I TURN ON THE CAR. THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT BLINK, IT REMAINS CONSTANTLY ON. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WORKS ACCORDING TO THE LIGHT ABOVE THE RADIO; IT INDICATES "OFF" WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE LIGHT TURNS OFF WHEN SOMEONE SITS DOWN. THE HORN DOES WORK, HOWEVER THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK. THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO NOT WORK PRIOR TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V472000. THIS RECALL ONLY INCLUDES SANTA FE'S MANUFACTURED UP TO MARCH 20TH, 2008. MY SANTA FE WAS MANUFACTURED AFTER ON APRIL 24TH, 2008. REQUESTING INVESTIGATION TO EXTEND THIS RECALL DUE TO THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MALFUNCTION ON THE CLOCK SPRING FOR THE SANTA FE ON VEHICLES MADE AFTER THE DATE OF MARCH 20TH, 2008. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ARE FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE WITH THIS SAME MALFUNCTION FOR VEHICLES AFTER THE DATE OF THE RECALL.
A WEEK AGO, THE RED LAMP ON MY DASHBOARD FOR AIR BAG BEGAN TO STAY LIT, WHILE DRIVING, PARKED, ANYTIME THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. THEN A FEW DAYS AGO, WHILE MY 275 LB SON WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED LIT, SAYING OFF, INDICATING IT WAS NOT WORKING, DESPITE HAVING A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. BOTH OF THESE HAVE HAD RECALLS, (12V354000) AND 11V472000, BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION TO HAVE SERVICED. ONE I SUSPECT IS BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED MARCH 27TH, AND THE RECALLED INCLUDES DATES THOUGH MARCH 21 (2008) BUT IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM, SO MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED WITHOUT COST TO ME. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS IN THIS VEHICLE. I ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS SON, WHO CANNOT COMPREHEND SAFETY ISSUES....
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (PLAZA HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 2740 NOSTRAND AVE STE A BROOKLYN, NY 11210) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 10473827. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. ...UPDATED 10/19/17 *BF
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.
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.
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.
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 SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICIAN MADE THE CONTACT AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V472000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
HYUNDAI SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 103: IN RELATION TO THE ABOVE RECALL, MY VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY DUE TO IT BEING MANUFACTURED ON 2 JUNE 2008. MY CLOCK SPRING FOR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG HAS BECOME INOPERABLE AS INDICATED BY THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION AND DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATES SINCE THERE IN NO RECALL, I MUST PAY FOR THIS PART AND THE DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE I HAVE SURPASSED THE 5YR/60K WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM SURPRISED IT IS NOT COVERED FOR FREE. AS SEEN WITH THE ABOVE RECALL CAMPAIGN, I WAS A FEW MONTHS SHY OF HAVING IT REPLACED FOR FREE REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.
MY RED AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANTED $1500. MY ISSUE IS I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION SO WHY SHOULD I PAY THIS EXTREMELY HIGH COST. (I'M RETIRED) I ALSO SPOKE WITH THE HYUNDAI REGIONAL MANAGER AND THEY OFFERED ME $200. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I WANT HYUNDAI TO FIX THIS!!! I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL IN 2012, SO SOMETHING CONTINUES TO BE WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V472000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN MAY TO FIX TWO RECALLS, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE AIR BAG RECALIBRATION ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE, MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME IN. I TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT HAD PERFORMED THE RECALLS AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT & WOULD COST $491 TO FIX. I TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL THEY HAD JUST PERFORMED BUT THEY REFUSED AND NOW I AM OUT THE MONEY. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FIX IT BECAUSE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT MY PASSENGER WOULD BE UNPROTECTED. HYUNDAI AMERICA SHOULD REIMBURSE ME THE MONEY! *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING. TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID IS CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDS REPLACING. I TOLD THEM IT WAS A RECALL AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT. I DECLINED THE REPAIR BECAUSE I KNEW THERE WAS A RECALL BUT I DIDN'T TAKE PAPERWORK WITH ME THINKING THEY WOULD KNOW ABOUT IT. UPON RETURNING HOME AND FINDING PAPERWORK ON RECALL (CAMP103) I CALLED BACK AND THEY NOW SAID THERE WAS A RECALL AND THEY REPLACED THAT PART IN NOVEMBER 2012. I DO NOT REMEMBER THEM REPLACING IT BUT I'LL TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD ON THAT. MY ISSUE IS, DID THEY REPLACE THE RECALLED PART WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART IF IT ONLY LASTED 18 MONTHS! I'VE HAD MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS SOME A DECADE OLD OR OLDER NEVER THIS AIR BAG ISSUE. I FEEL THEY SHOULD REPLACE THIS RECALL AGAIN IF THEY REPAIRED IT WITH ANOTHER SHORT LIVED DEFECTIVE PART. *TR.. .. .UPDATED 07/21/15 *BF
THE 2008 HYUNDAI SANTE FE HAS A RECALL ON FAULTY AIRBAG CLOCKSPRINGS. COINCIDENTALLY MY 2008 SANTE FE CLOCK SPRING NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CARE TELLS ME THAT I AM NOT COVERED BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT LISTED IN THE "RECALL CAMPAIGN" MY CONFUSION IS I OWN A 2008 THE RECALLS ARE FOR THE 2008....HOW DO I GET MY CAR INCLUDED IN THIS "RECALL CAMPAIGN"? PLEASE HELP. I WILL HAVE TO PAY $400 TO GET THIS FIXED WHEN IT SHOULD BE UNDER HYUNDAI FAULTY WARRANTY. PLEASE HELP THE LITTLE GUY/CONSUMER!! THANK YOU *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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