Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 75 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 75, in the owner's own words
Engine rattles noise when starting the car after sitting for more than an hour it makes that sound another issue is that when i turn the headlights on all interior lights shuts off including the instrument cluster radio and ac climate control buttons
I have taken my car to my local dealership for the Service Campaign 976 (Oil Gasket leak) back in Nov 2023. Ever since then my car has had starting issues until one day it needed a jump start in 2024 during the summer. Didn't think anything of it at the time, until the beginning of 2025. Car needed a jump start in the winter before leaving for work in the morning and before going back home from work. My brother who is a auto mechanic suggested I needed a new battery by now so I did that. Once I replaced the battery on my car I noticed that I didn't have headlights, power steering or heat working in my car. He came to my home and checked my engine and noticed that my alternator was covered in oil. I remembered that I took my car to the dealership for this issue with the Service campaign. I've been back and forth with this issue between the dealership and corporate to look at this issue. The dealership can't provide any photo proof or documentation stating what work was done. The dealership claimed that Hyundai doesn't need photo proof as of 2023 and started needing it in 2024, they simple state that the work was done and sign the car off on the recall. I don't see how this isn't a safety issue when the description of the campaign says that my vehicle can shut off while driving causing a crash. I have a family that I drive in this vehicle and our safety isn't being a concerning issue with this matter because "It's outside of the warranty" that shouldn't matter if the dealership can not provide any proof that work was done besides putting a oil shield on the vehicle. The head gasket leak didn't seem to be resolved if the alternator is saturated in oil enough that it doesn't hold a charge.
I took the car to get this recall done: Hyundai has decided to conduct a service campaign to inspect (and if necessary replace) the alternator and replace the front valve cover gasket on certain 2007-2009 model year Santa Fe vehicles. The recall was done, replacing the gasket and alternator. 2 years later the car started to stall in the middle of traffic. I returned to the dealer, dealer inspected and reported "oil found on the new alternator and oil leak found on the real valve cover gasket". I have been going back and forth on the phone with Hyundai costumer care. They said they will not redo the recall. It was not done correctly and slowly leak again. the vehicle now cut off everyday specially when i stop and go at short drives. It has also cut off in traffic. making it very dangerous. But Hyundai is telling me nothing for them to do.
My speedometer has stopped working, I had the sensor replaced and fuses checked but it is still not working
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for an undisclosed recall repair, and the contact was informed that the valve cover gasket, and the alternator were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing difficulty charging. The contact stated that while driving 50-60 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times while driving on the highway. The vehicle was able to be jump-started. The contact stated that a mobile mechanic had inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that there was oil leaking onto the spark plugs. The contact stated that the vehicle was chugging while driving. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in Hyundai Campaign Number: 976. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair. The dealer diagnosed that the valve cover gasket was leaking onto the alternator and onto other unknown parts. The dealer replaced the valve cover gasket and the alternator under Hyundai Campaign Number: 976. The contact stated after driving 7-8 minutes after picking up the vehicle from the dealer, the contact noticed an abnormal odor and smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact pulled into a gas station and parked the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer. The contact stated she drove to the nearby residence of a friend instead because she needed to report to work. The contact stated upon opening the hood and starting the vehicle the following day, the contact noticed flames in the engine compartment. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. No police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the fire had occurred due to an old oil leak; however, the contact stated there was also a noticeable new oil leak under the hood. The dealer later informed the contact that the starter had failed, and that the fire had not caused any further damage to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and
Brought 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe to Carlsbad Hyundai dealership on 12/22/23 for Service Campaign 976, due to oil leaking from the front cylinder bank’s 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. Dealership said the vehicle needed to be fixed but they needed to order parts and that it would take 2-3 wks. It has now been over 6 months. I have called the dealership and Hyundai America multiple times all to no avail.
In October 2021 the alternator failed due to an oil leak from the valve cover gasket. I paid the local Hyundai dealer to replace the alternator and they also said the battery was damaged because of the failed alternator so I paid for a new battery as well. The dealer never mentioned the recall on this vehicle for the leaking valve cover and did not disclose that the leak was known to cause alternator failure. I later learned of the recall and had the valve cover repair performed under the recall. However, Hyundai has refused to reimburse me for the alternator repair that I had already previously paid for, and likewise have refused to reimburse me for the battery. Clearly the problem was due to the known defect that resulted in the recall, so I am obviously entitled to compensation for the out if pocket repair expenses. Please advise me how to proceed.
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.
ON HIGHWAY, CAR WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE CAUSING ME TO SLOW TO 50 MPH AND NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH SPEED IF TRAFFIC. PULLED OVER, DASH LIGHTS FLASHED AND CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. OIL HAD LEAKED OUT OF VALVE COVER GASKET ALL OVER THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING THE CAR TO MALFUNCTION AND BECOME INOPERABLE.
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 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS RAINING (THREE TIMES ON THE SAME DAY). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BENTLEY HYUNDAI, 3805 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35816, UNDER A CAMPAIGN GENERATED BY THE MANUFACTURER DECEMBER 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT NUMBER: [XXX] WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE WENT TO PICK UP VEHICLE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. ONE WEEK LATER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER. ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
THE FUEL PUMP AND SENSORS WENT BAD. THE FUEL GAUGE STARTED GLITCHING AND GOING UP AND DOWN RANDOMLY. AFTER 1-2 MONTHS IT WAS SHOWING EMPTY AT ALL TIMES. I CHANGED THE SENSORS AND THE FUEL GAUGE WENT TO THE MIDDLE EVEN WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SENSORS AND THE FUEL PUMP TO GET IT FIXED.
THE GAS GUAGE IN THIS VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING OVER A YEAR AGO AND WE HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHEN WE KEEP OUR GAS GUAGE FILLED IN THIS VEHICLE ALL THE TIME CAUSING A DANGER TO OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN SOMEDAY SOMEBODY IS GOING TO HIT US DUE TO THIS ISSUE KEEPS HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND THE ROAD AND INTERSTATE. IT CONSTANTLY KEEPS SHOWING US EMPTY WHEN WE ARE NOT. I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS THAT THIS HAPPENS WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES AND IT HAS YET TO BE RECALLED.
GOING DOWN INTERSTATE AT 70 MILES AN HOUR AND CAR SHUT OFF PUT CAR IN NUTRAL AND RESTARTED . THEN THE NEXT DAY DRIVING TO WORK AND CAR CUT OFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING DID SAME AND RESTARTED . WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THIS HAS BEN A PROBLEM IN THESE CARS FOR YEARS AND AM AFRAID FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN S LIVES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DICK SMITH HYUNDAI (825 CONGAREE RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607, (864) 284-7777) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 15714282. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED REIMBURSEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
2008 SANTA FE GAS GAUGE NOT READING PROPERLY. WHEN I FILL UP THE CAR AND THE GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY. AND CONSTANTLY FLUCTUATES. I HAVE TO CALCULATE HOW MANY MILES I DRIVE IN ORDER TO KNOW WHEN TO FILL UP AGAIN.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND UNFUNCTIONAL OR INFUNCTIOMAL GAS GAUGE
LEAKING VALVE COVER IS ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK DOWN ONTO THE ALTERNATOR. CAR BE STATIONARY OR RUNNING. MOST NOTABLE WHEN CAR ENGINE IS RUNNING.
FUEL SENDING SENSOR IS ERRATIC CAUSING CHK ENGINE CODE P0464. UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION AND SHOULD BE RECALLED TO BE FIX.
MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WHILE DRIVING STALLS, TRUCK IS NO LONGER ON WHILE DRIVING. POWER STEERING AND CONTROL OVER STEERING WHEEL IS LOSS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING QUITE FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING. HAPPEN TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHICH, SCARED ME TO DEATH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON STAY FOR A FEW DAYS THEN TURNS OFF. MY FUEL GAGE K DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. I CAN FILL MY TANK UP ON FULL, THEN IT WILL DROP TO THE E LINE LIKE THERE IS NO GAS. THE YELLOW LIGHT COMES ON. NOT SAFE BECAUSE NOW I DON'T KNOW IF MY TRUCK IS FULL OR REALLY EMPTY. WHY HAVEN'T THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THESE ISSUES ESPECIALLY SINCE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL.
FUEL LEVEL SENSOR FAILED....INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE CAUSING OWNERS TO NOT KNOW WHEN THE CARS FUEL TANK IS LOW, AND SOMETIMES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY EXPLODED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND DISCOVERED THAT BATTERY FLUID WAS LEAKING. HYUNDAI OF WESLEY CHAPEL (27000 WESLEY CHAPEL BLVD, WESLEY CHAPEL, FL 33544, (813) 501-2736) WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO FUCCILLO KIA OF WESLEY CHAPEL (28555 FL-54, WESLEY CHAPEL, FL 33545, (813) 395-0347). FUCCILLO KIA HAD NOT SPECIFICALLY VERIFIED IF ANY OTHER COMPONENTS OR ELECTRICAL FAILURES CAUSED THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE OEM BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH A TRIPLE A BATTERY, THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY MAY BE FAULTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD WAS DAMAGED WITH AN EXTENSIVE INDENTATION WHERE THE BATTERY HAD LODGED UPWARD WHEN IT EXPLODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *TT UPDATED 11/19/18*JB
FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS READS AS EMPTY, REGARDLESS OF MOVEMENT OR AMOUNT OF GAS IN TANK, LEAVING DRIVER TO RUN OUT OF GAS IN UNDESIRABLE PLACES. REPAIR IS APPROX 600-800 DOLLARS. MANY COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE RECALLED. HAS TO DO WITH THE FUEL SENDING SENSOR OR SOMETHING I WAS TOLD.
I ACTUALLY HAVE 2 ISSUES OCCURRING. ONE OF THESE WAS DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED BY A PREVIOUS RECALL (CAMPAIGN 105/110 - FIXED /CLOSED JUN 23, 2014). HOWEVER, MY ESC OFF LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT ARE AGAIN LIGHTING UP. I HAVE (LUCKILY) NOT YET HAD LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OR CONTROL. THE SECOND ISSUE IS IN REGARDS TO CAMPAIGN 936. I'VE HAD THE FRONT ENGINE VALVE GASKET COVER FIXED, ALONG WITH MY ALTERNATOR REPLACED (AFTER MY HUSBAND AND I DID IT OURSELVES AFTER LOSING ALL POWER ON CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD BEFORE BARELY COASTING INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO SORT OF PARK OUT OF THE WAY). WE CHANGED MY OIL THIS WEEKEND, HAVE HAD NO OTHER WORK DONE ON THE CAR SINCE (EXCEPT OIL CHANGES) AND MY HUSBAND NOTICED THAT THE ALTERNATOR IS AGAIN COVERED IN OIL. BETWEEN THE 2 ISSUES, IT IS MOST LIKELY A MATTER OF DAYS (IF I'M LUCKY) BEFORE MY CAR LOSES POWER IN SOME FORM AND I AM POTENTIALLY IN A WRECK WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO "RE-FIX" THE FIRST 2 CAMPAIGNS THAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN FIXED, BUT FOR JUST THE VALVE GASKET WORK, IT WOULD BE AT LEAST $500, NOT INCLUDING THE ALTERNATOR THAT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED WHEN THE CAR DOES GO OUT. APPARENTLY THE GASKET THAT IS LEAKING THIS TIME ISN'T THE FRONT ONE, IT IS THE REAR ONE. MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS ON THIS ARE THAT IF THE FRONT ONE IS FAULTY, THEN IT'S NOT A STRETCH TO GET TO THE REAR ONE BEING FAULTY. MY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP EVEN WARNED ME WHEN REPLACING THE FRONT ONE THAT MY REAR ONE WOULD MOST LIKELY NEED TO BE DONE TOO (FOR $500+). IF THE DEALERSHIPS KNOW, IT MAKES ME WONDER WHY THE RECALL DIDN'T INCLUDE BOTH VALVE COVER GASKETS OR A NEW ONE HASN'T BEEN ISSUED FOR THE REAR ONE. HOPEFULLY, BOTH OF THESE ISSUES CAN BE RE-ADDRESSED. THE DATE BELOW IS OF FIRST WARNING LIGHTS. THE LIGHTS COME ON FROM PARK OR WHILE DRIVING.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .