2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems

Large leak detected P0455

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 tank, the check engine light goes off and the needle rises to full. When the gas reaches a certain level the check engine light goes on and fuel needle drops to empty . It will go up and down. This first occurred October 2022.

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.

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.

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.

Seem like it burns oil quick

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed with the cruise control activated, the contact stated that after depressing the brake pedal the cruise control briefly failed to disengage. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The Electronic Power Control (EPC) and power train warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the stop lamp switch. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V113000 (Exterior Lighting); the VIN was included, but the vehicle had already been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 195,000.

Seem like it burns oil quick

be guessed ABS malfunction, on 11/03/2022 on highway in bumper-to-bumper situation.speed around 40 Mph. the car front Suddenly hit braking hard, I had followed immediately hitting the braking hard but at some point became lost brake and collied at the car front, this a second time, I had another very similar situation years ago but avoided collision

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed with the cruise control activated, the contact stated that after depressing the brake pedal the cruise control briefly failed to disengage. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The Electronic Power Control (EPC) and power train warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the stop lamp switch. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V113000 (Exterior Lighting); the VIN was included, but the vehicle had already been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 195,000.

Reference Number: 11520065 This is a follow up to a previously submitted incident involving this same vehicle. My first submission was May, 2023, This vehicle experienced the exact same hazardous condition on February 26, 2024. on I-75 south. After driving on an interstate highway for about 1 hour, I noticed a traffic backup and proceeded to slow down as the traffic was nearly stopped. As I slowed my car down to nearly a complete stop, the engine suddenly surged forward with high rpm's as though the accelerator was pushed to the floor. I immediately pressed on the brake pedal as hard as I could to stop the car from surging forward and then quickly decided to put the transmission into neutral so I would not hit the car in front of me. The car eventually stopped surging and may have stalled. I finally got the car to move again by turning off the ignition and restarting it. I continued on my way and did not have a similar situation for the rest of my 30 minute highway trip. Like all the times before, the floor mat was NOT involved in this sudden acceleration. Last year when I took this car to a Hyundai dealer for inspection, they could not replicate this condition. They said that I needed a new fuel level sensor in my gas tank and a new fuel pump--neither of which I agreed to because first, the gas gauge has no relation to my surging and second, the fuel pump must be working or else I could not drive the car. This surging has occurred perhaps 7 times since I have owned this car since 2008. It is frightening to know that it could happen again with personal injuries or property damage. This condition rarely happens in city driving, but has happened at least 3 times in city driving. Seems like this situation would warrant a manufacturer recall.

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that after a visual inspection of underneath the vehicle, he observed excessive corrosion on the subframe. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed the excessive corrosion of the subframe. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was 205,000.

Rusted out subframe, less than 95k miles. No “salt belt” treatment offered to this vehicle. Vehicle in Ohio since bought. Took to dealer for engine recall, found $1200 subframe replacement bill. Car was garage stored all of the time.

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 THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND TURNED TO THE LEFT ON ITS OWN. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BLOCK. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE REAR SEAT BELTS DID NOT FUNCTION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED RICART HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 4255 S HAMILTON RD, #180, GROVEPORT, OH 43125, (614) 836-6251) AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed with the cruise control activated, the contact stated that after depressing the brake pedal the cruise control briefly failed to disengage. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The Electronic Power Control (EPC) and power train warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the stop lamp switch. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V113000 (Exterior Lighting); the VIN was included, but the vehicle had already been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 195,000.

Rusted out subframe, less than 95k miles. No “salt belt” treatment offered to this vehicle. Vehicle in Ohio since bought. Took to dealer for engine recall, found $1200 subframe replacement bill. Car was garage stored all of the time.

The rear and drive unit is having issues loud popping sound when driving this is a major safety concern, and seems to be a huge problem across the board as I’ve been reading about on Hyundai forums

The sunvisors for passenger and driver are defective. I have had the car since 2013 and have had to replace both visors at LEAST once a year, if not more frequently. The visor will suddenly break, swing down, impairing vision of the driver while the car is in motion, including highway speeds. I have been hit in the head several times when it breaks & swings while driving -- I am going to have a wreck eventually if Huydai does not address this defect in their visors & it is clearly a defect (check YouTube for all the hacks in how to attempt to fix it).

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE FROM ITS SOCKET WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VISOR HUNG BY THE WIRE FOR THE LIGHT. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT. IT IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I WAS ABLE TO JURY RIG IT BACK - VERY SIMPLE AND EASY; HOWEVER THEIR NEGLECT OF THIS IS DANGEROUS.

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

WHEN TRYING TO UNBUCKLE THE SEATBELT IT STICKS AND YOU CAN'T GET OUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP PRESSING AND PRESSING AND WIGGLING REALLY FIRM SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT TO RELEASE I'M SCARED I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT ONE DAY OR WHAT IF I WRECK AND CAN'T GET OUT !!

The rear and drive unit is having issues loud popping sound when driving this is a major safety concern, and seems to be a huge problem across the board as I’ve been reading about on Hyundai forums

I WAS BACKING UP TO TURN AROUND AND AS I WAS TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL I HEARD AND FELT VERY LOUD PULSING THUMPS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I GOT OUT AND SAW MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS LEANING OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE ARM BROKE OF FROM MY WHEEL ALSO I FOUND OUT WHEN I HAD IT REPAIRED THE AXEL ALSO BROKE!! GOOD THING I WASN'T ON A HIGHWAY OR DRIVING I OR OTHERS MIGHT HAVE BEEN HURT OR WORSE!!!

PRIOR TO CONTACTING NHTSA WE CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND INFORMED THEM THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND WE CAN SEE THE BOTTOM OF THE INTERIOR IN THIS VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR IS ON A LIFT (THIS WAS POINTED OUT TO US BY A THIRD PARTY REPAIR SHOP AND NOT THE DEALER). IT APPEARS THAT HYUNDAI MAY BE CONCEALING DATA FROM NHTSA REGARDING CORROSION PROBLEMS ON ITS VEHICLES. WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT HYUNDAI IS SHIRKING ITS SAFETY OBLIGATIONS AND WILL NOT COVER CORROSION, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS FUNCTIONAL OR SAFETY, IF THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. BASED ON PRIOR DEALINGS WITH NHTSA I KNOW THAT RECALLS ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD IF VEHICLE SAFETY IS IN QUESTION. WHEN WE CONTACTED HYUNDAI, THEIR EXCUSE FOR WHY THE VEHICLE HAD A MASSIVE HOLE IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS THAT THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN PRIMARILY IN ILLINOIS AND ILLINOIS USES SALT ON THE ROADS IN WINTER. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, MORE THAN HALF OF THE VEHICLES IN THE US ARE DRIVEN ON ROADS THAT ARE SALTED IN THE WINTER. THIS EXCUSE IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE AND PERHAPS NHTSA NEEDS TO PROHIBIT HYUNDAI FROM SELLING VEHICLES IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE US IF THIS IS GOING TO BE HYUNDAI'S ATTITUDE. I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER.

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

KUMHO SOLUS KR-21 TIRES ARE MISSING DATE OF MANUFACTURE ON THE DOT LINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY AT 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES AND STATED THAT THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW TIRE. A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED ON MARCH 15, 2009, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL SHAKING WHEN IN MOTION. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS PUT IN TOUCH WITH A DISTRICT MANAGER AND GIVEN A CASE NUMBER, BUT THE DISTRICT MANAGER DID NOT ASSIST. BRIDGESTONE REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A STORE IN SYRACUSE, NY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. IT WOULD COST $194.36 TO BALANCE THE WHEELS. BOTH REAR WHEELS WERE OUT OF BALANCE. ON MARCH 28, 2009, THE CONTACT ADDED UNDERCOATING, WHICH THE DEALER STATED MAY HAVE CAUSED HARMONIC VIBRATIONS. THE TIRE INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19.

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR BEGAN RACING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN DRIVE WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE CAR RACED FORWARD, ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD MY FEET ON THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING FORWARD CRASHING INTO A NEIGHBORS YARD AND DEMOLISHING THEIR LANDSCAPING BEFORE I MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT OFF. I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT IT COULD HAVE ENDED MUCH DIFFERENTLY AS I CROSSED A MAIN HIGHWAY BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO REST. BECAUSE I HAVE FLOOR MATS OTHER THAN THOSE ISSUED BY HYUNDAI, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE FLOOR MAT CAUSED THE GAS PEDAL TO BECOME STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THIS IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED AND WOULD ALSO NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT WOULD RUN ROUGH AND MAKE A LOT OF NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THE BEARING FAILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,700. UPDATED 03/16/11 *BF UPDATED 1/4/11 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BECAME EXCESSIVELY HOT. THE PASSENGER OBSERVED THAT THE SEAT WAS ON FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES TO HER HANDS AND BUTTOCKS BUT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,002.

FAN KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF. DEALER SAID THERE IS A "SHORT IN THE A/C CONTROL HEAD". *TR