2008 Hyundai Santa Fe: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe: 4 recalls, 541 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #08V272000 · 2008 · 88,943 vehicles
What's wrong: 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).
Why it matters: Overloading your vehicle May adversely affect handling and braking and May cause tire damage, resulting in tire failure and a crash without warning.
The fix: Hyundai will mail corrected certification labels along with the instructions to the affected owners. The customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The recall began on August 5, 2008.
Airbags Vehicle recall #11V472000 · 2011 · 205,233 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the clock spring develops high resistance, in the event of a crash, the drivers air bag will not deploy and will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.
The fix: Hyundai dealers will replace the vehicle's driver's air bag clock spring contact assembly free of charge. The safety recall began in November 2011.
Airbags Vehicle recall #12V354000 · 2012 · 199,118 vehicles
What's wrong: The occupant classification system (ocs) May need recalibration to accurately detect small statured adults.
Why it matters: Improper classification or detection May cause the front passenger airbag not to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the classification software free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #13V113000 · 2013 · 1,712,336 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'on' position, the transmission shifter May be able to be moved out of park without first applying the brake. This May lead…
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013.
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Trailer hitch Equipment recall #08E016000 · 2008 · 3,387 vehicles
What's wrong: This recall has been superceded by recall 08e-055. Hyundai is recalling 3,387 trailer hitch wiring harnesses either included with a trailer hitch or sold as a service part manufactured by thule towing systems and distributed by Hyundai for installation on my 2007-2008 santa fe and veracruz vehicles. The accessory trailer hitch wiring harness converter module is mounted to the top surface of the rear bumper…
Why it matters: Excessive heat May cause damage to the rear bumper area and May potentially result in a fire.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners and will replace the trailer hitch wiring harness free of charge. The recall began on March 31, 2008.
Trailer hitch Equipment recall #08E055000 · 2008 · 3,387 vehicles
What's wrong: The accessory trailer hitch wiring harness converter module is mounted to the top surface of the rear bumper reinforcement. Some circuit board components May not have been thoroughly sealed to prevent moisture contact. The moisture May result in circuit board corrosion possibly causing a short circuit.
Why it matters: A short circuit can cause overheating and damage to the converter module, possibly resulting in a fire.
The fix: This recall supersedes a previous recall conducted by Hyundai affecting the same trailer hitch wiring components concerning high current leakage or a short circuit of capacitor c1. (please see 08e016). Owners who have already had their trailer hitch repaired under the initial campaign will receive…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 7 mention a fire, 12 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Fuel & propulsion (215): the most common themes are warning light on (107), stalls / loses power (24), electrical failure (6).
- Electrical (74): the most common themes are warning light on (32), stalls / loses power (20), electrical failure (20).
- Airbags (70): the most common themes are warning light on (31), fails to deploy (9).
- Engine (60): the most common themes are warning light on (23), stalls / loses power (20), leaks (16).
The 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe has 541 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 26 Santa Fe model years for complaints (1.8× the average Santa Fe year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (100 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 73,668 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (684 complaints, 7 recalls), 2009 (358 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe.
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FAQ
Does the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
Owners have filed 541 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are fuel & propulsion (215), electrical (74), airbags (70).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (2.7 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.