10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,490 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #52

Feb 262024

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #51

Jan 182024

Santa Fe

  • miles
Valve cover leak or head gasket leak

- Graham, TX, USA

problem #50

Mar 152023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Vehicle has stalled couple of times while driving. One on the service road just about to merge on the highway 1604 North after taking left turn from the Potranco road about a year ago. Steering got locked and engine died, I managed to pull over to the right shoulder into the parking lot of Med Clinic. After couple tries, I was able to get it going. There is occasional check engine light on that goes off after some time of driving and not sure if this is related to stalling of engine. There is a history of oil leak under the hood. I received recall service notice for leaking cylinder head gasket which outlined same issues that I encountered before and took vehicle to the dealership. It was kept for 2 days for service and was returned to me. There is still sign of wetted oil on the parts. There is no sign that I could see of opening and taking parts apart for the so-called completed service, dust and debris seem to be untouched. I have a doubt that service evert took place. I filed a complaint with the Hyundai Motors requesting independent assessment if gasket was actually changed. They sent an acknowledgement of receiving the complaint, but no one has contacted me.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #49

Apr 232023

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

i change the oil on 4/18/2023 in walmart i park the car in my house i used on 04/23/2023 on i-75 southbound the oil light came out and them smoke star on the car fallow by fire me and daugther an husband where on the suv was tereffied

- Lake City, FL, USA

problem #48

Aug 122021

Santa Fe

  • 136,397 miles
Head on impact rear ending a truck. Engine locked melted head gaskets and destroyed radiator

- Amarillo , TX, USA

problem #47

Dec 162020

Santa Fe

  • 115,000 miles
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.

- Belmont, CA, USA

problem #46

Oct 182019

Santa Fe

  • 148,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car cutsoff while driving

- Ardmore, TN, USA

problem #45

Aug 082019

Santa Fe

  • 165 miles
Turning left thru an intersection the car stalled, leaving us with no brakes and very little steering. This has happened more than once.

- Drexel, NC, USA

problem #44

Feb 272019

Santa Fe

  • miles
Leaking valve cover is allowing oil to leak down onto the alternator. Car be stationary or running. Most notable when car engine is running.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #43

Jan 132019

Santa Fe

  • 95,000 miles
The car shuts off while driving. No pre-warning or alert before it happens

- Deerfield Beach, FL, USA

problem #42

Aug 052018

Santa Fe

  • 72,228 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving along and made a right turn into a intersecting road when I encountered loss of steering control. After almost hitting a car I got it off to the side of road and discovered that the engine had just shut off with no warning. It cranked right back up and I drove it home but now I am afraid to drive it.

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #41

Jul 102018

Santa Fe

  • 113,000 miles
My 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe stalled twice today. It also stalled on the same day twice last week. This happened each time I came to a stop light or wanted to make a turn. The engine stopped running, the power steering ceased working, and check engine light came on. After each occurrence, I switched my hazard lights on, pushed the transaxle to park and then restarted the car to pull out of traffic. The stalling is often accompanied by loss of power (power steering and brakes too), complete failure to accelerate, and the check engine light comes on.

- Kearns, UT, USA

problem #40

Oct 112017

Santa Fe

  • 163,201 miles
While normal driving down a city road going straight the vehicle will stall without any notice or any change in condition. You loose all power, brakes and steering when this happens and have to bring it to stop with emergency brake and place in park. Then you can start the vehicle once again like it has no issues. This issue produces no engine trouble codes and has happened 3 other times in the 6 years we owned the vehicle. This is extremely dangerous and we never know when it will happen.

- Sugar Hill, GA, USA

problem #39

Jul 212017

Santa Fe

  • 100,000 miles
There have been 3 instances where after turning on my vehicle, the power is throttled and I can only drive a couple miles per hour. I ran a diagnostic scan, and obtained the codes P2106, P1295, and P2135. I searched online and found this to be a common problem. There appears to be a technical service bulletin out for this issue (tsb 09-FL003-2). If this is a common issue, should there be a recall? thank you.

- Poulsbo, WA, USA

problem #38

Jul 102017

Santa Fe

  • 76,000 miles
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.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #37

May 162017

Santa Fe

  • 124,000 miles
I was driving at a low speed, making a left-hand turn when the car lost all power. No brakes, no steering. I was able to get the car into a driveway. I was able to restart. About 1 hour later the same thing, only this time I was making a left-hand turn across a very busy city street.. I was almost hit by an oncoming vehicle. This is very dangerous and will probably sell the car & tell the new owners about my issue. I have not taken it to a garage, as the closest Hyundai shop to me is an hour away. I do not feel safe driving that far.

- Reedsville, WV, USA

problem #36

Aug 102016

Santa Fe

  • miles
Took my car to a two mechanics who both said there is a gas leak in the evaporator of the emission control system. I read online that this issue is common with Santa fes and I believe the company should issue a recall and get this dangerous issue fixed.

- Dearborn, MI, USA

problem #35

Jun 142016

Santa Fe

  • 41,432 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving various speeds, the contact heard a whining noise. Also, when the contact shifted from first to second or from third to fourth gear, the transmission shook violently and the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After the repair, the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,432.

- Ray City, GA, USA

problem #34

Jul 142016

Santa Fe

  • 75,000 miles
While at a stop in a construction zone, my foot was on the brake, when the vehicle suddenly accelerated into the vehicle in front of me. Although my foot was planted hard on the brake, the engine continued racing, and it felt like my car was going to push his car down the street! I shifted into park and turned the car off. Luckily there was only $4,000 worth of damage to my car, and no one was hurt. I refused to drive it, and had it towed to the dealer. They said the computer showed no malfunction, and it had to be driver error. Three months later, it did it again to a lesser degree, in an open area. I turned the car off again, and it was fine until yesterday. It has been 4 months since that last incident, but this one even was worse than the first. Only thing is, now I know to put all my weight on the brake, shift to neutral and turn the car off as fast as I can. This one frightened me so badly, I will not drive it again. It is going to sit at the dealer until they find out what to do. I cannot in good conscience drive it, sell it or even trade it in until I know it is safe! every time it happened, the car was on a city street, stationary, and heading straight. The engine revs up so loud, it sounds like an airplane! yesterday I could tell the people in the car stopped next to me heard it and looked at me! I have owned this Santa Fe since it was brand new, and people tell me it looks like a new car. I keep up with the recommended maintenance and always take it to the dealer for service. Until last July, it has been an excellent car. The accident I had with it was the only accident I have had in 50 years of driving! please give me some ideas on what to tell the dealer to replace, repair or disconnect. Thanks for your help!

- Billings, MT, USA

problem #33

Dec 142016

Santa Fe

  • 106,000 miles
While accelerating to merge with traffic the engine starting making a strange noise. It continued to run and the noise decreased, and sometimes even quit. The next day the noise was back and while driving down a hill the engine died and my wife was able to coast onto an exit ramp. I was able to get it restarted and drove it to the dealer. The dealer stated with the knocking sound and they found metal in the oil it would need a new engine. I could not afford the over $7,000 estimate so I loaded the car on a trailer and took it home to repair myself. When I dissembled the engine I found one of the connecting rod bearings had spun and all the main bearings had significant damage consistent with metal debris on the bearing surface.

- Gurley, AL, USA

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