10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,027 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 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #27

Apr 172013

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 95,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the engine rpms increased excessively as the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The contact stated that the brakes failed to respond and the vehicle was placed in neutral in order to stop the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the failure was unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 95,000.

- Anaheim , CA, USA

problem #26

Jan 042013

Santa Fe

  • 58,000 miles
As I was driving at approximately 35mph going up a hill, my 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe accelerated at a very high rate of speed and pushing the brakes at full pressure only slowed the vehicle it would not stop and the engine revved. I was in a panic because vehicles were in front of me and I almost slammed into them. I managed to pull to the side and travel on the side of the road trying to stop my vehicle. I finally shifted from drive to neutral all the while pushing the brakes and got the vehicle in park. I have never been so scared in my life and fortunately did not hit any other vehicle. I called a tow truck to tow the vehicle to my garage because I was to afraid to drive it. I am awaiting diagnosis.. unfortunately it was late Friday afternoon and the garage was closed. They will not be able to look at until Monday.

- North Waterboro, ME, USA

problem #25

Sep 142012

Santa Fe

  • 35,000 miles
The are three layers of floor covering on this vehicle. The first is the wall to wall carpet. The second is a floor mat, made of carpet material which is securely anchored to the floor of the vehicle. The third layer of floor covering is a thick rubber mat. The rubber mat rests atop the carpeted floor mat unanchored. It slides around on top of the carpeted floor mat and prevents a severe hazard because it occasionally lodges itself under the accelerator pedal, causing the pedal to jam. This danger can be extreme because when the gas pedal jams in an intermediate throttle setting, it lengthens the stopping distance and has been known to cause a traffic accident.

- Roswell, GA, USA

problem #24

May 092012

Santa Fe

  • 55,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the check engine light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the throttle body sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact then experienced a failure in which there was an increase in the engine rpms, but the vehicle did not immediately accelerate. The vehicle then jerked forward and began to accelerate. The dealer inspected the vehicle and stated that they could not duplicate the failure or diagnose the cause. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 55,000.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #23

Aug 012010

Santa Fe

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, she attempted to accelerate further but the vehicle would not accelerate. There was an increase in engine rpms, but the vehicle would not accelerate. The failure recurred on an intermittent basis. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired yet the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the throttle sensor was replaced but to no avail. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.

- Cape Girardeau, MO, USA

problem #22

Dec 102011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 24,000 miles
I was backing up and as I turned the wheel the car engaged in a sudden acceleration as the motor started to rev. I applied the brakes, but the car would not stop until it plowed through a brick wall at my school.

- West Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #21

Sep 282011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 68,775 miles

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

While driving on the freeway I accelerated and my car continued to accelerate rapidly by itself. I was going approx. 65mph, and within a few seconds my car was accelerating on its own to 80 or more mph. I applied my brakes but they couldn't counteract the acceleration very well. I was able to pull over to the side of the freeway and put the car into neutral. When the car eventually slowed down, the gas pedal made a loud sound like it had released itself. This is the second time I have had this very scary event in two months, both on the freeway. The first time I was so shaken and shocked that I felt I hadn't had time to observe what was happening at the time. This last time I was able to pay close attention to what was happening. There was no interference with my floor mat. It was pure and simple: My gas pedal was dangerously accelerating by itself. I took my sante fe into the dealership and gave them a copy of many complaints from other sante fe owners that have experienced the exact incident, some resulting in accidents. In all cases the problem could not be duplicated by the dealership and could not be repaired nor explained. Sure enough, in my case the dealership could neither duplicate, explain, nor repair the problem. I am now fearful to drive my car, and I will sell it soon.

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #20

Sep 292011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 65,342 miles
Was driving on a 2 lane road approximatly 20 mph following a backhoe. As backhoe moved to berm and I was considering passing, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. I removed my foot from the gas pedal but the vehicle continued to accelerate. I placed all of my weight on the brakes and was eventually able to bring the vehicle to a halt and forcible put in park. As I turned off the ignition, the engine was revving at a very fast rate. I checked the floor mat and gas pedal and there was no problems noted. I do not believe the floor mat was a factor in this. I believe there is a problem with this vehicle that needs investigated. The vehicle is with the dealer now.

- Greensburg, PA, USA

problem #19

Sep 142011

Santa Fe

  • 64,000 miles
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.

- Wolcott, CT, USA

problem #18

May 122011

Santa Fe

  • 47,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving various speeds the vehicle would surge forward. During the failure the accelerator pedal would move back and forth. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the throttle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure continued. The vehicle was in the process of being taken to another authorized dealer. The failure and current mileages were 47,000.

- Budd Lake, NJ, USA

problem #17

Sep 022010

Santa Fe

  • 44,313 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the floors mats and holders were fracturing on both the driver and passenger sides. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that it was due to normal wear and tear. The manufacturer was contacted who agreed with the dealer and offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 44,313.

- Lamont , IL, USA

problem #16

Feb 012011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 35,000 miles
I have a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe with 35,000 miles on it. Last week I was driving at 25 miles/hr and it suddenly accelerated. I tried to brake multiple times but the car would not stop. I put the car in park and turned off the ignition and it stopped. Over the past two weeks I have had multiple incidences of sudden acceleration while pressing lightly on the gas and at other times while letting up on the brake. I brought my car to ther dealer in reisterstown, Maryland. They tested the car and drove it and insist that the computer says that everything is fine and they drove it and of course it did not happen while they drove it. I was told there is nothing to be done. I am scared to death to drive the car and don't know what to do. I see online there are many people with the same complaint that have not gotten any help from their dealers or from Hyundai.

- Owings Mills, MD, USA

problem #15

Dec 232010

Santa Fe

  • 12,000 miles
Sudden unintended acceleration. Occurred twice within two months.

- New Hartford, CT, USA

problem #14

Dec 202010

Santa Fe

  • 22,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph the vehicle suddenly accelerated to 67 mph. She was trying to decelerate by applying extreme pressure to the brake pedal and the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle eventually stopped by constantly pumping the brake. After she got the vehicle to stop she then contacted the nearest dealer and they advised her to bring the vehicle in for diagnostic testing. Upon inspection of the vehicle they were unable to replicate the failure that she experienced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

- Yorktown , VA, USA

problem #13

Jan 012011

Santa Fe

  • 28,881 miles
During the last few weeks the vehicle had a slight acceleration/deceleration. Then while moving the car lost engine pwr.acceleration was reduced to about 5mph had to stop and turn the car off then on to regain full pwr. The check engine light remaind on.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #12

Feb 152010

Santa Fe

  • 51,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving approximately 15-20 mph, the vehicle began to accelerate. The contact engaged the brakes but the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact put both feet on the accelerator pedal but it continued. The contact shifted into neutral, reverse and park which stopped the acceleration. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer but the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer contacted the manufacturer who stated that they could find no similar failures. The failure occurred three times and other times, the problem stopped when the brake pedal was depressed. The VIN was unavailable. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #11

Nov 092010

Santa Fe

  • 20,300 miles
My wife and 2 small children were on the way to the mall when her 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe started accelerating on it's own. She tried to step on the brakes but it wouldn't slow down. It was not a busy time of day on the highway and my wife was able to get to the right lane and step on the emergency brake slowly and the car slowed down. She called the dealership and they towed to the car to the dealership and they claimed that the computer needed to be updated. She asked the service manager if Hyundai had sent out a notice about the computer needing to be updated and he said no.

- Kinnelon , NJ, USA

problem #10

Nov 282010

Santa Fe

  • 39,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The malfunction indicator, electronic stability and AWD lock warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was moved to the side of the road. The engine was restarted and the vehicle was able to resume for five minutes before the failure reocurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis. The contact was uncertain to the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,000.

- Lexington Park , MD, USA

problem #9

Nov 222010

Santa Fe

  • 7,400 miles
Was driving freeway, noted sudden deceleration (about 20 mph and not more), check engine lights and ESC off lights were on. Had to pull over the left side of lane # 1. a police car had to stop traffic to safely exit the freeway. Vehicle was towed to a dealer and they replaced throttle position sensor assy

- La Mesa, CA, USA

problem #8

Sep 192010

Santa Fe

  • 25,000 miles
Yesterday (September 19, 2010) while merging onto the beltway, the floor mat of my 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe caused the car to continue to accelerate after I had taken my foot off of the accelerator. I pumped the brake and tapped the accelerator and the pedal must have come free from the floor mat. The acceleration lasted for between three and four seconds. After I stopped the car I looked down and saw the floor mat was partially covering the accelerator pedal. I have now removed the floor mat.

- Kensington, MD, USA

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