2.1

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
74,028 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments (Page 3 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #175

Sep 112017

Santa Fe

  • 96,000 miles

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

Fuel gauge and range till empty fluctuate never know how much fuel very huge safety issue everytime it is driven or when first started fill tank and will read anything from empty to 3/4 tank very seldom on full. Also check engine light is on code says sending units smell of fuel

- Heath, OH, USA

problem #174

Aug 062017

Santa Fe

  • 49,000 miles
Peeling paint on roof gas tank doesn't register if tank is empty or full.

- Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA

problem #173

Feb 122017

Santa Fe

  • 62,000 miles
The fuel gauge has become erratic. It goes to empty even when full. Will sometimes pop back to partially full. Has caused me to run out of gas when on the highway when I thought I had enough fuel left. I have found nearly 200 similar complaints on line. Problem started at about 60,000 miles and is ongoing.

- Joliet, IL, USA

problem #172

Apr 132017

Santa Fe

  • 98,000 miles

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

Fuel gauge problems. The fuel gauge goes up and down sporadically regardless of how much gas is in the tank. You can't determine how much gas is left which has posed a safety issue leaving me stranded in an unsafe area.

- Elkridge, MD, USA

problem #171

Jul 012015

Santa Fe

  • 60,000 miles
The fuel gauge does not accurately read the amount of fuel in the tank. It constantly moves from empty to full. The problem is known to be a faulty fuel level sensor. Expensive to repair. Hyundai should own up to this problem and recall affected vehicles. NHTSA won't do anything about it because no ones gotten killed yet due to this issue.

- Naples, FL, USA

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problem #170

Jul 112017

Santa Fe

  • 198,000 miles
Over the last year, our Hyundai Santa Fe has developed a very troubling stalling problem that has only increased in frequency. The vehicle loses power while driving regardless of speed, often several times in the same trip regardless of distance traveled. It stalls on local, low-speed roads as well as freeway driving. When it stalls, all steering is lost. This is potentially dangerous. A simple google search indicates that this is a known issue among Hyundai customers and dealerships and yet I am not able to locate any information about a recall to correct this issue. This is a potentially fatal problem that should be addressed by Hyundai. I did contact them. Today, I received a response indicating that Hyundai has no explanation for the issue and will offer no assistance to repair it. Their only suggestion was that I contact a local dealership for repair. As I indicated, this is a problem known to Hyundai, some of their customers and dealerships. Since NHTSA is the Agency overseeing issues of this type, I would respectfully request an investigation into this stalling issue before something tragic happens.

- Livonia, NY, USA

problem #169

May 122007

Santa Fe

  • 85,000 miles

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

Takata recall. Over 200 complaints have been filed with Hyundai dealerships on this defect. Fuel level sensors fail after warranty, usually arournd 80,000 milles. Fuel gauge levels drop to zero and check engine light comes on. Even with full tank.vehicle fails inspection and dealer correction is up to $800. Some vehicles have run out of fuel on the hiway. Dealers have acknowledged flaw endemic to this model.

- Joliet, IL, USA

problem #168

Dec 102016

Santa Fe

  • 161,000 miles
1) fuel tank gauge is inaccurate. Starts to drop rapidly after driving 75-100 miles and empty fuel tank light comes on after ~125-150 miles. When I refill the tank, it is only half empty. Normally, car will drive 270-320 miles before empty. 2) check engine light comes on and off. Nothing seems to be wrong with the car(have had it checked.) 3) ESC light comes on and off; sometimes at the same time as the check engine light, sometimes by itself. I have had it checked, no problem; and reset. Goes on - off again a few days later. These events have been occurring over the last 6 months, approximately.

- Grapevine, TX, USA

problem #167

Apr 232017

Santa Fe

  • 76,700 miles
Fuel gauge is inconsistent and keeps going up and down after putting gas in. No idea how much gas is really in the tank.

- Blanchard, OK, USA

problem #166

Feb 172017

Santa Fe

  • miles
After experiencing my fuel gauge going up and down my check engine light came on. I then took it to autozone and the code said it is the fuel gauge sending unit that needs to be replaced. I've read several complaints about this same issue

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #165

Oct 192016

Santa Fe

  • miles

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

Fuel sensor does not work when idling or driving! fuel gauge shows empty when full. Digital display does not show distance range. A real hazard to not know how much fuel is in your tank. This is a basic need in an auto or an aircraft. This basic need should be the manufacturer's responsibility. The many blogs and forums on this issue show repairs of from $300 to $900 for fixing what shouldn't need fixing. I'd hate to have my wife or daughter stuck on some road after running out of gas. If you can check the online forums for validation and have Hyundai recall this safety issue it would be wonderful.

- Payette, ID, USA

problem #164

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 #163

Mar 032017

Santa Fe

  • 96,000 miles
On a trip this past weekend, I experienced an alarming situation. I was driving 65 mph on a highway, when the fuel gauge suddenly registered empty after my having filled the tank only 40 miles previously, and the check engine light came on. I immediately exited the highway, stopped, and called the dealership and talked to a mechanic, who said the likely explanation was a faulty fuel sensor. While we were talking, the needle began to rise and fall. When I determined it was not immediately dangerous, I continued my trip. The gauge eventually returned to normal, but the problem reappeared the next time I filled up; again, the gauge eventually began behaving normally, and the check engine light went out. This morning I took the car to the dealership, and they confirmed the faulty fuel sensor. Cost to repair was $612 ' an outrageous amount. I decided to decline the repair and just track my need for gas from the tripometer. Still this could be a dangerous situation if the gauge were showing adequate fuel but the tank was really empty. Hyundai should issue a recall.

- Morristown, NJ, USA

problem #162

Jan 022017

Santa Fe

  • 45,000 miles
Fuel sensor malfunction

- Leawood, KS, USA

problem #161

Feb 252017

Santa Fe

  • 68,000 miles
Low fuel light stays on regardless of fuel level. This is an ongoing complaint on this model and needs to be recalled for the safety of drivers. The gauge has been moving periodically but now has stayed at a constant "empty state" with the warning light on. Luckily we were able to fill the tank. We now are going to move it the tank from using G the trip miles.

- Medina, OH, USA

problem #160

Feb 212017

Santa Fe

  • 115,000 miles
Fuel gauge problem: When filling the car, the fuel gauge in the car will show empty, empty light is on despite filling the car with plenty of gas. Additionally, in 2009 my car stopped suddenly while we were on a bridge in 4 lanes of traffic. The fuel tank had to be pulled and replaced. Now, when I'm driving(knowing that I have enough fuel to continue) the fuel gauge is not registering properly and will 'wag' between full and empty. Dangerous!

- Columbia, MO, USA

problem #159

Feb 052017

Santa Fe

  • miles
The fuel gauge does not read correctly unless the tank is 100% full. Even then it occasionally will read incorrectly. When filling the tank it occasionally shuts off as if full despite not being full. This is a major issue because it is impossible to tell how much gas is in the tank at any given time which is a safety concern when driving long distances.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #158

Feb 112017

Santa Fe

  • 1 miles
Had problems with the gas gauge being erratic and my 2008 Santa Fe, hesitating when trying to accelerate. Had the fuel pump replaced at an after market shop that I have always used on on my vehicles, in April 2016 ($707) and appeared to fix the problem. Here it is Feb. 2017 and are experiencing the same problem, but this time we were driving and the vehicle just died and could not be restarted. I hope it's not the fuel pump again. Can't find a recall for this problem.

- Grayslake, IL, USA

problem #157

Jan 012017

Santa Fe

  • 65,000 miles
Fuel level sensor failed at 65,000 miles. Fuel gauge oscillates, no way to know how much fuel is remaining. Significant danger of vehicle cutting off while driving because fuel tank empty without driver being aware. Other automakers have issued recalls for this problem; Hyundai needs to fix this known, potentially dangerous issue.

- Canandaigua, NY, USA

problem #156

Jan 302017

Santa Fe

  • 104,115 miles
Gas gauge not working correctly. Shows empty with light on at bottom of it.

- Amory, MS, USA

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