CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2008 Veracruz has a minor trend of complaints where the valve cover leaks oil onto the alternator, causing alternator failure. The problem starts with the battery warning light & typically all the other warning lights coming on in quick succession. Luckily, that problem was covered in a 2014 recall.

Overall, It's a solid reliable vehicle with no major problems reported.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
86,708 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 Veracruz drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2008 Hyundai Veracruz Owner Comments

problem #13

Jan 242019

Veracruz

  • 83,657 miles

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

This is mostly from memory with most recent data reported. My 2008 veracuz has had the valve cover gasket repaired or replaced a minimum of 4 times since I purchased it on 4/30/09 from O'brien Hyundai. The first time was about 2 years after I bought it. Dealer found leak during oil change and attempted to seal with a silicone. That was unsuccessful and valve cover gasket was replaced. A year plus later I was driving home when I could not got faster that 35 mph. When I drove into my development, the max speed was 10 mph. I barely got into my driveway and the car stopped. It turned out that oil from a leaking valve cover gasket had shorted the alternator and the car had been running on the battery. Car was towed and both the alternator and valve cover gasket were replaced under warranty. In 2014, there was a recall for the leaking valve cover gasket problem and my car was repaired again. In November of 2018, the service tech at O'brien Hyundai found an oil leak during an oil change but was uncertain of the source. He put a dye in the oil and requested that I return after 2000 miles so he could inspect for the leak source. I took it back after 2 weeks and was told that the leak was from the timing chain cover gasket. However, the timing chain cover gasket, the valve cover gasket, the water pump and the alternator were all replaced under the power train warranty. In September, the "new" alternator failed and had to be replaced along with a drive belt at my expense. The fact that the valve cover gasket has been replaced multiple times in my vehicle makes me concerned that the engine design has a latent defect which can and has resulted in my vehicle losing power while in used creating a potentially deadly situation. A search on the internet shows me that my situation is not atypical and should be thoroughly investigated by your Agency.

- Lehigh Acres, FL, USA

problem #12

Jul 192019

Veracruz

  • 107,000 miles
The ESC light went on while driving, and when I stopped and attempted to put the car in park, the shifter would not go past neutral.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #11

Jul 132017

Veracruz

  • miles
The ESC light came on and the transmission shifter is stuck in park or can be sticky

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #10

Oct 082016

Veracruz

  • 135,000 miles

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

ESC light and ABS light have come on intermittently since we bought the vehicle in 2010. They usually went back off after stopping the car and shutting off the engine. The other night while driving down a highway at 70mph, those 2 lights and the AWD light came on and are not turning off. Looking on internet, I see these 3 lights coming on is fairly common and can be a safety hazard. Wonering if/when this might be addressed asa recall.

- North Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #9

May 312015

Veracruz

  • miles
The ESC light is constantly illuminated when the car power is on. Rear brake lights intermittently don't come on while driving. Frequently unable to shift the car out of park (which we have to perform manually with a screwdriver and the override switch in the shifter console). Due to previous recalls, we have discontinued using cruise control because we aren't sure whether or not it will disengage when braking. These problems began over 6 months ago. They are very much a safety issue! despite identical problems in nhtsc campaigns for this year/make/model vehicle -- a campaign has not appeared for my vehicle's VIN.

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

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problem #8

Mar 172015

Veracruz 4WD 6-cyl

  • 109,542 miles
I am the 2nd owner of this 2008 Hyundai Veracruz. The ESC, ABS and brake warning lights have been illuminated for months. Two dealers were unable to tell me the issue or to get the lights to turn off. Offered many services (not the AWD module). The AWD light would occasionally illuminate and I would lose cruise control and speedometer. Mid-March, the car became difficult to start - would turn over but wouldn't stay running once it was placed in drive and stalled a number of times in traffic (very dangerous! imagine left turns across a 2-lane highway!) I have gotten all the recall work done including the alternator and leaky valve cover gasket (not plural). This is a very dangerous problem that is common with these cars. I understand the module is around $2500 to fix and car is just past warranty when these issues start. I cannot with good conscious sell this to another human. Please make them issue a recall! thank you!

- Faber, VA, USA

problem #7

Mar 042015

Veracruz 4WD 6-cyl

  • 149,000 miles

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

The ABS module is faulty because of the defective wiring harness. The harness is susceptible to live environmental elements especially during winter due to the high salt use on roads especially in the states with harsh winter. This problem creates a safety hazards and render the vehicle operation in a stall mode. Over time it could causes fire hazard, sudden acceleration cruise control lock with no release option that could results in a crash. It could cause other components failures like main PCM module and side modules of the vehicle. The harnesses on the Veracruz are not sealed properly and highly defectives.

- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA

problem #6

Dec 042014

Veracruz

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Veracruz. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into park. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was not available.

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #5

Oct 292014

Veracruz 6-cyl

  • 152,000 miles
The car just failed and did not have power. Lights came on and then car stopped. It is recall 121 from Hyundai but they will not fix the problem because they have no solution. I tried to fix it once before but I was told I had to pay my own bill and they might reimburse me because they have no long term fix for the issue. But my car died because of it and they say that is my problem because I have 151K miles on the car. I spoke to many people at Hyundai and no one would take responsibility. That is crazy that they know it is a problem but will not own up to fixing it for me.

- Fairfield, CT, USA

problem #4

May 062013

Veracruz

  • miles
At random times, I cannot move my shifter from drive to park and it seems to correspond with the ESC light turning on without pushing the button. I can only move the shifter from drive to neutral and have to leave the car ignition partially on and cannot lock the vehicle. Obviously a safety concern! I have brought it to the local dealer only to be told there is nothing wrong with the ESC control even after the recall bulletin. The dealer just did a fix relating to the oil leak issue and told him it was also doing the shift issue. Picked vehicle up 9/25/14 as everything was supposed to be resolved but only to have the shifter and ESC issue again on 9/27 and 9/29/14. Called dealer and am bringing in vehicle again today 9/29/14.

- Brunswick, GA, USA

problem #3

Aug 072014

Veracruz 6-cyl

  • 102,000 miles

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

Randomly after pulling up to a stop in my garage, I cannot move my shifter from drive to park. I can only move it back and forth from neutral to drive. After turning the car on and off multiple times in neutral it allowed me to put the car into park. I could not back out of my garage, nor could I put it into park, a serious safety concern. I called Hyundai corporate and they told me the recall for it has already been done, but it is doing it now every time I want to put it into park. The ESC off light comes on without pushing the button and the car is stuck in drive.

- Schofield, WI, USA

problem #2

Aug 032013

Veracruz 6-cyl

  • 94,000 miles
The vehicle will occasionally not shift into or out of park. The ESC light also comes on. There is a recall for this model of car, but the dealership is saying that the VIN shows that it is not subject to recall, despite the fact that the dealership diagnosed the problem as a faulty stop lamp switch. The exact problem with the vehicle is what is described in the summary section of your website. I'm not sure why my vehicle is not subject to recall.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #1

Jul 022012

Veracruz 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
July 2012 - gasket leaked and killed alternator and battery. Car stopped suddenly and needed to be towed to the dealership. Dealer fixed the alternator and gasket but I had to pay for battery. July 2013 - alternator died while driving and battery light came on. I had to pay for alternator change $550 as I was above 60,000 miles.

- Nazareth, PA, USA

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