Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2008)

541 consumer complaints on file.

#10785941October 26, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICIAN MADE THE CONTACT AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V472000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785631October 23, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE ISSUE BEGAN ABOUT A MONTH AGO DURING A LONG INTERSTATE TRIP. IF THE FUEL GAUGE REACHED THE 1/4 TANK MARK, IT WOULD PLUMMET TO EMPTY. AS THE CAR RAN, THE GAUGE WOULD RISE UP AND FALL AGAIN REPEATEDLY. SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED (EVEN WITH A FULL TANK), THE GAUGE WOULD NEVER RISE ABOVE "E." THANKFULLY, THE CAR NEVER STALLED AND ALWAYS STARTED. I JUST HAD IT SERVICED TODAY. BOTH SENDING UNITS WERE REPLACED AND WAS TOLD BY A HYUNDAI DEALER THAT THEY KEEP THESE PARTS (FUEL SENSORS) IN STOCK DUE TO THE HIGH FREQUENCY OF CALLS THEY RECEIVE FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. SURPRISED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED YET!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785452October 22, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN THE GAS TANK IS LESS THAN HALF FULL, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYS TANK AS NEARLY EMPTY AND THE AMBER LOW FUEL LIGHT APPEARS. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ALSO COMES ON. THE FUEL GAUGE SWINGS BACK UP TO NEARLY HALF FULL, DROPS DOWN TO 1/4 FULL, THEN DROPS DOWN TO ALMOST EMPTY, THEN SWING BACK TO HALF FULL. AFTER FILLING THE TANK THE FUEL GAUGE IS ONCE AGAIN ACCURATE UNTIL THE TANK GOES BELOW 1/2 FULL. . THIS IS A FUEL SENSOR ISSUE WITH THE TWO SENSORS IN THE GAS TANK. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RESET THE ODOMETER EVERY TIME I FILL UP AND MAKE SURE I FILL UP THE TANK EVERY 300-325 MILES. I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH AND THIS IS A KNOWN, WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THE 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES. I SAW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE FILED ON THE NHSTA SO THIS AGENCY IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO RECALL THE SANTA FE FOR THE 2008 MODEL YEAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS: THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A GROSS DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785212October 21, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN THE GAS TANK IS LESS THAN HALF FULL, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYS TANK AS NEARLY EMPTY AND THE AMBER LOW FUEL LIGHT APPEARS. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ALSO COMES ON. THE FUEL GAUGE SWINGS BACK UP TO NEARLY HALF FULL, DROPS DOWN TO 1/4 FULL, THEN DROPS DOWN TO ALMOST EMPTY, THEN SWING BACK TO HALF FULL. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER THIS PROBLEM STARTED, THE FUEL GAUGE REMAINS NEAR EMPTY WITH THE AMBER LOW FUEL LIGHT LIT. WHEN I FILL UP THE GAS TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE IS ONCE AGAIN ACCURATE UNTIL THE TANK GOES BELOW 1/2 FULL. HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES AND CAN ONLY BE CLEARED BY A MECHANIC. I'VE HAD MY MECHANIC CLEAR IT TWICE. THIS IS A FUEL SENSOR ISSUE WITH THE TWO SENDERS IN THE GAS TANK. I WAS GOING TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED BY HAVING THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY REPLACED BUT FOUND OUT IT WOULD COST $1000. I CAN'T AFFORD THAT SO I'M STUCK. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RESET THE ODOMETER EVERY TIME I FILL UP AND MAKE SURE I FILL UP THE TANK EVERY 300 MILES. I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH AND THIS IS A KNOWN, WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THE 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES. I SAW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE FILED ON THE NHSTA SO THIS AGENCY IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO RECALL THE SANTA FE FOR THE 2008 MODEL YEAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS: THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A GROSS DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS. THE FUEL GAUGE STARTED BEHAVING ERRATICALLY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AFTER WE BOUGHT IT IN MAY 2014, WHICH WOULD BE AROUND LATE JULY 2015. HE FIRST SIGN OF A PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER I FILLED THE GAS TANK IN LATE JULY 2015. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON EVEN THOUGH THE GAS TANK WAS FULL. I HAD MY MECHANIC CLEAR IT. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED ABOUT 6 WEEKS LATER. AFTER THAT THE ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE BEHAVIOR I DESCRIBED STARTED OCCURRING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10782511October 15, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
LATE LAST YEAR (2014) MY GAS GAUGE SUDDENLY SHOWED EMPTY (WITH EMPTY LIGHT COMING ON) ON MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE GLS 2..3 L ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE 'CHECK ENGINE' CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME THE FAIL CODES RELATED TO THE A AND B SENSORS IN THE FUEL TANK NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED AT AROUND $700.00. MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER ANY WARRANTY. I ASKED IF THIS DEFECT IS CAUSING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OR OTHER PROBLEMS THAT COULD CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE, ETC. AND HE SAID NO. I SAID WELL, I COULD LIVE WITH THIS BY ZEROING OUT MY TRIP INDICATOR AND KEEPING TRACK THAT WAY, KNOWING MY APPROXIMATE MPG. (I LIVE IN WISCONSIN ON THE LAKESHORE AND WE ARE UNDER MANDATORY EMISSIONS TESTING DUE TO THE POLLUTED AIR COMING UP FROM ILLINOIS AND BEING TRAPPED BY LAKE MICHIGAN.) HE TOLD THAT NEXT YEAR (CURRENT 2015), MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS BECAUSE THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT IS ON! NOW AS REGISTRATION IS DUE IN NOVEMBER, I HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. FIRST OFF, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF I FORGOT TO ZERO OUT MY TRIP ODOMETER AND RAN OUT OF GAS IN TIN-BUK-TWO, I OR MY WIFE (WHO DOESN'T HAVE A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT) COULD BE STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS AREA. SECONDLY, I GET SCREWED ON NOT BEING ABLE TO REGISTER MY VEHICLE DUE TO A NON-EMISSIONS RELATED ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781406October 12, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE STARTED INTERMITTENTLY GOING UP AND DOWN, THEN STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. WHILE DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE ON I95, AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED RUNNING OUT OF GAS ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH, DUE TO THE LOSS OF ALL POWER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10780801October 8, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I ALSO HAVE THE FUEL LEVELING SENSOR ISSUE ON MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE INDICATED A FAILING FUEL LEVELING SENSOR. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY FLUCTUATION IN THE FUEL GAUGE AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUEL IS LEFT AND WHEN THE CODE IS CLEARED WILL COME BACK ON RANDOMLY. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN TO A LOT OF THESE VEHICLES BETWEEN 60,000 AND 120,000 MILES. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OR CLASS ACTION SUITE AS IT IS AN ESTIMATED $800 REPAIR AND WILL OFTEN FAIL EITHER BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES OR WITHIN 20,000 MILES OUTSIDE THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779567October 4, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE GAUGE ON THE FUEL TANK HAS STOPPED OPERATING AND DOESN'T ACCURATELY SHOW HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK. AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK THE EMPTY LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE FUEL GAUGE MOVES UP AND DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYS ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10778828September 30, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ACTIVATED AND FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY AT ALL TIMES. CONSTANTLY ADDING FUEL AS THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCURATELY ESTIMATE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL IS A CONSTANT ISSUE FOR ANYONE DRIVING THESE VEHICLES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR HYUNDAI SANTA FE AS DOCUMENTED. DEALER ESTIMATE FOR COST TO REPAIR IS $900 AS BOTH FUEL SENSORS WOULD BE REPLACED AT ONE TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10777978September 28, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WE STOPPED TO GET GAS ON A ROAD TRIP AND AFTER FILLING UP THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED 1/2 FULL THEN EMPTY AND THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD SPIN DOWN AND UP INSTEAD OF SLOWING DECREASING WITH DRIVING. HOW DOES A FUEL GAUGE STOP WORKING ON A 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE? THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL. DEALER SAYS IT IS $500 TO REPLACE SENSOR AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND NOT KNOW WHEN YOU COULD RUN OUT OF GAS. VERY DISAPPOINTING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10777708September 25, 2015
ENGINE
I EXITED A TOLL AND PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE NJ TURNPIKE, SUDDENLY, THE STEERING BECAME TIGHT. I NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT, ALONG WITH THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE JUST TURNED OFF. THANKFULLY, NO TRAFFIC, I PROCEED TO PULL TO THE FEEDER OF THE ENTRANCE. PUT CAR IN PARK, AND THE CAR RESTARTED. I AM NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED, AND FEARFUL THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN, WITH TRUCKS BEHIND ME, UNABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE AND RISK SERIOUS INJURY. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING WAS INDICATED. I RECENTLY HAD TWO KNOCK SENSORS REPLACED AT THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10776084September 24, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FUEL GAUGE HAS BEEN FAULTY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND OFF AFTER REPLACING WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A BAD BATTERY ONE MONTH AGO. ONE WEEK AGO WHILE DRIVING, ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD CAME ON (BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE, ABS, ESC...), ENGINE STARTED TO REV, ELECTRICAL AND POWER STEERING FAILED, AND CAR HAD TO BE TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED HOME. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE DRIVING NOW. ISSUE IS FROM A FAILING/FAILED ALTERNATOR CAUSED BY OIL LEAK FROM FRONT VALVE COVER. THIS PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO ISSUES WITH '06-'12 VERACRUZ, RECALL #121.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10776492September 24, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE GAS GAUGE IS VERY SPORADIC. SOMETIMES IT READS CORRECTLY OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT. IT CAN SAY EMPTY WHEN FULL OR 1/4 OF A TANK WHEN FULL. I RESEARCHED THIS ON THE HYUNDAI INTERNET FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON FAULT WITH THIS VEHICLE. WITH SO MANY OCCURRENCES YOU WOULD THINK THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10767566September 22, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
JUST AS THE OTHER NOTED COMPLAINTS, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND OFF AND MY FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY TEMPERAMENTAL. RARELY IT'LL SHOW THE CORRECT LEVEL - USUALLY ONCE I FILL MY TANK, MY FUEL GAGE SHOES I AM BELOW EMPTY AND FLASHES THAT I HAVE NO MILES LEFT TO DRIVE UNTIL MY TANK IS EMPTY. I HAVE RESORTED TO TRACKING MY MILEAGE WITH THE TRIP FUNCTION BECAUSE AS OTHERS HAVE DISCOVERED - TO REPAIR IT COSTS AN ARM AND A LEG DUE TO EXPENSIVE LABOR FROM WHERE THE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE ACCESSED TO REPLACE IT, UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764608September 17, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ON OUR 2008 SANTA FE AS DESCRIBED BY MANY OTHER DRIVERS HERE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AND THE FUEL GAUGE UP AND DOWN. I'M SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE YET, SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMMENTS/COMPLAINTS HERE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763932September 15, 2015
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN GOING UP A VERY STEEP GRADE. I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK SO THAT I COULD TURN MY CAR OFF. I HAD TO LAY ON THE BRAKE WITH ALL MY WEIGHT TO KEEP FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO CARS BEHIND ME. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. AFTER A MINUTE, WHICH FELT LIKE MUCH LONGER, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO PARK AND TURN MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THE SECOND TIME I LOST ALL POWER, WAS A COUPLE MONTHS LATER. I WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH ON A CURVY HILLY ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER, ACCELERATE, DECELERATE, OR APPLY THE BRAKES. THERE WERE CARS BEHIND ME AND I WAS TERRIFIED I WOULD END UP OFF THE ROAD OR HEADING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO MAKE IT UP A HILL. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. BOTH TIMES MY INFANT WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME. THANK GOODNESS BOTH OF US WERE UNHARMED, BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE VERY EASILY BEEN HURT OR HURT OTHERS. I WAS IN A SEVERAL THOUSAND POUND VEHICLE WHICH WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AS I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT. THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO THINK IT WAS A BIG DEAL AND SAID I NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR. LUCKILY, I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH COVERED THE ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763936September 15, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE BEGAN JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT WOULD SAY I HAD 88 MILES TO EMPTY AND THEN JUMP BACK UP TO 130. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF AND THEN THE NEXT IT WOULD BE BACK ON AGAIN. HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE CODES AND IT WAS A BAD FUEL SENSOR. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED BOTH FUEL SENSORS FOR $416. IF I HADN'T GOTTEN IT FIXED, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PASS EMISSIONS TESTING WHICH IS MANDATORY IN MY COUNTY. ALSO, I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY CLUE HOW MUCH GAS I HAD AND COULD'VE BEEN STRANDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763314September 12, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I FILLED UP MY TANK TO FULL ONE EVENING. AFTER WHICH I CAME HOME AND PARKED FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS LEAVING AND NOTICED MY LOW GAS LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS ON EMPTY. THIS HAD HAPPENED PRESVIOUSLY TO ME BUT CORRECTLY ITSELF SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. EVENTUALLY THE TANK READ 1/2 FULL AND THE LOW GAS LIGHT TURNED OFF. HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THIS IS NOT OK. I TAKE GREAT CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND SHOULD FEEL SAFE DRIVING IN IT WITH MY CHILDREN. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HYUNDAI.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763315September 12, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN YOU FILL UP THE GAS TANK, IT REGISTER EMPTY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SOMETIMES THE GAUGE WILL READ CORRECTLY AND THEN IT GOES BACK TO EMPTY. I HAVE TO ALWAYS FILL THE CAR UP BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE CAR. THIS IS ANNOYING. IT VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. THIS IS THE THIRD HYUNDAI I'VE BOUGHT (TWO SANTA FE'S AND ONE SONATA) AND THIS CAR IS THE WORST MODEL I BOUGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10750437August 21, 2015
STEERING
LOST POWER STEERING, WITHOUT WARNING. LUCKILY I WAS GOING SLOW CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, AND STOPING. AFTER THAT IT WAS A LOSING TUG OF WAR WITH THE STEERING. MECHANIC FOUND RACK LINES RUSTED AND LEAKING. IF I WAS TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, I MAY HAVE LOST CONTROL. VERY DANGEROUS! PLEASE HELP PREVENT AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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