2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 538 complaints · 6 recalls
Most-reported system: FUEL SYSTEM (246 complaints · 45.7%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 17
  • Fires 7
  • Injuries 12
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2007 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution FUEL SYSTEM appears in 246 of 538 owner complaints (45.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. FUEL SYSTEM: 246 complaints, 45.7% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 246 · 45.7% AIR BAGS: 58 complaints, 10.8% of reports AIR BAGS 58 · 10.8% · 2 crash reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 42 complaints, 7.8% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 42 · 7.8% · 4 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 39 complaints, 7.3% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 39 · 7.3% · 2 fire reports ENGINE: 39 complaints, 7.3% of reports ENGINE 39 · 7.3% · 1 crash reports 2 fire reports POWER TRAIN: 17 complaints, 3.2% of reports POWER TRAIN 17 · 3.2% · 1 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 14 complaints, 2.6% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 14 · 2.6% · 2 crash reports 1 fire reports STRUCTURE: 14 complaints, 2.6% of reports STRUCTURE 14 · 2.6% · 1 crash reports STEERING: 9 complaints, 1.7% of reports STEERING 9 · 1.7% · 1 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 132 complaints, 24.5% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 132 · 24.5% · 4 crash reports 2 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
FUEL SYSTEM 246 45.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 58 10.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 42 7.8% 4 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 39 7.3% 0 crashes · 2 fires
ENGINE 39 7.3% 1 crashes · 2 fires
POWER TRAIN 17 3.2% 0 crashes · 1 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 14 2.6% 2 crashes · 1 fires
STRUCTURE 14 2.6% 1 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 9 1.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 132 24.5% 4 crashes · 2 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 2008; the first recall shown was reported in Feb 2008. 2008-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2008-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2008-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2009-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2009-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2009-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2009-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2010-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2010-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2010-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2010-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2011-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2011-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2011-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2013-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2013-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2013-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2013-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2014-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2014-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2014-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2014-Q4: 26 owner reports 26 2015-Q1: 24 owner reports 24 2015-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2015-Q3: 22 owner reports 22 2015-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2016-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2016-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2016-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2016-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 2017-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2017-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2017-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2017-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2018-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2018-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2018-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2019-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2020-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2020-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2023-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2023-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2024-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2025-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Feb 2008 Jan 2026 Recall campaign 08E016000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E016000 Recall campaign 08V272000 ◆ Recall campaign 08V272000 Recall campaign 08E055000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E055000 Recall campaign 11V472000 ◆ Recall campaign 11V472000 Recall campaign 12V354000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V354000 Recall campaign 13V113000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V113000 Investigation DP21003 ● Investigation DP21003
  • Campaign 08V272000 was reported 30 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 11V472000 was reported 1,232 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 12V354000 was reported 1,552 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 13V113000 was reported 1,645 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2008-Q2 Owner reports 8
2008-Q3 Owner reports 7
2008-Q4 Owner reports 6
2009-Q1 Owner reports 7
2009-Q2 Owner reports 7
2009-Q3 Owner reports 9
2009-Q4 Owner reports 6
2010-Q1 Owner reports 4
2010-Q2 Owner reports 4
2010-Q3 Owner reports 4
2010-Q4 Owner reports 6
2011-Q1 Owner reports 9
2011-Q2 Owner reports 7
2011-Q3 Owner reports 4
2011-Q4 Owner reports 4
2012-Q1 Owner reports 3
2012-Q2 Owner reports 4
2012-Q3 Owner reports 3
2012-Q4 Owner reports 7
2013-Q1 Owner reports 10
2013-Q2 Owner reports 12
2013-Q3 Owner reports 15
2013-Q4 Owner reports 9
2014-Q1 Owner reports 19
2014-Q2 Owner reports 32
2014-Q3 Owner reports 23
2014-Q4 Owner reports 26
2015-Q1 Owner reports 24
2015-Q2 Owner reports 9
2015-Q3 Owner reports 22
2015-Q4 Owner reports 19
2016-Q1 Owner reports 10
2016-Q2 Owner reports 16
2016-Q3 Owner reports 12
2016-Q4 Owner reports 15
2017-Q1 Owner reports 18
2017-Q2 Owner reports 8
2017-Q3 Owner reports 11
2017-Q4 Owner reports 6
2018-Q1 Owner reports 8
2018-Q2 Owner reports 11
2018-Q3 Owner reports 7
2018-Q4 Owner reports 4
2019-Q1 Owner reports 6
2019-Q2 Owner reports 4
2019-Q3 Owner reports 7
2019-Q4 Owner reports 10
2020-Q1 Owner reports 7
2020-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q3 Owner reports 3
2020-Q4 Owner reports 5
2021-Q1 Owner reports 3
2021-Q2 Owner reports 3
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
2022-Q2 Owner reports 2
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 3
2023-Q1 Owner reports 2
2023-Q2 Owner reports 3
2023-Q3 Owner reports 1
2023-Q4 Owner reports 1
2024-Q1 Owner reports 6
2024-Q2 Owner reports 1
2024-Q3 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 2
2025-Q2 Owner reports 2
2025-Q3 Owner reports 3
2025-Q4 Owner reports 1
2026-Q1 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 08E016000
Recall campaign 1 08V272000
Recall campaign 1 08E055000
Recall campaign 1 11V472000
Recall campaign 1 12V354000
Recall campaign 1 13V113000
Defect investigation 1 DP21003
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (6)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 08E016000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AREA AND MAY POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    HYUNDAI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH WIRING HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 08E055000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING AND DAMAGE TO THE CONVERTER MODULE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    THIS RECALL SUPERSEDES A PREVIOUS RECALL CONDUCTED BY HYUNDAI AFFECTING THE SAME TRAILER HITCH WIRING COMPONENTS CONCERNING HIGH CURRENT LEAKAGE OR A SHORT CIRCUIT OF CAPACITOR C1. (PLEASE SEE 08E016). OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THEIR TRAILER HITCH REPAIRED UNDER THE INITIAL CAMPAIGN WILL RECEIVE A SECOND NOTICE FROM HYUNDAI TO HAVE THE NEWLY DESIGNED HARNESS INSTALLED. HYUNDAI WILL NOTIFY ALL OWNERS AND WILL REPAIR THE AFFECTED HARNESSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANT CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 08V272000

    Report date
    Component:
    EQUIPMENT
    Consequence:
    OVERLOADING YOUR VEHICLE MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT HANDLING AND BRAKING AND MAY CAUSE TIRE DAMAGE, RESULTING IN TIRE FAILURE AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    HYUNDAI WILL MAIL CORRECTED CERTIFICATION LABELS ALONG WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AFFECTED OWNERS. THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 11V472000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
    Remedy:
    HYUNDAI DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CONNECT CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 12V354000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    Improper classification or detection may cause the front passenger airbag not to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger.
    Remedy:
    Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the classification software free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 13V113000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 538 complaints · page 1 of 22

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources