20 complaints reported

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
20
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jul 2025

My speedometer has stopped working, I had the sensor replaced and fuses checked but it is still not working

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2025
Jan 2020

TL* THE CONTACT 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS RAINING (THREE TIMES ON THE SAME DAY). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BENTLEY HYUNDAI, 3805 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35816, UNDER A CAMPAIGN GENERATED BY THE MANUFACTURER DECEMBER 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT NUMBER: [XXX] WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE WENT TO PICK UP VEHICLE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. ONE WEEK LATER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER. ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2020
Jul 2019

2008 SANTA FE GAS GAUGE NOT READING PROPERLY. WHEN I FILL UP THE CAR AND THE GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY. AND CONSTANTLY FLUCTUATES. I HAVE TO CALCULATE HOW MANY MILES I DRIVE IN ORDER TO KNOW WHEN TO FILL UP AGAIN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2019
Mar 2019

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND UNFUNCTIONAL OR INFUNCTIOMAL GAS GAUGE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2019
Jan 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DICK SMITH HYUNDAI (825 CONGAREE RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607, (864) 284-7777) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 15714282. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED REIMBURSEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2019
Aug 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY EXPLODED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND DISCOVERED THAT BATTERY FLUID WAS LEAKING. HYUNDAI OF WESLEY CHAPEL (27000 WESLEY CHAPEL BLVD, WESLEY CHAPEL, FL 33544, (813) 501-2736) WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO FUCCILLO KIA OF WESLEY CHAPEL (28555 FL-54, WESLEY CHAPEL, FL 33545, (813) 395-0347). FUCCILLO KIA HAD NOT SPECIFICALLY VERIFIED IF ANY OTHER COMPONENTS OR ELECTRICAL FAILURES CAUSED THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE OEM BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH A TRIPLE A BATTERY, THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY MAY BE FAULTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD WAS DAMAGED WITH AN EXTENSIVE INDENTATION WHERE THE BATTERY HAD LODGED UPWARD WHEN IT EXPLODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *TT UPDATED 11/19/18*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2018
Jul 2017

AFTER TURNING RIGHT TO ENTER AN ON-RAMP FOR THE HIGHWAY, THE TURN SIGNAL (NOW IN NEUTRAL POSITION) STARTING MAKING THE FAST CLICKING NOISE. IN ADDITION, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE TURN SIGNAL STICK AND YOU COULD SMELL (WHAT APPEARED TO BE) ELECTRICAL BURNING. THIS CONTINUED FOR 20 MILES UNTIL I GOT HOME AND BEGAN TO RESEARCH IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS (WHICH IT HAS). I AM WORRIED OF A FIRE DANGER ALONG WITH THE ANNOYING NON-STOP NOISE. IS THERE A RECALL ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS IF OTHERS HAVE ALSO REPORTED IT?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2017
Sep 2016

MY MOTHER PURCHASED A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, AWD 2.7L V6 MODEL BRAND NEW IN 2009. HER FUEL GAUGE FAILED AT AROUND 110,000 MILES APPROX. I NOTICED OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE...SO I THOUGHT I'D MENTION THAT HER FUEL GAUGE ALSO QUIT WORKING! SHE TOOK IT IN TO GET FIXED, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS A PRETTY COSTLY JOB! MAYBE WITH EVERYBODY PUTTING THEIR HEADS TOGETHER, THIS ISSUE CAN GET MORE ATTENTION AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO A RECALL. THANKS!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2016
Mar 2016

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. FUEL GAUGE WILL READ EMPTY EVEN AFTER JUST FUELING. FUEL GAUGE WILL OCCASIONALLY READ A RANDOM LEVEL THEN DROP TO EMPTY WITHIN SECONDS. OBD CODES STATES FUEL SENSOR ERRORS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2016
Jul 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES, SEVERAL MORE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR BESIDES DRIVE AND NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2015
Mar 2015

I FILLED UP THE TANK AND THE GAS GAUGE LEVEL READ EMPTY. CONTINUED AND HAS BEEN ON EMPTY. SOMETIMES IT WILL RISE GRADUALLY TO CORRECT LEVEL. AND WHEN YOU TURN OFF ENGINE THEN IT GOES BACK TO EMPTY. I FIND THIS TO BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR WILL STOP. I HAVE READ MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. A RECALL IS IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2015
Feb 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT GASKET LEAKED OIL INTO THE ALTERNATOR AND THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2015
Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE ABNORMALLY ROUGH. THE CONTACT MERGED THE VEHICLE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK FROM THE FRONT CYLINDER BANK VALVE COVER GASKET AND THERE WAS SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF OIL IN THE ALTERNATOR. THE LEAK HAD CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO DAMAGE THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,271.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2014
Jun 2014

I WAS DRIVING APPROX 30 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROADWAY WHEN ALL ELECTRICAL SEIZED. POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ECT....I HAD TO PULL OVER AND HAD MY 17 MONTH OLD SON IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. I HAD TO PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AND FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY, WE MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS AN URGENT SAFETY ISSUE!! WE BROUGHT OUR VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP, IN WHICH THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG......TO BE CONTINUED!! I SMELL A RECALL DOWN THE ROAD. HOPING IT'S BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR WORSE KILLED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2014
Apr 2014

LEAKING OIL FROM FRONT VALVE COVER AND CAUSING ALTERNATOR TO FAIL, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER SANTA FE AND VARACRUZ. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2014
Jan 2014 Fire

CAR PARKED IN PARKING LOT AT MY OFFICE. NO ONE IN VECHILE. PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES...APPPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL BOX AT REAR OF CAR FOR HITCH. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2014
Aug 2013

THE SENSOR FOR THE GAS TANK WENT BAD, IN OUR OPINION, PREMATURELY. WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE, AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SANTA FES, EVEN THOSE NEWER THAN OURS. IMPACT: WHEN THE SENSOR FAILS, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYS 'EMPTY' NO MATTER WHAT AMOUNT OF FUEL IS IN THE TANK, RENDERING THE FUEL GAUGE TOTALLY UNRELIABLE TO THE DRIVER. THE CAR COULD RUN OUT OF GAS ANYWHERE-- FOR EXAMPLE, ON A HIGHWAY--POTENTIALLY CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO NOT JUST THE DRIVER BUT ALSO TO OTHER DRIVERS AROUND HIM. WE WONDER WHETHER A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS SENSOR. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2013
Sep 2012

AT 59,000 MILES LEFT SIDE RUNNING LIGHTS INOP. SENT TO DEALER THEY SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS STATED AT 50,000 MILES. WORKED GOOD FOR 3 WEEKS TOOK ON A TRIP PUT 10,000 MILES ON IT. NOW AT 70,000.. ELECTRICAL ISSUES STARTED BACK UP.NO TAILLIGHTS LEFT BACK,TOUCH BRAKE DASHBOARD LEFT TURN GLOWS 1/2 BRIGHTNESS.PUT LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ON WORKS. TOUCH BRAKE LEFT SIDE BLINK ACTS LIKE BURNED OUT LIGHT. FILL WITH FUEL READS CORRECT MOST OF THE TIME. WENT TO STOP STARTED CAR BACK UP GAUGE READ EMPTY WITH LIGHT ON, STOPPED FOR GAS 30 MILES LATER PUT GAS IN TOOK 1 GAL GAUGE WENT TO 1/2 TANK. LET SET OVERNIGHT NEXT DAY READ 3/4. DROVE THE REST OF THE DAY . NEXT DAY READ CORRECT. THIS HAPPENED 2 TIMES ALREADY. DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS RELATED THE LEFT SIDE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2011
May 2011

I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF A REGULARLY MAINTAINED 2008 HYUNDAI SANTE FE (45,000 MILES). ON A JAN 2011 TRIP FROM TX TO MI THE CAR LOST POWER AT NIGHT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING, THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP AND EVENTUALLY STALLED COMPLETELY. MANEUVERING TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT POWER WAS VERY RISKY AND SCARY. ONCE STOPPED THE CAR EASILY RESTARTED ONLY TO LOSE POWER AGAIN 10 MILES DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE OIL LIGHT STAYED ON BETWEEN BOTH EPISODES. WE QUICKLY FOUND A HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF AND THE PROBLEM DIDN'T RESURFACE UNTIL NOW. IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS WE HAVE LOST POWER FIVE TIMES WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40 MPH AND 55 MPH. THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND DIAGNOSTICS IS NOT IDENTIFYING ANY PROBLEM AND SO WE'VE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE COMPUTER ONBOARD SHOULD BE REGISTERING A "HISTORY" WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, BUT IT ISN'T. THERE IS NO "PROOF"! THE HYUNDAI REPAIR MANAGER IS TELLING US TO RETURN IF THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND A SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE FOUND BEFORE IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2011
Mar 2011

WHILE DRIVING HOME RECENTLY ON A 70 MPH 4 LANE HIGHWAY AT APPROX 11 PM OUR 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SUDDENLY LOSS POWER WHILE CLIMBING A SMALL GRADE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ESC AND TRACTION LIGHTS ALL TURNED ON, THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT WE COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED, I IMMEDIATELY TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND LOOKED FOR SOMEWHERE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD UNFORTUNATELY I WAS ON THE INSIDE LANE JUST PASSING A SEMI-TRUCK AND TRAILER, THERE WAS A GUARDRAIL NEXT TO THE INSIDE LANE SO I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE SEMI TO PASS BEFORE I COULD MERGE TO THE OUTSIDE LANE TO PULL OFF TO THE RIGHT, BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE SEVERAL VEHICLES CAME FROM BEHIND AND TWO VEHICLE SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING OUR VEHICLE. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT BE REAR ENDED AND HAD JUST ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I NOTICED THAT THE VEHILE WAS NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I CHECKED ALL FLUIDS AND MADE SURE THAT ALL BELTS AND HOSES WERE IN GOOD ORDER, THERE WERE NO VISABLE ISSUES. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND ALL LIGHTS RESET EXCEPT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I SLOWLY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST EXIT AND THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME AS THE FIRST TIME CUTTING OUT AND LOSING POWER BUT I WAS OFF THE HIGHWAY BY NOW AND SAFELY IN A PARKING LOT. THIS VEHICLE WE HAVE OWNED SINCE NEW AND HAVE HAD ALL SERVICES DONE AT HYUNDAI DEALERS ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURE'S PRESCRIBED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES AND THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 35,700 MILES ON IT. THE VEHILCE WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALER AND TO MY SURPRISE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE OF 2 TSBS (TSB09-FL-003-2, TSB-10-FL-010)(NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS: 10032793,10034649) THAT WERE EXISTING ON THIS VEHICLE THAT CAN CAUSE THIS FAILURE. I SERIOUSLY THINK THAT THIS KIND OF FAILURE SHOULD BE A RECALL RATHER THAN JUST A TSB IF IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT POSSIBLE CRASHES IN THE FUTURE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2011

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Quick Summary

The 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe has 20 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.