10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,833 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 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments

problem #15

Dec 012023

Santa Fe

  • miles

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

Rusted out subframe, less than 95k miles. No -??salt belt-?? treatment offered to this vehicle. Vehicle in Ohio since bought. Took to dealer for engine recall, found $1200 subframe replacement bill. Car was garage stored all of the time.

- Fairview Park, OH, USA

problem #14

Jun 092023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Car is unsafe to drive due to rusted out frame. The car has less than 100,000 miles on it.

- Park Ridge , IL, USA

problem #13

Jan 042022

Santa Fe

  • miles
I noticed a Crack in the lower part of the windshield on the driver's side. I was told by Safelite there was rust around the windshield and they would not replace the windshield unless the rust was repaired.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

problem #12

Nov 242021

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 72,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while reversing out of his driveway at 1 MPH, the front end on the passenger-??s side of the vehicle collapsed almost causing the wheel to detach. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. There was no injury sustained. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the control arm and ball joint had shattered. The contact stated that the vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting the arrival of the replacement part. The manufacturer was contacted and provided the contact a case number. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000. Repaired at cost of $1666.67 at Napelton Hyundai 3703 Northlake BLVD Lake Park Florida 33403. The car had a faulty fuel gauge which could NOT be repaired after 3 attempts. Car also experienced loss of power brakes and power steering while driving on the highway.

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #11

Sep 182020

Santa Fe

  • miles
Prior to contacting NHTSA we contacted Hyundai and informed them that the bottom of the vehicle has rusted through and we can see the bottom of the interior in this vehicle when the car is on a lift (this was pointed out to us by a third party repair shop and not the dealer). It appears that Hyundai may be concealing data from NHTSA regarding corrosion problems on its vehicles. What is clear is that Hyundai is shirking its safety obligations and will not cover corrosion, regardless of whether it is functional or safety, if the warranty has expired. Based on prior dealings with NHTSA I know that recalls are not limited to the warranty period if vehicle safety is in question. When we contacted Hyundai, their excuse for why the vehicle had a massive hole in the undercarriage was that the vehicle is driven primarily in Illinois and Illinois uses salt on the roads in winter. If I'm not mistaken, more than half of the vehicles in the us are driven on roads that are salted in the winter. This excuse is simply not acceptable and perhaps NHTSA needs to prohibit Hyundai from selling vehicles in the northern half of the us if this is going to be Hyundai's attitude. I've never had this problem with any other manufacturer.

- Grayslake, IL, USA

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problem #10

Oct 172020

Santa Fe

  • 80,000 miles
I was backing up to turn around and as I was turning my steering wheel I heard and felt very loud pulsing thumps coming from the front of the vehicle. I got out and saw my drivers side front wheel was leaning out from the vehicle. The arm broke of from my wheel also I found out when I had it repaired the axel also broke!! good thing I wasn't on a highway or driving I or others might have been hurt or worse!!!

- North Versailles, PA, USA

problem #9

Jan 032020

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles

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

Front sub frame is rusting severely. Last inspection was marginal. Inspector said it probably won't pass inspection at the next interval time.

- Guilford, NY, USA

problem #8

Oct 282019

Santa Fe

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact took the vehicle to wright Hyundai (10677 perry hwy, wexford, pa 15090) because he heard squeaking noises coming from the front end of the vehicle. The contact was informed that there was a hole in the frame of the vehicle. The contact questioned the dealer about the noises, but no diagnostic test was rendered. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 326790. The manufacturer offered a buyback above the kbb vehicle value. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #7

Aug 192019

Santa Fe

  • 165,000 miles
The interior driver's side interior door handle broke when I tried to open it.

- Corrales, NM, USA

problem #6

Feb 102018

Santa Fe

  • 70,000 miles
Driving down a road at night and the sunroof suddenly flew off the top of car. I have been driving a rental since it happens and have contacted Hyundai Corp and finally received a call from them on Feb tues 27th but have not resolved what they are going to do about this with me or carstar collision center where my car is sitting now. The consumer stated the sunroof was repaired under the recall, the under carriage had not. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for the rental car.

- Lansdale, PA, USA

problem #5

Jul 162016

Santa Fe

  • 123,000 miles

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

Takata recall my 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe has paint that chipped away above the driver side, right above the windshield. The paint still continues to remove itself from the body in chunks. The issue began about a year ago. And I do not expect paint to remove itself with any rust/ rock chips in the area of paint missing. The SUV has 136,800 miles on it, but paint should not be coming off in chunks. I looked online and other individuals had a similar issue with their Hyundai. It's not just a problem with the Santa Fe. It's also sonata's, elantra's and other Hyundai models. The missing pearl white paint now shows bare metal and is now showing signs of surface rust.

- Ingleside, IL, USA

problem #4

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 #3

Dec 052013

Santa Fe

  • 52,000 miles
Was second vehicle at stop light with foot on brake. Vehicle suddenly lunged forward overriding brake, and hit back of vehicle in front causing damage and possible injury to other driver. Had pedestrians been in front, could easily have run over them. Months prior, twice on same day engine power died while driving. Hyundai replaced throttle position sensor.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #2

Apr 092013

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
My 2008 Santa Fe ltd that suffered a loss of the left rear quarter glass, including the frame molding, while driving on the freeway a few days ago. The glass company stated that it appeared to have actually break off of the bolts and simply fly off the vehicle. The only thing left on the vehicle was the urethane adhesive, which was stretched out around the back of the quarter panel. Another interesting note is that while inspecting the right rear quarter glass, it appears to be suffering from the same phenomenon, and may come off at any time. I contacted the dealership, which informed me that my auto is out of warranty and that there are no recalls for this issue at this time. Considering that my auto insurance deductible is $500, I was forced to pay for the replacement out of pocket for $338.55.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #1

Dec 062009

Santa Fe

  • 36,500 miles
2008 Hyundai Santa Fe off center head on collision resulting in severe leg trauma. Integrity of the fire wall failed resulting in metal pushing past the firewall in to the drivers side area entrapping the leg on the femur. This injury resulted in a dangerous amount of blood loss in to the cavity of the thigh.

- Prescott Valley, AZ, USA

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