2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Lights Problems
6 owner-reported lights complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Lights Recalls (1)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Fix: 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.
Owner Complaints (6)
OUR GAS GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY, AND THE FUEL LIGHT STAYS ON, ALL THE TIME. THIS OCCURS EVEN AFTER WE FILL THE CAR UP. THIS OCCURS WHETHER THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR RUNNING. WE HAVE TO TRACK OUR FUEL LEVEL BY KEEPING TRACK OF THE MILEAGE. ALSO, IF WE TURN THE CAR OFF WHEN FUELING, IT WILL NOT TURN BACK ON. WE HAVE TO TRY OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL IT TURNS ON. WE HAVE FOUND THAT IF WE LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING WHILE FUELING, IT USUALLY STAYS RUNNING; HOWEVER, A LOT OF TIMES, THE CAR STOPS RUNNING AND THEN, WE STRUGGLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. THIS IS OUR 2ND SANTA FE (OUR FIRST WAS A 2004, WITH WHICH WE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM). IF HYUNDAI DOESN'T DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, THIS WILL BE OUR LAST HYUNDAI. THIS IS DANGEROUS ON MANY LEVELS, AND AS WE ALL CAN SEE, THERE ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT 350 OTHER 2008 SANTA FE OWNERS WHO HAVE POSTED ON THIS SITE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY DEFECT, AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. ALSO, I NOTICED SOMEONE ELSE MENTIONED THEY CHANGE LOW BEAMS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. WE TOO, ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE CHANGED MORE HEADLAMPS IN THIS CAR THAN WE HAVE IN ALL OF OUR CARS COMBINED OVER 40 YEARS.
AFTER 141,000 MILES THE ENGINE THREW A ROD, I HAD HEARD A CLICKING NOISE FOR A WHILE BUT WAS ASSURED IT WAS A NORMAL ENGINE SOUND AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. I CHANGE MY OIL REGULARLY AND HAVE MY SLIPS, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING. IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF I AM HAVING TO REPLACE APPROXIMATELY ONE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP PER MONTH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ESC AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESUMED UPON RESTARTING; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED EIGHT TIMES. IN ADDITION, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HESITATION WOULD FOLLOW. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER EACH REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,099.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT 70 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE DEALER REPLACED THE STOP LAMP SWITCH PER THE RECALL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS ALL FAILED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE BULBS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED SEVERAL CITATIONS DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE BECAME WORSE UNTIL NO EXTERIOR LIGHTS WERE OPERABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,600 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,640.
2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. *NJ WHILE DRIVING ON AN UN-LIGHTED OR HILLY ROADWAY, THERE WAS A DISCERNABLE HORIZONTAL LINE BETWEEN THE LIGHTED ROADWAY AND DARKNESS. THE CONSUMER COULD SEE THE LINE ABOUT 3 FEET ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE. THE LINE ALSO EXTENDED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AT TIMES, THE LIGHTED ROADWAY WAS LESS THAN 30 FEET WHILE GOING UP AND DOWN THE HILLY ROAD. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT 30 FEET OR LESS WAS TOO SHORT OF A LIGHTED LANE OF TRAVEL. A VISUAL INSPECTION, SHOWED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS MOUNTED TOO FAR BEHIND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO BLOCK THE LOW BEAM REFLECTING UP. *JB