2008 Hyundai Santa FE Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 4%of 541 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 72,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the body and structure of the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE, 4% of the 541 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 72,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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!!!”
NHTSA complaint #11374889, filed 2020-11, 80,000 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.”
NHTSA complaint #11075575, filed 2018-03, 70,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11055143, filed 2017-12, 123,000 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.”
NHTSA complaint #10576083, filed 2014-03, 52,000 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.”
NHTSA complaint #10295170, filed 2009-12, 36,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10235566Apr 24, 2023Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid…
- 10110931Mar 14, 2017In some areas, a vehicle's underbody may exhibit corrosion due to road salt usage. As a precautionary measure, cavity wax coating is applied to the internal surfaces of underbody…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 2% |
| 2024 | 5 | 3% |
| 2023 | 6 | 3% |
| 2022 | 6 | 3% |
| 2021 | 3 | 2% |
| 2020 | 9 | 4% |
| 2019 | 14 | 7% |
| 2018 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 7 | 1% |
| 2016 | 6 | 3% |
| 2015 | 9 | 4% |
| 2014 | 20 | 4% |
| 2013 | 23 | 4% |
| 2012 | 8 | 2% |
| 2011 | 10 | 6% |
| 2010 | 12 | 5% |
| 2009 | 14 | 4% |
| 2008 | 20 | 4% |
| 2007 | 18 | 3% |
| 2006 | 3 | 3% |
| 2005 | 6 | 3% |
| 2004 | 12 | 4% |
| 2003 | 30 | 10% |
| 2002 | 17 | 10% |
| 2001 | 19 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE
273 complaintsElectrical system
74 complaintsAir bags
70 complaintsEngine
60 complaintsVehicle speed control
52 complaintsBrakes
29 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
24 complaintsOther or unknown
19 complaintsElectronic stability control
16 complaintsSteering
14 complaintsExterior lighting
11 complaintsSuspension
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology