2008 Hyundai Veracruz Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe oil from a leaking valve cover gasket reaching the alternator, which they link to charging-system trouble, dash warning lights and, in some cases, the engine cutting out while driving. Dashboard lights for ESC, ABS and AWD appearing together, along with ABS module faults, are the other frequently reported theme; complaints typically arrive well past 60,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Valve cover gasket oil leak onto the alternator

   • 96 complaints (42%)
   • median 110,284 mi at 12.5 yrs old (55 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $825 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners describe engine oil leaking from the valve cover gasket and running down onto the alternator, leaving it coated in oil. They report battery warning lights, a battery that will not hold a charge, hard starting, and in some cases the alternator failing or the engine quitting while driving. Several complaints mention that a recall notice arrived but the remedy part was not available, and dealers often confirmed the leak without completing the repair. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 200,000 miles, on vehicles of this age generally.

   Recall 20V705000Recall 14V4150001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Look under the hood for oil residue on the alternator and around the front valve cover, and ask whether the recall work on the gasket was performed and when. Check that the battery warning light goes out after start-up and that the charging system has been tested.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 2008 Hyundai Veracruz in 2014. I was taking a friend home and as I was pulling in all lights lit up and car just shuts off. I couldn't get the car to do anything. I had the car towed. My windshield wipers doesn't work, door handles are all broken, seat belts doesn't work, alternator has been change 3 times due to oil leakage,no radio, the RPM's goes up and down and trunk won't open.”

   NHTSA complaint #11388397, filed 2021-01, 70,000 miles

   “While exiting the ramp off of I-95 north in ashland, virginia at about 50 MPH, suddenly a couple of dash lights lit up, there was a loud squeal, and I lost power steering. I almost lost control of the vehicle and almost ran off the ramp before bringing the vehicle to a stop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10535238, filed 2013-08, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalling or losing power while driving

   • 68 complaints (29%)
   • median 92,222 mi at 8.2 yrs old (61 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2026

   Owners describe the engine cutting out at speed or at a stop, sometimes with several dash lights flashing, and often being able to restart after pulling over. Complaints mention shops tracing the stall to charging-system problems, oil-soaked alternators or engine damage after a long-running oil leak, and some report the condition returning after a prior recall repair. Reported across a wide range, from about 45,000 to over 200,000 miles, often at highway speeds or while slowing for an exit.

   Recall 14V415000Recall 20V7050002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the engine and charging system have been inspected, and take a test drive that includes a stop-and-go stretch and a highway on-ramp. Have any stored engine or charging codes read before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My oil light came on--glowing faintly rather than being fully lit. The oil level seemed down a tad so I added a quart. Light went off. Car sat for a day. When I started it up, it seemed fine. No warning lights.I drove onto the highway. 20 miles into my trip the oil light faintly glowed. So I stopped. I started the car up again & things initially appeared fine. The oil light was off. But before I traveled even 1/8 of a mile oil light & check engine light came on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11220353, filed 2019-06, 170,000 miles

   “Highway traveling at 65 MPH when oil light glows but doesn't come on fully. As driver slows to pull to side of road, oil light comes on fully w/check engine light and power steering quits-all at once, making steering very difficult. It was a very dangerous situation because it was on a turn on I-81. Luckily traffic was light and there was no accident. The car was then towed to a service station. In terms of relevant history, when trip started, no warning lights were on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11093427, filed 2018-05, 170,000 miles
3. 3
   Electronic stability control

   ESC, ABS and AWD warning lights on together

   • 44 complaints (19%)
   • median 86,359 mi at 7.5 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,500 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2024

   Owners report the ESC, ABS, AWD, traction-control and sometimes seat-belt or brake lights illuminating together and staying on, often intermittently. Several complaints say a shop diagnosed an internal fault in the hydraulic electronic control unit or a failed rear wheel speed sensor, and some describe repeated visits where the lights returned after a repair. A few owners also link the lights to loss of the speedometer or cruise control. Reported from about 25,000 miles upward, with many complaints in the 70,000 to 125,000 mile range.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the key to the run position and confirm all warning lamps behave normally, then drive and watch for ESC or ABS lights staying on. Ask whether the ABS control unit or rear wheel speed sensors have been replaced and whether any stored codes were read.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The ESC light goes on and off when I am driving. In addition, the safety seat belt light is on. I feel these are tied to teh recall on this made and model, however, when the dealer runs my VIN, it is not on the list. I feel this is in error especially when I read the safety recall info on recall #13v113000, 09v122000, and 11v472000. I am not sure why my vehicle is not on the list when the VIN is run against the database since the description and symptoms are described in these known recalls. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11337691, filed 2020-07, 158,080 miles

   “I am the 2nd owner of this 2008 Hyundai Veracruz. The ESC, ABS and brake warning lights have been illuminated for months. Two dealers were unable to tell me the issue or to get the lights to turn off. Offered many services (not the awd module). The awd light would occasionally illuminate and I would lose cruise control and speedometer. Mid-march, the car became difficult to start - would turn over but wouldn't stay running once it was placed in drive and stalled a number of times in traffic (very dangerous! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10712185, filed 2015-04, 109,542 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Battery draining while parked

   • 49 complaints (21%)
   • median 94,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,750 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2025

   Owners report the battery going flat overnight or after sitting, sometimes because accessories such as lights, the radio, the wipers, the blower or the air conditioning stay on after the vehicle is shut off. Some describe pulling fuses one at a time to find the circuit responsible, and others mention that a jump start is needed each time the vehicle is used. Reported from about 60,000 miles upward, typically on vehicles several years old.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: After shutting the vehicle off, walk around it and confirm no lights, radio or blower remain running, and check that the battery holds a charge after sitting. Ask whether a parasitic draw test has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The battery completely drains. Sometimes its because the lights turn on by themselves when the car is off, or the radio comes on, or the wipers turn on, or the AC turns on, or the blower in the rear turns on. These items will stay on all night while parked in the driveway and drain the battery completely. I have tried to remove the specific fuses ie. The radio, but then its the blower that stays on. I remove that fuse and its the lights that came on. This has been going on for the better part of 2 years.”

   NHTSA complaint #11377091, filed 2020-11, 100,000 miles

   “On at least a dozen occasions within the past few months alone, while driving I will suddenly hear a high-pitched whirring sound that sounds like it's revving up, then immediately afterwards all of my dash lights and the passenger air bag lights start to flicker and/or go off completely and then come back on again. Every single time this happens, as soon as I turn off my car (doesn't matter if I keep driving for a long while or stop driving shortly after it happens), it won't start again. It's completely dead and I have to have it jumped. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10954014, filed 2017-02, 94,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake and rotor wear reports

   • 42 complaints (18%)
   • median 79,200 mi at 7.4 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,500 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2024

   Owners describe brake pulsation and rotors wearing out quickly, sometimes soon after replacement, and in a few cases brake fluid leaking into the ABS control unit or the brakes seizing with smoke from the ABS module area. Complaints mention dealers replacing pads and rotors without addressing the underlying concern. Reported from very low mileage on some vehicles up to about 170,000 miles on others.

   Recall 09V122000Recall 13V1130002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the brake pedal for pulsation during a steady stop and look at rotor condition through the wheels. Ask when pads and rotors were last replaced and whether any brake fluid seepage was found around the ABS unit.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was having issues with the brakes and it came to the point after replacing the pads and rotors and almost crashing into the cars in front of me that I took it to the dealer. I thought it may just need an adjustment on the computer but the diagnosis was internal failure of the hydraulic electronic control unit .. I am shocked because the car is only 5 years old. I started doing research and found that the Hyundai genesis was recalled for this very same reason. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10574096, filed 2014-03, 104,330 miles

   “Three warning lights came on in vehicle. Esc, abf, parking!brake were the lights that lit up on dashboard. Took vehicle in to local mechanic and he ran computer diagnostics on it, it came up with internal failure of the hydraulic electronic control unit. I called Hyundai customer care line and was told there were currently no recalls on this problem, but they did file my complaint and said that they take notice of trends and do research when enough problems happen, he encouraged me to file a complaint here as well. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10650364, filed 2014-10, 45,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, the most useful things to verify before purchase are the valve cover gasket and alternator condition and whether outstanding recall work was completed. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a charging-system test, a code scan and a look at the ABS module is worth the cost on a vehicle of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.