Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Hyundai Santa FE
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Hyundai Santa FE has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 541 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #13V113000 Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V354000 Occupant Classification Systems NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V472000 CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E055000 AFTERMARKET TOW HITCH SYSTEM/WIRING HARNESS/FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V272000 CERTIFICATION LABEL/FMVSS 110 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E016000 AFTERMARKET TOW HITCH SYSTEM/WIRING HARNESS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 215 complaints
- Electrical System 74 complaints
- Air Bags 70 complaints
- Engine 60 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 58 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 52 complaints
Of the 541 complaints on file, 17 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 541 complaints, owners report 12 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe has several recalls related to airbag and brake light switch issues, which indicate potential safety concerns. High complaint numbers, particularly about unspecified 'Other' issues, suggest varied reliability problems over time.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbag system | 60,000–80,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | common |
| brake light switch | 40,000–70,000 miles | $100–$250 | common |
| electrical system | 50,000–90,000 miles | $300–$750 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake inspection annually
- Transmission fluid replacement every 60,000 miles
- Spark plug replacement every 60,000 miles
- Coolant system inspection annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light on
- Brake lights not functioning
- Electrical system malfunctions
- Unusual tire wear
- Abnormal noises from under the hood
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.