2008 Hyundai Santa FE Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

60Engine complaints

11.1%Of all 541 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM215 · 39.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM70 · 12.9%

ENGINE60 · 11.1%

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE57 · 10.5%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL50 · 9.2%

Share of the 541 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE overview page.

What owners report

“AS I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH GOING UP A HILL, MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND…”NHTSA complaint 10491493 — filed 01/04/2013

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE: 60 of 541 complaints on file (11.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2008 Hyundai Santa FE have in total?

541 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 17 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 12 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.