2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Consumer Reviews

Rear seat rattle

Written by: Nighthawk50 on 12/12/2009

Vehicle

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

My Sante Fe is now 14 month old. Four time, I have asked the dealer to fix a rattle in the right rear seat back. They have never accomplished a fix. They even replaced the latching mechanism. The fourth request to fix, after driving 70 miles round trip and waiting 2 hours again, including an oil change, I was told that the seatback rattle is NORMAL in an SUV. I contacted Hyundai customer service and was told, in broken English, the same cock-and-bill story that it is normal for an adjustable seat back to rattle. I told them that's bull, that family and friends have other make SUVs that don't have seatback rattles and I'll never buy or recommend a Hyundai to anyone if that's their response.

Favorite Features

Attractive interior, light colored, not black like other SUVs. Wood grain not found in other makes. Firm seats. Driver comfort. Ample cargo space. Exterior design. Door handle to open rear hatch. Nice size glove box. Night interior illumination effective and attractive. Fully retracting rear windows

Suggested Improvements

No MP3 aux. input like other 2008 makes. Ride is too firm/noisy. Wasn't aware it was a truck chassis until I received license. Sound system had to be tweaked to get bass response. Better design & assembly to avoid rattles. Better gas mileage. Better customer service. Rear entry and legroom cramped.

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Out of round tires

Written by: Nighthawk50 on 12/12/2009

Vehicle

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Upon delivery in Sept 2008, my 2008 Sante Fe had a very obvious shimmy on the highway. After failed attempts to remedy the defect by the dealer, I was sent to a Nissan sister dealer, where they determined that the Bridgestone tires were out of round. The selling dealer then exchanged all tires with tires from another new Sante Fe and the problem was solved after much time wasted by me. In my judgment, the car should not have been delivered to me with a shimmy which was noticeable. Don't they test drive cars before delivery to the customer? I cannot address an unresolved rattle here due to restricted space for this comment. Will submit another review for that.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

Dealer should test drive the car in varying conditions before sale to customer rather than deliver a car with an obvious operating defect.

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definitely look at this vehicle

Written by: RickG on 10/21/2009

Vehicle

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

My wife and I were in the market for a sporty SUV and after looking at the Nissan Murano, Lexus RX350, and Ford Edge, we decided on the Santa Fe. Simply put you get more for your money and this vehicle has luxury written all over it. You cannot beat the warranty and the dealership is top notch.

Favorite Features

dual exhaust makes the vehicle look cool, navigation, dashboard, 10 speaker sound system, ride

Suggested Improvements

power passenger seat should have been standard on the AWD limited.

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Good machine but POOR TIRES

Written by: LesP on 10/14/2009

Vehicle

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV AWD (2.7L 6cyl 4A)

Review

This is my sixth Hyundai, my first suv. All five were great but my suv has more squeaks & rattles than all others combined. The fog light switch gave out twice & lost a tirerod end but overall reliability is good. The OME tires are poor. I highway drive a lot in sales & got half the mileage on the Bridgestone tires that I got on my other Hyundai cars. The dealer said that is the way they are and nothing can be done. So expect to buy a new SUV and the next summer spend $600.00 plus for new summer tires. The tires were not on all year, in this area I use snow tires from early fall to late spring putting more than half the mileage on them and not the tires that came on the machine.

Favorite Features

AWD and the 6cyl engine GREAT for what I need (great for the Canadian Winter) Lots of space for both seating & luggage.I feel very safe

Suggested Improvements

Put on better tires and a full size spare. Bring back the quality of no squeaks and rattles I am very disappointed with that. If that can be done I will buy number 7

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Good vehilcle a couple problems

Written by: satisfied on 09/30/2009

Vehicle

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

We bought our 2008 Sante fe after looking at Ford, Chev, Toyota and Chrysler and decided that the Sante Fe was an all better deal, price wise, handling and style. We had a problem with the airbag sensor which was irratic, coming on and going off was not predicatable. This was finally fixed. Also the accelerator sensor acted up. The vehicle would pulsate from 600 RPM to 1500 RPM. The sensor was replced and now works well. Love the interior design especially the dashboard lighting. Exterior design is also good.

Favorite Features

Interior and exterior design. Handling on the highway and city. Good mileage with the V6 if driven properly.

Suggested Improvements

Backup lights could be a bit brighter.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Great value for your money

Written by: Anthony on 09/24/2009

Vehicle

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Our Santa Fe has everything to offer for our family of four. Really smooth ride and very fuel-effcient for it's size. Only thing is the engine's reliability . Only 10500 miles and already there is a small oil leak. I'm taking it into the Dealer to get it looked at, but I must say I'm disappointed that a brand new car would already start leaking oil.... :-( Overall, I recommend the car for what it has to offer at a reasonable price. Only flaw about the interior is the lack of an auxiliary port, but I found out that the 09 models were equipped with this, standard. Should of waited a lil longer :-/

Favorite Features

Rear entertainment DVD player for the kids & 3rd row seating. Fuel-efficient & drives like a sedan. Gets me to point A to B while keeping my kids entertained in the back without paying thousands more for all the standard features it comes with

Suggested Improvements

Suspension could use some improvement. Braking feels soft during hard braking. Engine reliability could be better

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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So far so good

Written by: starsky on 09/08/2009

Vehicle

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

The car has a little over 10000 miles on it since bought new in january. The wife gets 22.5 MPG mixed city and highway driving. I get around 26 MPG driving it highway to work. A recent leak in the power steering is being addressed by the dealer. The rack is being replaced and the dealer provided a loaner car over the Labor day Holiday. We have been treated very well by everyone since the car purchase.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

Better antenna

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Leaks

Written by: anne on 09/04/2009

Vehicle

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I purchased a used 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe with 5500 miles on it for 18,900 and then it rained saturating the rugs on the driver's side with water. Two days later it was back at the dealership. They put it through the car wash and said the leak was coming from the door and that it would be ready in two days. They then called and said they were going to keep it two weeks. I took it back home waxed it and kept it in the garage. Last Saturday it poured, I had left it outside and again the rugs were saturated with water. Resealing of the windshield didn't work. This experience has soured me on Hyundais although I really liked the feel and large cargo area. Carmax took the vehicle back.

Favorite Features

Seating for a large driver. Knobs were easy to use. Extreme quietness, could not even hear motor or tires.Large cargo area, paint color.

Suggested Improvements

Design of area on outside near wipers that catches the water.

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Where is that buzzing noise coming from?

Written by: Brian K on 09/02/2009

Vehicle

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)

Review

I traded a SAAB 9-3 for my Santa Fe, and I couldn't be happier. It is very comfortable for long trips, and I average around 24 mpg on the highway. I have been getting around 19-20 in city driving. My only complaint is a buzzing noise from the rear whenever the engine hits 2100 rpm. I am sure it will be taken care of when I have my next service. This is my fifth Hyundai, and it is by far the best. I'm looking forward to buying a Genesis when my Santa Fe is paid off!

Favorite Features

Style, ride, roominess, handling.

Suggested Improvements

Auxiliary audio input for iPod/MP3 players. A little more ooph for the base engine, and a 5-speed auto tranny.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Rare Problem

Written by: Cruzian on 08/23/2009

Vehicle

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Comfortable to drive, and build quality seems decent overall. So far 48 days in the shop with a head gasket leak. Actually, the factory FORGOT TO INSTALL THE REAR HEAD GASKET so it was a compression leak, but a tiny leak only when hot. I wish the dealer had pulled the heads first instead of trying everything else first. We'll see how well it does with a properly assembled engine.

Favorite Features

Comfort, smooth ride on bad roads, quiet.

Suggested Improvements

Keyless ignition should be standard. My Grand Vitara has it and I can't really live without it any more.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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