2008 Hyundai Santa Fe: engine stalls while driving

Filed Feb 27, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NY

I have taken my car to my local dealership for the Service Campaign 976 (Oil Gasket leak) back in Nov 2023. Ever since then my car has had starting issues until one day it needed a jump start in 2024 during the summer. Didn't think anything of it at the time, until the beginning of 2025. Car needed a jump start in the winter before leaving for work in the morning and before going back home from work. My brother who is a auto mechanic suggested I needed a new battery by now so I did that. Once I replaced the battery on my car I noticed that I didn't have headlights, power steering or heat working in my car. He came to my home and checked my engine and noticed that my alternator was covered in oil. I remembered that I took my car to the dealership for this issue with the Service campaign. I've been back and forth with this issue between the dealership and corporate to look at this issue. The dealership can't provide any photo proof or documentation stating what work was done. The dealership claimed that Hyundai doesn't need photo proof as of 2023 and started needing it in 2024, they simple state that the work was done and sign the car off on the recall. I don't see how this isn't a safety issue when the description of the campaign says that my vehicle can shut off while driving causing a crash. I have a family that I drive in this vehicle and our safety isn't being a concerning issue with this matter because "It's outside of the warranty" that shouldn't matter if the dealership can not provide any proof that work was done besides putting a oil shield on the vehicle. The head gasket leak didn't seem to be resolved if the alternator is saturated in oil enough that it doesn't hold a charge.

Filed Oct 22, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · MI

I took the car to get this recall done: Hyundai has decided to conduct a service campaign to inspect (and if necessary replace) the alternator and replace the front valve cover gasket on certain 2007-2009 model year Santa Fe vehicles. The recall was done, replacing the gasket and alternator. 2 years later the car started to stall in the middle of traffic. I returned to the dealer, dealer inspected and reported "oil found on the new alternator and oil leak found on the real valve cover gasket". I have been going back and forth on the phone with Hyundai costumer care. They said they will not redo the recall. It was not done correctly and slowly leak again. the vehicle now cut off everyday specially when i stop and go at short drives. It has also cut off in traffic. making it very dangerous. But Hyundai is telling me nothing for them to do.

Filed Apr 18, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · 87,000 miles · KS · fire

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing difficulty charging. The contact stated that while driving 50-60 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times while driving on the highway. The vehicle was able to be jump-started. The contact stated that a mobile mechanic had inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that there was oil leaking onto the spark plugs. The contact stated that the vehicle was chugging while driving. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in Hyundai Campaign Number: 976. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair. The dealer diagnosed that the valve cover gasket was leaking onto the alternator and onto other unknown parts. The dealer replaced the valve cover gasket and the alternator under Hyundai Campaign Number: 976. The contact stated after driving 7-8 minutes after picking up the vehicle from the dealer, the contact noticed an abnormal odor and smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact pulled into a gas station and parked the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer. The contact stated she drove to the nearby residence of a friend instead because she needed to report to work. The contact stated upon opening the hood and starting the vehicle the following day, the contact noticed flames in the engine compartment. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. No police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the fire had occurred due to an old oil leak; however, the contact stated there was also a noticeable new oil leak under the hood. The dealer later informed the contact that the starter had failed, and that the fire had not caused any further damage to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and

Filed Mar 14, 2024 · Acceleration, Engine · OH

Reference Number: 11520065 This is a follow up to a previously submitted incident involving this same vehicle. My first submission was May, 2023, This vehicle experienced the exact same hazardous condition on February 26, 2024. on I-75 south. After driving on an interstate highway for about 1 hour, I noticed a traffic backup and proceeded to slow down as the traffic was nearly stopped. As I slowed my car down to nearly a complete stop, the engine suddenly surged forward with high rpm's as though the accelerator was pushed to the floor. I immediately pressed on the brake pedal as hard as I could to stop the car from surging forward and then quickly decided to put the transmission into neutral so I would not hit the car in front of me. The car eventually stopped surging and may have stalled. I finally got the car to move again by turning off the ignition and restarting it. I continued on my way and did not have a similar situation for the rest of my 30 minute highway trip. Like all the times before, the floor mat was NOT involved in this sudden acceleration. Last year when I took this car to a Hyundai dealer for inspection, they could not replicate this condition. They said that I needed a new fuel level sensor in my gas tank and a new fuel pump--neither of which I agreed to because first, the gas gauge has no relation to my surging and second, the fuel pump must be working or else I could not drive the car. This surging has occurred perhaps 7 times since I have owned this car since 2008. It is frightening to know that it could happen again with personal injuries or property damage. This condition rarely happens in city driving, but has happened at least 3 times in city driving. Seems like this situation would warrant a manufacturer recall.

Filed Jan 4, 2024 · Engine · TX

Vehicle has stalled couple of times while driving. One on the service road just about to merge on the highway 1604 North after taking left turn from the Potranco road about a year ago. Steering got locked and engine died, I managed to pull over to the right shoulder into the parking lot of Med Clinic. After couple tries, I was able to get it going. There is occasional check engine light on that goes off after some time of driving and not sure if this is related to stalling of engine. There is a history of oil leak under the hood. I received recall service notice for leaking cylinder head gasket which outlined same issues that I encountered before and took vehicle to the dealership. It was kept for 2 days for service and was returned to me. There is still sign of wetted oil on the parts. There is no sign that I could see of opening and taking parts apart for the so-called completed service, dust and debris seem to be untouched. I have a doubt that service evert took place. I filed a complaint with the Hyundai Motors requesting independent assessment if gasket was actually changed. They sent an acknowledgement of receiving the complaint, but no one has contacted me.

Filed Oct 9, 2020 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 131,009 miles · FL

The fuel sensor stopped working. Pay to fix it but only lasted 1 month and than stop working again. Electrical. Was driving on highway heard a whining noise and then the car starting stalling. Won't turn on

Filed Jan 21, 2020 · Electrical · 159,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact 2008 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The battery warning indicator illuminated. The contact also mentioned the failure occurred when it was raining (three times on the same day). The contact also stated that the vehicle alternator was replaced by the dealer bentley hyundai, 3805 university drive, huntsville, al 35816, under a campaign generated by the manufacturer december 2019. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint number: [xxx] was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 159,000. *ln consumer stated when he went to pick up vehicle dealer found nothing wrong with it. One week later vehicle was taken back to dealer. ('parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).'

Filed Aug 9, 2019 · Engine · 165 miles · NC

Turning left thru an intersection th e car stalled, leaving us with no brakes and very little steering. This has happened more than once.

Filed Feb 4, 2019 · Engine · 95,000 miles · FL

The car shuts off while driving. No pre-warning or alert before it happens

Filed Sep 10, 2018 · Electrical, Fuel system · 23,456 miles · MD

My 2008 hyundai santa fe while driving stalls, truck is no longer on while driving. Power steering and control over steering wheel is loss. This has been happening quite frequently while driving. Happen twice while driving on highway which, scared me to death. Check engine light and battery lights comes on when this happens. Now the engine light comes on stay for a few days then turns off. My fuel gage k doesn't work properly. I can fill my tank up on full, then it will drop to the e line like there is no gas. The yellow light comes on. Not safe because now I don't know if my truck is full or really empty. Why haven't there been any recalls on these issues especially since, there are numerous complaints by owners with the same year and model.

Filed Jul 11, 2018 · Engine, Steering · 113,000 miles · UT

My 2008 hyundai santa fe stalled twice today. It also stalled on the same day twice last week. This happened each time I came to a stop light or wanted to make a turn. The engine stopped running, the power steering ceased working, and check engine light came on. After each occurrence, I switched my hazard lights on, pushed the transaxle to park and then restarted the car to pull out of traffic. The stalling is often accompanied by loss of power (power steering and brakes too), complete failure to accelerate, and the check engine light comes on.

Filed Oct 14, 2017 · Engine · 163,201 miles · GA

While normal driving down a city road going straight the vehicle will stall without any notice or any change in condition. You loose all power, brakes and steering when this happens and have to bring it to stop with emergency brake and place in park. Then you can start the vehicle once again like it has no issues. This issue produces no engine trouble codes and has happened 3 other times in the 6 years we owned the vehicle. This is extremely dangerous and we never know when it will happen.