2008 Hyundai Santa Fe: fuel pump failure

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 May 2, 2023 · Acceleration · 73,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The contact stated that he shifted into neutral(N) to stop the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that two unknown sensors and the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

Filed Jan 6, 2020 · Electrical, Fuel system · 125,000 miles · TX

The fuel pump and sensors went bad. The fuel gauge started glitching and going up and down randomly. After 1-2 months it was showing empty at all times. I changed the sensors and the fuel gauge went to the middle even when the tank was full. I had to replace both sensors and the fuel pump to get it fixed.

Filed Aug 20, 2019 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 70,355 miles · NY

This vehicle started showing issues with key fob not working - gas gauge not accurate next cruise control light on also check engine light pointing to bad fuel pump sensor units - I've researched this and this is known issue - my car has only 70 k miles on it and huyndai refuses to do fix as this is not a recall and car is out of warranty - I say this is known issue and huyndai should cover this as a recall - vehicle is now unsafe and can shut off at any time during driving.... Serious safety issue. This is a known issue multiple reported complaints and calls for recall but huyndai will not offer recall - serious safety issue huyndai does not care - example of same complaint filed by another person on this same issue attached - multiple issues listed at this site : https://www.aboutautomobile.com/consumer-complaint/2008/hyundai/santa-fe/11141800. You can see all the instances this should be a recall on these vehicles ! *tt

Filed Feb 12, 2017 · Fuel system · 1 miles · IL

Had problems with the gas gauge being erratic and my 2008 santa fe, hesitating when trying to accelerate. Had the fuel pump replaced at an after market shop that I have always used on on my vehicles, in april 2016 ($707.00) and appeared to fix the problem. Here it is feb. 2017 and are experiencing the same problem, but this time we were driving and the vehicle just died and could not be restarted. I hope it's not the fuel pump again. Can't find a recall for this problem.

Filed Apr 10, 2016 · Fuel system · NY

The fuel level sensor failed at around 55,000 miles,which resulted in the driver being unable to tell how much fuel was in the tank. Fuel transfer unit and fuel pump assembly had to be replaced.

Filed Oct 21, 2015 · Electrical, Fuel system · 95,000 miles · WA

When the gas tank is less than half full, the fuel gauge displays tank as nearly empty and the amber low fuel light appears. The check engine warning light also comes on. The fuel gauge swings back up to nearly half full, drops down to 1/4 full, then drops down to almost empty, then swing back to half full. About 3 months after this problem started, the fuel gauge remains near empty with the amber low fuel light lit. When I fill up the gas tank, the fuel gauge is once again accurate until the tank goes below 1/2 full. However, the check engine light remains on at all times and can only be cleared by a mechanic. I've had my mechanic clear it twice. This is a fuel sensor issue with the two senders in the gas tank. I was going to have this repaired by having the fuel pump assembly replaced but found out it would cost $1000. I can't afford that so I'm stuck. I'm going to have to reset the odometer every time I fill up and make sure I fill up the tank every 300 miles. I've done my research and this is a known, widespread issue with the 2008 hyundai santa fe vehicles. I saw many complaints about this issue filed on the nhsta so this agency is well aware of the issue but has chosen not to recall the santa fe for the 2008 model year. I don't understand this: this is a safety issue as well as a gross design and manufacturing problem with this vehicle. We bought this vehicle used with no knowledge of this. The fuel gauge started behaving erratically a little over a year after we bought it in may 2014, which would be around late july 2015. He first sign of a problem occurred after I filled the gas tank in late july 2015. That was the first time the check engine light came on even though the gas tank was full. I had my mechanic clear it. This same thing happened about 6 weeks later. After that the erratic fuel gauge behavior I described started occurring.

Filed Aug 21, 2014 · Fuel system · OH

Check engine light came on and the reading came back as a bad fuel sensor. Sounds like this is a common problem yet hyundai is not willing to recall. Despite trying to keep track of how much gas I have I did once run out in the middle of an intersection and was lucky enough to get to a safe location. Hyundai knew what they were doing when they installed these, there's non point in replacing it without replacing the fuel pump as well. This car has given me more issue than any other car I've owned. First a cylinder misfire which was a bad coil pack, then I had to replace a purge valve and now this. I'm selling it back to the dealership asap.

Filed May 16, 2014 · Fuel system · 70,000 miles · FL

Fuel gauge has become erratic and causes check engine light to come on. Informed entire fuel pump would need to be replaced as sensor is a part of pump assembly, total cost $950. This is a safety concern, cannot tell how much fuel is in car. Recall should be issued as the complaint seems to be common.

Filed Feb 3, 2014 · Brakes, Fuel system · 67,000 miles · CA

The fuel gauge on my 2008 hyundai santa fe at around 67k miles started reading empty and then it started reading normal and then empty. Finally it has only read empty for the past couple thousand miles. I was hoping that it would fix itself which it never did. Wishful thinking. I ended up bringing my santa fe into the local hyundai service department to troubleshoot the problem plus replace the front and back brakes, and perform existing recalls. They told me that one of the two fuel pumps located in the gas tank had failed. The fuel pump that failed was the one with the sending unit which provides the signal to the fuel gauge. They told me that I was fortunate that the other fuel pump did not fail as my hyundai santa fe will stop running.

Filed Dec 21, 2013 · Electrical, Fuel system · 46,128 miles · NV

The fuel gauge on dash has begun fluctuating wildly even with full tank of gas. No check engine light yet but based on what I have read I am anticipating a problem code coming soon. My research is pointing to the fuel level sensor attached to the fuel pump. However, only the whole assembly appears to be available and as such, it is highly costly to correct. Hyundai should provide a recall for this due to the huge number of people experiencing the same problem. It has also been noted that this has caused vehicles to stall while on the highway creating a hazard to other drivers and myself. When the car ran out of gas, the power steering went out and it became very hard to steer. Please see the following web site for a current list of many other santa fe owners having the same problem. Http://www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2008/hyundai/santa+fe/fuel+system.

Filed Nov 20, 2013 · Airbags, Fuel system · NJ

Back in april, my santa fe also had the fuel gauge issue. It also began fluctuating wildly and the range computer was all over the place. The dealer told me it was part of the fuel pump and that I had to replace both of them, who knew it had two. It cost me $1,583.80 to fix. They told me if I didn't fix it, the car could just lose power and we would be stuck on the side of the road. This should definitely be a recall!!!! Now, my santa fe has the air bag light on. There was a recall for this back in 2011, which I definitely received literature from hyundai about it. Yesterday, the dealer first told me that recall didn't exist. Then they told me it didn't apply to my make or model, nor did it apply to my VIN. They wanted to charge $350 to fix the clock spring assembly. I refused since I know this was recalled. I'm going to try and contact the corporate office of hyundai about this. In the meantime, I don't have a driver side air bag in the event of an accident. Thanks hyundai. Stay away from hyundai vehicles!!!!