HyundaiSanta Fe2008Overview/hyundai/santa-fe/2008/base/

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Santa Fe.

Body SUV

The 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe arrives as an SUV requiring 4.7 quarts of 5W-20 or 5W-30 API oil, and its reliability profile shows 541 owner complaints led by Fuel/Propulsion System issues alongside six recalls. Viewed across the model's 2001–2026 history, this year falls well short of the 2017 peak of 941 complaints while remaining above the 2026 low of 28, positioning the 2008 squarely in the middle of the Santa Fe's complaint spectrum.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 124R · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 124R · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-70R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.3 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height70.9 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight4125 lb
Track (front / rear)63.8 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Santa Fe of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.40 sec — 2008 Limited 3.3L V6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2008Limited 3.3L V68.40 sec16.50 sec242 hpAWD
2007Limited 3.3L V68.00 sec16.40 sec242 hpAWD
2007Limited 3.3L V68.30 sec16.40 sec242 hpAWD
2007Limited 3.3L V69.40 sec17.30 sec242 hpAWD
2010Limited 3.5L V67.10 sec15.40 sec276 hpAWD
2011Limited 3.5L V67.40 sec15.70 sec276 hpFWD
2011GLS 2.4L I-410.60 sec17.70 sec175 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.7 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.2
Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11.5
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsM6 Bolts: 7-9 ft-lbs, M8 Bolts: 15-19 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7-9 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts123-130 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts210-224 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts53-55 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts56 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14-15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18-22 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug29.0-43.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)720 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.56-.68 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5950-8050 ohms
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.70-.73 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance10,625-14,375 ohms
Ignition Timing10, Not adjustable degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityFront A/C only, 1.29-1.40; front and rear A/C, 1.81-1.92. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil CapacityFront A/C only, 4.73-5.40; front and rear A/C, 6.75-7.43. oz
Standard BCI Group Number124R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number124R

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-19 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)54.3-55.8 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)54.3-55.8 psi
Engine Compression149
Engine Oil Pressure18.7 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPMIdle rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-72 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.00001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.001 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.433 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.433 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
116 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9216 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1tighten bolts in sequence 2, 1, 4, 3, 6, 5, 8, 72.9–4.3 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 52,500 miFuel Filter (replace) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 75,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe sits within a period of significant volatility for the model, following a sharp spike in 2007 where complaints reached 681 and recalls hit 9. While 2008 saw a slight decrease to 541 complaints and 6 recalls, these figures remain substantially higher than the 106 complaints reported in 2006. The primary areas of concern for 2008 include the Fuel/Propulsion System with 177 complaints, Air Bags with 56, and the gasoline fuel system with 41. The data also notes 17 crash and 7 fire complaints for the year, though the root causes are not specified. Because 2008 falls on the descending slope of a major complaint peak, it shows slight improvement over 2007 but still carries a high volume of reported issues. Given this record, this is not a recommended year to buy.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
64
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
541
Owner complaints
17 involved a crash · 7 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 541 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel/Propulsion System177
Air Bags56
Fuel System, Gasoline41
Vehicle Speed Control33
Electrical System20
Engine14
Electrical System,Fuel/Propulsion System13
Structure11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

12V354000Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-InactiveReported 25/07/2012

Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from April 19, 2006, through July 7, 2008. The occupant classification system (OCS) may need recalibration to accurately detect… Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the classification software free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at…

13V113000Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:SwitchReported 01/04/2013

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz… Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 64 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
25-BD-012H TSB2025-11-05Exterior LightingThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
24-01-026H2024-04-09Engine And Engine CoolingSome Santa Fe (CM) vehicles may have an engine that potentially leaks oil from the front…
24-01-026H2024-04-09Power TrainSome Santa Fe (CM) vehicles may have an engine that potentially leaks oil from the front…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Santa Fe. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Santa Fe take?

4.7 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 Santa Fe have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.