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2008 Hyundai Azera Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2008 Hyundai Azera has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Driver's power seat moves forward while driving.” Hyundai's owner's manual splits service into Normal and Severe schedules. Most US drivers qualify as Severe due to short trips, extreme temperatures, or stop-and-go traffic. Hyundai Assurance covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance on new vehicles. The Theta II 2.0L and 2.4L engines (2011-2019) are subject to TSBs around oil consumption — strict adherence to oil intervals matters.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2008 Hyundai Azera.

Reported to NHTSA

Driver's power seat moves forward while driving

SEATS

21 NHTSA complaints · 2009-05 → 2016-11

“THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 45MPH ON A STRAIGHT 4 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE DRIVER'S POWER SEAT SUDDENLY MOVED ALL THE WAY TO THE FAR REARWARD POSITION, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE UNABLE TO REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL OR ACCELERATOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10789841
“ON THE DRIVE BACK HOME, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT, WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH FULL POWER SEAT CONTROLS, MOVED FORWARD AUTONOMOUSLY, CRUSHING MY HUSBAND AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10561028
“CAR IS LOCKED, PARKED AND NO ONE IS IN IT. THE BACK RECLINING PORTION OF THE DRIVERS WILL MOVE TOWARDS THE STEERING WHEEL BY ITSELF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10532355

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Oil leak onto alternator causing failure

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 NHTSA complaints · 2016-08 → 2024-03

“The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the battery charging warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the valve cover gasket was leaking onto the alternator, causing the alternator to fail”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11574875
“OIL LEAKS FROM THE FRONT CYLINDER BANK STRAIGHT INTO THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING IT TO FAIL PREMATURELY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10897354

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light illuminated with sensor fault

AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS

11 NHTSA complaints · 2009-02 → 2019-01

“WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT TENSION SENSOR WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11164750
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11021043
“THE MAIN AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER KEEPS COMING ON, AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER SEATBELT OCCASIONALLY LIGHT WHICH OCCURS WHEN SOMEONE HAS SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THEN EXITS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10958468

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

ABS hydraulic control unit failure and recall delay

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

10 NHTSA complaints · 2013-09 → 2023-09

“ON 1/10/18, 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS RECALL MY 2008 HYUNDAI AZERA CAUGHT FIRE IN MY BASEMENT WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND NO KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11202884
“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND WHITE SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11097566
“THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V026000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11104041

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Throttle position sensor failure causing acceleration loss

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

7 NHTSA complaints · 2009-07 → 2011-06

“WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE COUNTRY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON MY SPEED DROPPED FROM 50 MPH TO ABOUT 10MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10409638
“AUTOMOBILE SURGED, THEN WENT FROM 60+ MPH TO 20+ MPH (LIMP ALONG MODE)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10336300
“THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10358751

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dashboard cracking near passenger air bag

STRUCTURE

2 NHTSA complaints · 2014-12 → 2015-07

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING AND WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10664669
“DASH BOARD DEVELOPED A RECTANGULAR CRACK ON TOP OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10734922

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration resulting in crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 NHTSA complaints · 2015-04 → 2015-06

“WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD IN EXCESS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10723141
“MY MOTHER PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY TO PARK. THE CAR MADE A WEIRD SOUND AND THEN ACCELERATED AT A QUICK SPEED. SHE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND HAD SKID MARKS TO PROVE IT, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10705987

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 3,750 mi

Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal service: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Sonata, Santa Fe, Tucson 2011-2019): never extend — oil consumption issues are documented in Hyundai TSBs.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. AWD Tucson and Santa Fe owners benefit from rotation at 5,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, calipers, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Elantra and Sonata front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required to maintain ABS and ESC pump life.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Severe service or dusty conditions: 15,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Severe service: every 30,000 miles. Normal: 60,000 miles. Use Hyundai SP-IV or SPH-IV — substitutes can cause harsh shifting and torque converter damage.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on Theta II, Lambda II, and Smartstream engines. 1.6T (Veloster N, Kona N): 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 30,000 mi

Hyundai Long-Life Coolant (pink): first change at 60,000 miles, then every 30,000. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it damages the cylinder head gasket on GDI engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on most Hyundai models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Replace at 90,000 miles on most models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

17 crashes 1990–2024

How the 17 occupant deaths break down

12

driver deaths

5

passenger deaths

17

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2010 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

5

complaints mentioning a crash

4

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2008 Hyundai Azera reflects Hyundai's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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