2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. This model year has 355 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Fuel/Propulsion System.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Engine Problems
Unintended Acceleration
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 109 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 66 | 3 | 2 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 51 | 11 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 49 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Brake System | 48 | 7 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 30 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 29 | 8 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 24 | 3 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 19 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 17 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 17 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 13 | 5 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 9 | — | 1 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electric | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 355 most recent complaints
Vehicle will suddenly shutdown in the middle of the road. This could easily have caused a crash at any time. Several batteries have been replaced due to alternator not charging the battery. Then the battery has to be jumped for emergencies. I have taken the car in for repairs of…
[XXX] We took out Stanta Fe to the Hyundia Dealership in Columbia, TN 38401. The installed a new rover cover gasket left and service kit. The purpose was to stop oil from leaking into the alternator. I would like to point out we did not see any visible signs of the gasket was lea…
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the failure occurred mostly while decelerating from highway speeds. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics to be diagnosed, b…
I am writing to document a troubling interaction at one of the Hyundai service locations regarding a known recall on my 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe (166,000 miles). This vehicle is affected by Recall Campaign Number 103 (valve cover gasket may leak and cause alternator failure and ele…
Leak coolant and oil
On January 16,2025 I was driving my Hyundai Santa Fe on the freeway with my three children when the automatic brake system suddenly failed, causing me to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, we spun off the road, and the vehicle flipped four times, causing us multiple injuri…
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for an oil change, she was informed that oil was leaking onto the alternator. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been repaired under Service Campaign…
This vehicle Dies while driving it I have to put in neutral and restart. I am afraid that I am going to be hurt or someone else is.
The closed recall of the brake light failing to illuminate has returned and I’m not sure of my future steps in getting it fixed. The Hyundai repair website mentions it as completed in 2014, when I did not have the car. At random, my driver tail light will not illuminate whilst br…
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V113000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceed…
vehicle will randomly shutoff. example coming off the interstate and off the exit ramp and accelerating into traffic vehicle with completly die, no power steering or power brakes. after pulling off the road the vehicle will restart and run normally. may not happen again for sever…
The vehicle brakes would trigger randomly which is clearly extremely unsafe on: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] which Triple A can validate. The main issue was the vehicle did not pull a code and since the happened randomly without warning there was no way to get this issue repaired. I called …
My 2009 Santa Fe's paint is peeling in large portions. It started on the driver's side door right below the window and has continued to crack and bubble all the way down the door. There has been no safety issues as of yet, but it will be a safety issue if I am driving and pieces …
I bought my 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe brand new and have been the sole owner. It has been garaged the entire time. It has 145,000 miles and I have kept it washed and maintained regularly. The last couple of times I have taken it in for repairs, the mechanic has told me that the fr…
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received a notice for TSB: [XXX] and the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the campaign was completed. The contact stated that while an oil change was being performed, she was informed that the valve cover gasket was leaki…
My kids and I were going to town one afternoon and I started to smell gas coming from the air vents the gas smell was very strong I opened the hood and could see that it was wet I touched the spot and smelled it and it was fuel.i was worried about driving home with my children in…
Took my car in for repair because I was told that my power steering pump and gaskets were bad. Upon further investigation it wasn’t neither. It was the power steering hose that goes from the power steering to the racket pinion. Both of the hoses had holes in them and were rusted …
1.) Throttle Control failure, and is available for inspection 2.) My and the public saftey was put in risk, as I lost control of the vehicle an almost had an accident, and could have hit another vehicle or person or building. 3.) The problem has not occured again other than the m…
2009 Hyundai Sante Fe Mileage as of 9/16/2023 145608 I took the vehicle there on Saturday, 9/16/2023 to have the oil changed. I always bring my own oil and filter, so I only have to pay for the labor. Each time, I do this, the mechanic always over fill the oil. The manual b…
I am having a serious issue with my car that mechanics are unable to figure out. On multiple occasions, while driving at low speed in preparation for making a turn, my car has completely shut off, making it impossible for me to steer, brake or accelerate. I lost all control of …
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Recalls for 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2009 Hyundai Santa Fe — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe has 355 NHTSA owner complaints, 27 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Fuel/Propulsion System (109 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
#1: Fuel/Propulsion System (109 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (66 complaints). #3: Unintended Acceleration (51 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
The 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe has 27 crash-related complaints and 5 fire reports out of 355 total NHTSA complaints. 26 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?▾
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. The largest issue: EQUIPMENT. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe?▾
The 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Fuel/Propulsion System issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Santa Fe reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.