2009 Hyundai Santa Fe problems and complaints
Owners have filed 358 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most-reported areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (109), Engine (60), Vehicle Speed Control (51).
Key takeaways
- 358 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 27 involve a crash, 5 a fire, 26 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 109 | 30% |
| Engine | 60 | 17% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 51 | 14% |
| Electrical System | 50 | 14% |
| Service Brakes | 49 | 14% |
| Unknown Or Other | 31 | 9% |
| Air Bags | 29 | 8% |
| Power Train | 24 | 7% |
| Fuel System | 19 | 5% |
| Steering | 17 | 5% |
| Gasoline | 17 | 5% |
| Structure | 13 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe 4-DR w/SAB | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Service Brakes - filed 2026-08-23
Brake Lights Stay, On ESC OFF Light Illuminated, Cruise Control Won't Engage, Unable to Shift Out of Park. Fuse had to be pulled because the battery was going dead due to lights not turning off. Its doing the same thing that is outlined in this recall (NHTSA Campaign ID: 13V113000)
Electrical System,unknown Or Other - filed 2026-05-29
2 unrepaired recalls. Frame rusted and unsafe to lift to repair the other recall which is an oil leak onto the alternator. Car won't run now. Corporate asked if I had a lawyer. They have declared my car not fixable or drivable. Neither corporate nor dealer will return my calls. No info from them at all. No offer of a b...
Engine - filed 2026-05-20
*The mechanic diagnosed internal engine failure (May 14, 2026). The vehicle is at the second mechanic's shop. *The car stalled twice. The first time, over 20 miles, the air conditioning stopped, followed by the radio, and then acceleration. I pulled over and the acceleration returned but only for a minute. The second ...
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More for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.