2009 Hyundai Santa Fe reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 506
- 67 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- 109 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 2
- see below
- Reported harm
- 44 reported crashes · 44 injuries · 9 deaths · 7 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,020
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Hyundai median
+238
median 268 across 168 Hyundai records
Vs 2007-2011
+247
median 260 complaints in 736 records
Top component share
22%
Fuel/Propulsion System: 109 complaints
What owners report fails — 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 109
- ENGINE 60
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 51
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 50
- SERVICE BRAKES 40
2 recalls on record for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
- NHTSA 13V113000 · 2013 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk
- NHTSA 12V354000 · 2012 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-I Improper classification or detection may cause the front passenger airbag not to deploy in the event of a crash, increas
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
NHTSA has 506 consumer complaints on record for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (109 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Owners most often report problems with: fuel/propulsion system (109), engine (60), vehicle speed control (51), electrical system (50). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.