2009 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Fuel/propulsion system is the leading concern among 358 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 27 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 26 people were injured and 3 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 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, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
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. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Campaign 13V113000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveJul 25, 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 small statured adults.
Improper classification or detection may cause the front passenger airbag not to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger.
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 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 12V354000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentOct 6, 2011
CURT MANUFACTURING IS RECALLING CERTAIN TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESSES, PART NUMBER 55538, THAT CONNECT TOW VEHICLE LIGHTING CIRCUITS TO TRAILER LIGHTING CIRCUITS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES. THE UNITS ARE NOT WATER-TIGHT AND MOISTURE CAN SEEP INTO THE CONVERTER MODULE AND DEFEAT THE MODULE'S INTERNAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION.
WITHOUT THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION, THE MODULE CAN OVERHEAT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
CURT MANUFACTURING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESS. THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MANUFACTURING AT 1-715 831-8713.
Campaign 11E040000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
29 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Sep 26, 2010
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OF A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DISENGAGES WHEN A PERSON WEIGHING 106 POUNDS PLACES THEIR ARMS ON THE ARM RESTS. THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS ALSO DISENGAGE WHEN THE PERSON SIT WITH THEIR FEET FLAT ON THE FLOOR BOARDS, BUT THEIR KNEES RISE ABOVE THE SEAT. THE PERSON HAS TO STRETCH THEIR LEGS OUT SO THAT THEY LAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE SEAT. WE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES TO OUR LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP (WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW). THEY WERE UNAPOLOGETICALLY AND SAID THAT THIS WAS AN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX. *TR
Air bags, Aug 3, 2010
ON MAY 2010 THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT GO OUT EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. GOT AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK MY 2009 SANTAFE LIMITED AWD V6 INTO THE DEALER AND HERE'S THE NARRATIVE FROM THE DEALER: "CUSTOMER STATES HIS AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON PRESENT CODE B1334 F15 FRONT IMPACT SENSOR ERROR IN HISTORY CLEARED CODE VERIFIED TO BE OK" THERE WERE NO REPAIRS COMPLETED, ONLY THE ERROR CODE WAS CLEARED. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER THE CODE WAS CLEARED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN DURING DRIVING AND WOULD STAY ON FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS AT A TIME, WHILE DRIVING, AND THEN GO OFF. THIS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. TODAY, AUGUST 3, 2010 THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN, WHILE DRIVING, AND DID NOT GO OFF. IT REMAINS ON. I WILL BE RETURNING BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Jun 4, 2010, crash
WHILE PULLING INTO HEAD-IN PARKING SPACE, 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HIT A CONCRETE WALL, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT RADIATOR AND FENDER DAMAGE (ESTIMATED TOTAL REPAIR COSTS OVER $8000). DRIVER SUFFERED SCRAPES AND BRUISES ON NECK/CHEST FROM SEATBELT/STEERING WHEEL, BRUISING ON KNEE, AND HEAD PAIN . CHILD IN REAR BOOSTER SEAT SUFFERS NECK PAIN. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Air bags, Equipment, Feb 11, 2010
ON 01/02/2010, I BOUGHT A HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED FROM A CAR DEALER NAMED SOUTHERN STATES IMPORTS IN RALEIGH. A FEW DAYS LATER, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF RED LIGHT STAYED ON OCCASIONALLY REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OR POSITION OF THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT. AROUND THE SAME TIME, I NOTICED THAT THE CD PLAYER OCCASIONALLY AUTOMATICALLY TRIPPED OVER TO THE RADIO AND VICE VERSA. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND RECEIVED CONFLICTING ADVICE ON WHAT I SHOULD DO AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, I CHOSE THE ADVICE OF MY FIRST CONTACT PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP AND DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL EITHER OR BOTH MY COMPLAINTS OCCURRED AGAIN. TWO DAYS AFTER THIS DECISION, THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF AS I WAS TRAVELING TO DOWNTOWN RALEIGH, NC. THE NEXT MORNING, I NOTICED THAT INSTEAD OF THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER OPENING TO A CD MUSIC SET (SINCE IT WAS LAST ON CD), MUSIC FROM A RADIO STATION STARTED PLAYING. THE NEXT DAY- MONDAY, I DROPPED THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AFTER 2-3 DAYS OF TESTING, I WAS ASKED TO PICK UP MY CAR AND TOLD THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE MY COMPLAINTS. BOTH DEALERSHIP AND USA HYUNDAI ADVISED ME TO BRING IT INTO SERVICE AS SOON AS I NOTICE EITHER COMPLAINT HAPPENING AGAIN REGARDLESS OF TIME. A FEW DAYS LATER (2-3 DAYS) THE SAME COMPLAINTS (AIRBAG AND RADIO PROBLEMS) RE-OCCURRED AND I DROPPED THE SANTA FE AT SOUTHERN STATES HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP SERVICE STATION WITH ONE OF MY SONS AT ABOUT 10. 15 P.M. OFCOURSE, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY BOTH DEALERSHIP AND US HYUNDAI THAT THEY PROBLEMS COULD NOT BE DETECTED OR DUPLICATED. AS A RESULT OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS, I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE TO DRIVE THIS PARTICULAR HYUNDAI AND THE CAR IN QUESTION HAS REMAINED IN THE HANDS OF THE SOUTHERN STATES HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND/OR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *TR