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2009 Hyundai Santa Fe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 212.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

278 reports with mileage · 80 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

27 crash reports5 fire reports15 injury reports

What owners actually said

358 reports
170,000 miles · Sep 17, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE EXPERIENCING WILD FUEL GAGE SPIKES, READS E WHEN TANK IS FULL, THEN READS 1/2 FULL AND IS ALL OVER THE MAP.. HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT INDICATED A RECALL.. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE PLACES ON RECALL AS IT IS A HAZARD, TO THE DRIVER, OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. GAUGE COULD READ FULL WHEN…

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2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE EXPERIENCING WILD FUEL GAGE SPIKES, READS E WHEN TANK IS FULL, THEN READS 1/2 FULL AND IS ALL OVER THE MAP.. HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT INDICATED A RECALL.. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE PLACES ON RECALL AS IT IS A HAZARD, TO THE DRIVER, OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. GAUGE COULD READ FULL WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY EMPTY RESULTING IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.. THIS ISSUE ALSO RESULTS IN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TRIGGER, CAUSING FAILURES AT INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637066

55,000 miles · Aug 28, 2014
Service BrakesCrashFireInjury

CAR HAD A DEFECTIVE BRAKE SO IT COULDN'T STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE LIGHT POLE AFTER PUMPED OTHER CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629158

36,000 miles · Aug 28, 2014
Electrical System

WHEN I WENT TO START VEHICLE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAME ON BUT DID NOT TURN THE STARTER,THIS HAPPENED MAYBE TWICE LAST YEAR.SO FAR THIS YEAR IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMES ON WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO START BUT NOTHING HAPPENS,I FINALLY FOUND OUT IF I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TAKE THE TRANSMISSION OUT…

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WHEN I WENT TO START VEHICLE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAME ON BUT DID NOT TURN THE STARTER,THIS HAPPENED MAYBE TWICE LAST YEAR.SO FAR THIS YEAR IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMES ON WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO START BUT NOTHING HAPPENS,I FINALLY FOUND OUT IF I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TAKE THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF PARK AND WORK IT THRU ALL GEARS THEN SHOVE IT BACK TO PARK IT WILL START.WE TRAVEL UP TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FROM HOME EVER YEAR AND WOULD HATE TO GET STRANDED SOME WHERE ALONG THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629130

20,500 miles · Aug 26, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

1ST. TIME; DRIVING ON I-75 ENGINE SHUT DOWN LEAVING COMPLETELY NO POWER, (BRAKES, A/C, STEERING OR SIGNALS) 2ND. TIME: 4/07/2012 ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH SAME RESULTS 28000 MILES. 3RD. TIME; 03/03/2013 ENGINE SHUT DOWN AGAIN ON I-75 CAUSING CAR TO HAVE TO PULL OVER INTO MEDIAN / STARTED UP AFTER 15 MINUTES & WAS TAKING TO HYUNDAI D…

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1ST. TIME; DRIVING ON I-75 ENGINE SHUT DOWN LEAVING COMPLETELY NO POWER, (BRAKES, A/C, STEERING OR SIGNALS) 2ND. TIME: 4/07/2012 ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH SAME RESULTS 28000 MILES. 3RD. TIME; 03/03/2013 ENGINE SHUT DOWN AGAIN ON I-75 CAUSING CAR TO HAVE TO PULL OVER INTO MEDIAN / STARTED UP AFTER 15 MINUTES & WAS TAKING TO HYUNDAI DEALER WHO STILL COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM 37500 MILES. 4TH. & LAST INCIDENT; 08/25/2014; ENGINE SHUT DOWN LEAVING NO POWERIN STEERING, A/C, BRAKES, WINDOWS OR SIGNALS. WAS ABLE TO GET INTO TARGET PARKING LOT BEFORE TURNING OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED VEHICLE 35 MINUTES LATER AND DROVE TO DEALERSHIP WHO TIGHTENED BATTERY CABLE CONNECTION & WAS TOLD TO MONITOR! AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A NEW VEHICLE... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628327

57,500 miles · Aug 25, 2014
StructureVehicle Speed ControlCrash

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK BETWEEN TWO CARS AND AS I WAS ABOUT TO CUT THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO FINISH THE PARK, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (WITHOUT MY DOING) INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. I HAD NO TIME TO COMPENSATE AND ULTIMATELY CRUSHED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT/FRAME OF THE CAR BEHIND ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628033

40,486 miles · Aug 14, 2014
Service BrakesCrash

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND PULLED IN TO DRIVEWAY OF HOME TO A CONTROLLED STOP BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. AT WHICH POINT, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH THE CLOSED GARAGE DOOR AND PROCEEDED AT ACCELERATING SPEED INTO GARAGE AND HIT A WALL (WOODEN BEAMS AND SHEETROCK WALLS) SEPARATING INTERIOR OF GARAGE AND I…

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VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND PULLED IN TO DRIVEWAY OF HOME TO A CONTROLLED STOP BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. AT WHICH POINT, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH THE CLOSED GARAGE DOOR AND PROCEEDED AT ACCELERATING SPEED INTO GARAGE AND HIT A WALL (WOODEN BEAMS AND SHEETROCK WALLS) SEPARATING INTERIOR OF GARAGE AND INTERIOR OF KITCHEN AREA OF HOME. VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AGAINST THE WALL WITH BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUOUSLY PRESSED DOWN. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO PARK, IT RESISTED AND KEY ALSO WOULD NOT COME OUT. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PRESSED AT THIS TIME AND AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS, VEHICLE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO PARK AND KEY WAS ABLE TO COME OUT TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE CAUSED DAMAGE TO GARAGE DOOR AND INTERIOR WALL OF HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622309

78,000 miles · Aug 13, 2014
Engine

UPON TAKE OFF FROM SIGNAL LIGHT, AT ABOUT 10-15 MILES AN HOUR, VEHICLE ENGINE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. AT THE TIME WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED KEY OFF. WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED ENGINE AND VEHICLE STARTED UP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE IN TH…

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UPON TAKE OFF FROM SIGNAL LIGHT, AT ABOUT 10-15 MILES AN HOUR, VEHICLE ENGINE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. AT THE TIME WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED KEY OFF. WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED ENGINE AND VEHICLE STARTED UP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH HYUNDAI VEHICLES ALONG WITH NO RESOLUTION FROM MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622035

80,000 miles · Jul 17, 2014
Air BagsCrash

MY CAR HAS BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENT ONE WAS YESTERDAY WHEN A DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HIT HER STRAIGHT ON GOING ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR. THE FRONT OF MY CAR IS DESTROYED BUT YET MY AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF. THE FIRST ACCIDENT I WAS IN WAS IN THE WINTER AND A CAR PLOWED INTO ME AS I PULLED OVER BECAU…

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MY CAR HAS BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENT ONE WAS YESTERDAY WHEN A DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HIT HER STRAIGHT ON GOING ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR. THE FRONT OF MY CAR IS DESTROYED BUT YET MY AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF. THE FIRST ACCIDENT I WAS IN WAS IN THE WINTER AND A CAR PLOWED INTO ME AS I PULLED OVER BECAUSE I NOTICED SHE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, SHE WAS COMING DOWN A LARGE HILL AND WAS GOING AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN SHE HIT THE DRIVE SIDE BACK DOOR WHICH CAVED IN AND THE DOOR WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. THE BACK END FRAME OF MY CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS UPSET THINKING WHAT IF ONE OF MY CHILDREN WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME BUT I WAS TOLD THE REASON THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF BECAUSE IT WASN'T A FLAT HIT TO THE SIDE OF MY CAR. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF THESE AIRBAGS DON'T GO OFF WHEN THEY SHOULD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611190

50,669 miles · Jun 27, 2014
Service Brakes

REAR LEFT WHEEL HAD HIGH PITCH SCREECHING SOUND AT 50-55 MPH TAP THE BRAKES AND IT WOULD QUIT MOMENTARILY AND THEN START SCREECHING AGAIN. STOPPED AND CHECKED WHEEL ON RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE. RIGHT SIDE WAS LUKEWARM TO THE TOUCH AND LEFT WHEEL WAS TOO HOT TO KEEP HAND ON IT. I TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SHOWED ME THE PADS ON …

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REAR LEFT WHEEL HAD HIGH PITCH SCREECHING SOUND AT 50-55 MPH TAP THE BRAKES AND IT WOULD QUIT MOMENTARILY AND THEN START SCREECHING AGAIN. STOPPED AND CHECKED WHEEL ON RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE. RIGHT SIDE WAS LUKEWARM TO THE TOUCH AND LEFT WHEEL WAS TOO HOT TO KEEP HAND ON IT. I TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SHOWED ME THE PADS ON THE LEFT WHEEL AND THEY WAS WHITE FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT RELEASED BACK FROM THE ROTOR. PADS HAD TO BE PRIED OUT INSTEAD OF NORMALLY COMING OUT EASY. EXTREMELY RUST CORRODED CLEANED UP ALL RUST ON PADS AND BRACKET AND THEY WORK FINE NOW. I DROVE SANTA FE ABOUT 60 MILES AND NEVER HEARD IT NO MORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606567

85,000 miles · Jun 27, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

I'M EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SENSOR FAILING. THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY AND THEN SLOWLY RISES TO INDICATE I HAVE FUEL. SOMETIMES THE FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AFTER I'VE JUST FILLED UP AND STAYS ON FOR A DAY OR SO. I CALLED MY DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY SAID AT THIS TIME THERE'S NO REC…

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I'M EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SENSOR FAILING. THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY AND THEN SLOWLY RISES TO INDICATE I HAVE FUEL. SOMETIMES THE FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AFTER I'VE JUST FILLED UP AND STAYS ON FOR A DAY OR SO. I CALLED MY DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY SAID AT THIS TIME THERE'S NO RECALL OUT FOR THIS REPAIR, BUT AGREED THAT THERE SHOULD BE. THIS CAN BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. I FEEL THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD STEP UP AND THAT CARE OF THIS FAULTY PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606414

Official recalls

2

13V113000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

12V354000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Jul 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities

Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.