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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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

6 reports
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100,000 miles · Apr 29, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

MY CAR HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPAIRED IN 2013 BEFORE I OWNED THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL 13V113000. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED AGAIN. I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR AND COULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. THIS HAPPENED SEEMINGLY OUT OF NOWHERE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED AND OFF FOR ABOUT 10 M…

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MY CAR HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPAIRED IN 2013 BEFORE I OWNED THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL 13V113000. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED AGAIN. I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR AND COULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. THIS HAPPENED SEEMINGLY OUT OF NOWHERE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED AND OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. MY BRAKE LIGHTS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK AND I CANNOT SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I CALLED HYUNDAI I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS REPLACED IN 2013 SO THERE IS NO LONGER A RECALL OPTION, EVEN THOUGH THE PART IS FAILING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11204445

60,000 miles · Feb 23, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

I BOUGHT A 2009 HYNDAI SANTA FE IN 2013 WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2018. I DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES AND ON THE WAY BACK HOME IT STARTED GOING AS SLOW AS 5 MILES AN HOUR; I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS AN ISSUE ABOUT BEING RECALLED BUT I STILL HAVE 2 MORE YEARS OF PAYMENTS AND THE TRUCK ISN'T WORKING!!!

NHTSA ODI #11182117

83,000 miles · Jan 22, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY ESC,ABS& AWD SYMBOL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME & I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN HYUNDAIS & HAD THIS ISSUE IM GUESSING THIS IS SOMETHING MAJOR BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THEY ALL CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #11064193

88,703 miles · Oct 17, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SuspensionUnknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL: ON JUNE 2 2017 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HAPPY HYUNDAI OF OAK LAWN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE OF RUSTING OF MY CARS UNDERCARRIAGE. THEY KEPT MY VEHICLE UNTIL AUGUST 17,2017. ON OCTOBER 5TH, I WAS BACKING IN A PARKING SPOT, WHAT I KNOW NOW AS MY CONTROL ARM, LEFT AXLE AND LEFT BALL JOI…

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TAKATA RECALL: ON JUNE 2 2017 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HAPPY HYUNDAI OF OAK LAWN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE OF RUSTING OF MY CARS UNDERCARRIAGE. THEY KEPT MY VEHICLE UNTIL AUGUST 17,2017. ON OCTOBER 5TH, I WAS BACKING IN A PARKING SPOT, WHAT I KNOW NOW AS MY CONTROL ARM, LEFT AXLE AND LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE. HAD IT TOWED HOME, CALLED HAPPY HYUNDAI, HAS IT TOWED THERE. AFTER INSPECTIONING MY VEHICLE THEY DETERMINED THE CONTROL ARM & AXLE WERE A PART OF THE CAMPAIGN RECALL BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX MY VEHICLE. REUBEN TOLD ME ON JUNE 2, THEY WERE CONFISCATING IT BECAUSE I COULD BE DRIVING AND THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE COULD FALL OFF. THANKFULLY I WASN'T DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. HYUNDAI RETURNSES AN UNSAFE VEHICLE TO ME AND ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN REPAIRING MY VEHICLE WHEN THEY SHOULD AT LEAST REPAIR THEY RECALL SINCE THE CONTROL ARM & AXLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I THINK AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE OPENED REGARDING THIS RECALL TO ENSURE HYUNDAI IS REPAIRING VEHICLES UP TO SAFETY STANDARDS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A STATUS UPDATE. UPDATED 12/07/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI #11033969

79,500 miles · May 10, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

I WAS HEADING OUT AND THE ABS AND ESC LIGHTS CAME ON. DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK HOME, DUE TO FACT THAT I WAS WORRIED AND SCARED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH ABS BRAKES AND THE ESC CONTROL, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT CAUSE A CRASH OR ACCIDENT. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR END UP GETTING HURT OR HURT ANYONE ELSE FOR TH…

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I WAS HEADING OUT AND THE ABS AND ESC LIGHTS CAME ON. DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK HOME, DUE TO FACT THAT I WAS WORRIED AND SCARED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH ABS BRAKES AND THE ESC CONTROL, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT CAUSE A CRASH OR ACCIDENT. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR END UP GETTING HURT OR HURT ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER. READ IN MANUAL THAT IT COULD BE A FAULTY SWITCH OR SENSOR. I DO NOT HAVE THAT KID OF COSTLY MONEY TO FIX PROBLEM. I NEED MY CAR TO GET TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AS I HAVE MANY HEALTH ISSUES. IF THERE IS A RECALL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AND HAVE IT FIXED FREE OF CHARGE.

NHTSA ODI #10715546

56,830 miles · Sep 28, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH AROUND TOPEKA KANSAS WHEN THE VEHICLE LURCHED, THEN THE ESC, ENGINE AND CHASSIS LIGHTS FLASHED. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THE CAR LOST ALL PROPULSION. FORTUNATELY I WAS BY AN OFF-RAMP, BUT COULD OF GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH SUCH A SUDDEN DECELERATION. MANAGED TO GET TO AN AUTOZONE STORE TO CHECK THE FAUL…

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WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH AROUND TOPEKA KANSAS WHEN THE VEHICLE LURCHED, THEN THE ESC, ENGINE AND CHASSIS LIGHTS FLASHED. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THE CAR LOST ALL PROPULSION. FORTUNATELY I WAS BY AN OFF-RAMP, BUT COULD OF GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH SUCH A SUDDEN DECELERATION. MANAGED TO GET TO AN AUTOZONE STORE TO CHECK THE FAULT. THE FAULT CAME UP AS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS). MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TOPEKA. THEY FIXED IN WITHIN 10 MINUTES, BUT AFTER COMPLETING MY TRIP BACK TO COLORADO NOTICED THE CAR IS LURCHING AGAIN IN LOWER SPEED, IN-TOWN TRAFFIC...VERY DANGEROUS!!! WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO ON MONDAY MORNING!! HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM TWO YEARS AGO, TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. GUESS THEY WON'T BE SATISFIED UNTIL THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDS AND SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546038

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.