Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Hyundai Santa FE
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Hyundai Santa FE has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 359 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #13V113000 Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V354000 Occupant Classification Systems NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11E040000 WIRE HARNESS WITH CONVERTER MODULE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 109 complaints
- Engine 60 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 51 complaints
- Electrical System 50 complaints
- Service Brakes 41 complaints
- Unknown or Other 31 complaints
Of the 359 complaints on file, 27 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 359 complaints, owners report 26 injuries and 3 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe exhibits some reliability concerns, most notably with brake light switches and airbag systems, leading to frequent recalls. However, overall complaint volume is moderate, suggesting an average reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| brake light switch | 30,000–60,000 miles | $150–$300 | very common |
| airbag sensor | 50,000–80,000 miles | $200–$400 | common |
| electrical wiring | 40,000–70,000 miles | $100–$300 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Replace brake pads every 40,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change at 60,000 miles
- Inspect drive belts annually
- Coolant flush every 50,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Frequent brake light failures
- Unresponsive airbag warning lights
- Moisture in electrical components
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Hyundai Santa FE at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.