2009 Hyundai Santa FE Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

60Engine complaints

16.8%Of all 357 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM109 · 30.5%

ENGINE60 · 16.8%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL51 · 14.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM50 · 14%

SERVICE BRAKES40 · 11.2%

Share of the 357 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Hyundai Santa FE overview page.

What owners report

“ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN FUEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON EVEN THOUGH I HAD A LEAST 1/2 TANK OF GAS. FILLED UP MY GAS…”NHTSA complaint 10661970 — filed 12/03/2014

“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…”NHTSA complaint 10622035 — filed 08/13/2014

“THE VEHICLE LOOSES ALL POWER. IT ALSO SURGES AND STALLS.”NHTSA complaint 10595674 — filed 06/02/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Hyundai Santa FE have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2009 Hyundai Santa FE: 60 of 357 complaints on file (16.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Hyundai Santa FE have in total?

357 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 27 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 26 reported injuries, and 3 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.