10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,343 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe brakes problems

brakes problem

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2009 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #39

Oct 112022

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle brakes would trigger randomly which is clearly extremely unsafe on: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] which Triple A can validate. The main issue was the vehicle did not pull a code and since the happened randomly without warning there was no way to get this issue repaired. I called the dealership twice. The dealership recommended I call Hyundai customer relations which did nothing because the car was not under warranty and would not even work with me, even though this issue was extremely dangerous The second time this happened almost caused a vehicle pileup, because it happened on the highway when the brakes where triggered. Luckily I was able to get off of the highway with my brakes engaged, which was obviously not good for the vehicle. The last time this happened on [XXX] is when the master cylinder blew costing us $1,703.22. I called Hyundai they assigned me to 3 different case workers because the first 2 were extremely rude as if I did something wrong and were not empathetic to the seriousness of the situation. Leanna was the new case manager. She wanted me to provide all of the receipts and everything that would be relevant. After an exhausting back and forth for months in which they were clearly trying to dissuade me from taking action they simply rejected any assistance and gave me a silly $50 gift card. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #38

Aug 252023

Santa Fe

  • miles
I am having a serious issue with my car that mechanics are unable to figure out. On multiple occasions, while driving at low speed in preparation for making a turn, my car has completely shut off, making it impossible for me to steer, brake or accelerate. I lost all control of my vehicle. I noticed the -??check engine-?? and -??battery-?? lights illuminated each time, but this information, along with incident descriptions, has proven less than helpful when I-??ve taken it into a shop for inspection/repair as mechanics have been unable to reproduce the event or to accurately identify the problem. This has happened on the road (at intersections and once at a traffic circle) and on two occasions while I had a passenger in the vehicle with me. I currently have my vehicle back in an auto shop because it happened most recently about a week ago. However, since the problem has yet to be successfully identified and since I feel as though this is a serious safety issue that could impact others with the same type of vehicle, I am filing this official complaint.

- Edgewater, MD, USA

problem #37

Sep 232022

Santa Fe

  • miles
I was decelarating after going highway speed on the highway and the car stalled electrical still worked but braking power steering acceleation all stopped working and engine lights turned on and esc and other lights i retarted the car and no engine lights turned on i went to my mechanic he said it dosnt show on diagnostics so he cant fix it this is just one incident its happend numerous times and it almost caused accident its dangerous and must be dealt with right away

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #36

Aug 082022

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Previously I taken my car in to be serviced June 6th 2022 due to two recalls at 110 stopwatch switch and the 947 underbody corrosion after leaving the service area it is now August 8th my abs and ESC light is illuminating at the same time and yesterday I called the dealership to schedule an appointment that is not until October 4th however when I pushed on the brakes yesterday it made a funny sound and it was hard for me to stop I'm confused if the dealership fix this why I'm having issues a month and a half later and it is important for my safety that this vehicle is running correctly as I have children and kids that commute in the car or ride with me everyday I'm afraid to continue to drive it however I need to get back and forth to work so I'm hoping the dealership provides a rental car until my appointment

- Bremerton, WA, USA

problem #35

Apr 122021

Santa Fe

  • 98,000 miles
The fuel gage is broken, it reads empty when full. The ABS light came on and took it in to fix it. $400 later it was fixed. Now I hear clinking sound from engine. I think the pistons rings are bad. I've read other similar complaints about this vehicle. NHTSA needs to investigate!

- Fond Du Lac, WI, USA

problem #34

Jun 032020

Santa Fe

  • 107,000 miles
I was pulling into a parking space, stepped on the brake and the car speed up, crashing into a store front, breaking the glass window and knocking out some bricks.

- Flanders, NJ, USA

problem #33

Aug 262019

Santa Fe

  • 43,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was coming from food shopping, on August, 26, 2019 and was trying to leave out my parking spot. While me backing out, my vehicle accelerated backward and while I tried to stop my vehicle it tapped into a light pole. I was trying to get my self out of this weird situation. I switched gears to park my car, and my car accelerated forward slamming into a brick wall and also rubbing against it. My car then slowly started to back up not even letting me be able to break or switch gears. For the last time it accelerated forward side swiping a lady car and hitting the brick wall again. My air bags did not go off, leaving me with an concussion and also sever neck and head pain. This all happen so suddenly and randomly. I barely remembered what happened until seeing a video off of the camera at a near by gas station. This situation went from something weird happening into a very dangerous and scary situation. I contacted national consumers affairs Hyundai motor vehicle, because my car had been totaled, I was left with hospital bills and also my insurance may go up, because of the whole situations. I thought I would have came to some closure when it came to them helping me out with my situation, but they told me they can't find nothing wrong with my car and there was no defect or anything. After sending these people pictures, the video, and even proof of me going to the hospital more than once, they made me feel like this was all my fault. I spoke to a "private" contractor from Hyundai that was supposed to look into my car and also a specialist that didn't want to give me his last name while looking into my case. Also a lady from Hyundai called me from a private number from the company. This all seem so weird to me as if they were scamming me when it came to a serious situation like this. I feel like Hyundai is running fake investigations. I'm hoping NHTSA do something asap.

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #32

Oct 252019

Santa Fe

  • 185,000 miles
Brakes complexly failed while I was driving with brakes being pressed completely to floor. I took it to a mechanic beside my home immediately. Both break lines were leaking 'gushing' brake fluid. Hyundai recalled this same exact problem on their 2011 Santa Fe but when I notified Hyundai of my brake failure they informed me that my VIN number was not part of the recall. Also there were no warning lights on when this occurred ! I will upload an actual image of leaking brake lines when I return to the repair shop. Vehicle parts reference numbers per Hyundai are 58722D and 58718F. Repairs estimate is approximately $665

- Lincolnton, NC, USA

problem #31

Dec 092018

Santa Fe

  • 100,000 miles
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.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #30

Jan 012010

Santa Fe

  • miles
Multiple failures of the valve cover gaskets on the 3.3 V6. Hyundai replaced twice under recalls. Gaskets have failed again and Hyundai refuses to replace. Rear brake calipers are constantly locking up. Have been since new. Hyundai refuses to acknowledge that there is a serious safety concern with this.

- Millbrook, NY, USA

problem #29

Sep 262017

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. Consumer writes in regards to rear brake pads being worn. The consumer stated the vehicle was bought from the dealer under the assumption that it was street legal and safe to drive. After 5 weeks, it was discovered that the rear brake pads were worn to 0% wear and the front brake pads were at 1% wear. This caused damage to the calipers, rotors, and pads.

- Redmond, WA, USA

problem #28

Sep 132017

Santa Fe

  • 100,000 miles
My 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe 4D sport accelerated on its own while I was driving on a highway. I applied the break as hard as possible, and the vehicle would not stop or slow. Luckily, I didn't wreck. I was able to pull over onto the shoulder with my hazards on, put it in neutral, and turned the engine off. I had the vehicle towed to a Hyundai dealership.

- Joliet, IL, USA

problem #27

Mar 272017

Santa Fe

  • 120,000 miles
When slowing down to make a turn the engine shuts off. Power steering and breaks are gone. The car will crank right back off but this us very dangerous. I'm not sure if weather is a factor but when it has happened which gas been multiple times, it has been in the 80's. mechanics and dealership have not been able to find anything and no codes are recorded.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #26

Sep 202016

Santa Fe

  • 89,780 miles
When driving the 2009 Santa Fe the car will shut off without warning. Power to breaks and steering is lost. Sometimes the car will start again when the car is placed in neutral and restarted. Sometimes the car will not start again for several minutes. In both instances the car is moving on a hilly road. The most recent occurrence is 09/20/2016

- Mountain Home, AR, USA

problem #25

Jul 142016

Santa Fe

  • 65,000 miles
I've taken my 2009 Santa Fe to the rick case roswell, ga on Friday, 7/1/2016 and again today, 7/15/2016, both for the same issue, my car is stalling while I drive it. On 7/1 they told me it was the battery, so had a new one installed while there. Both times, I'm been turning into a curve (it was a right hand turn on 7/1 and a left hand turn on 7/15). The first time I was lucky as it was just coming off a stop light. Last night, however, it was a curve to get on the highway with an 18 wheeler thundering behind me when my car stalled, and I lost the power steering and braking and almost became an 18 wheeler hood ornament. As I mentioned, the dealer is perplexed by the issue, nothing is showing up on the diagnostics and they can't replicate the problem. I had to leave the dealership with the sense that I'm driving around in a ticking time bomb. As a women who frequently drives by herself in the car, and on the highway 99.9% of the time, I can't tell you the fear that knowing that this can happen again at any moment and that the next time I may not be so lucky, instills in me. This is my second Hyundai and I have always considered myself to be a proud Hyundai owner, but I just did a little research and found out that a) not only am I far from the only person who has had this issue, B) there has actually been a class action law suit that Hyundai lost regarding the frequent stalling of Hyundai vehicles. I need Hyundai to fix this issue asap or risk being sued by my family after I'm killed in a car accident that is the direct result of your stalling vehicles.

- Roswell, GA, USA

problem #24

Apr 232016

Santa Fe

  • miles
There is a current recall for this make and model car to replace the brake lamp switch for safety reasons but it didn't include my VIN for some reason, even though the exact same thing happened on my vehicle. The brake lamp switch was failing and needed to be replaced. I don't understand why the recall wouldn't be for my car as well as it's the same safety concern.

- Lincoln, CA, USA

problem #23

Dec 282015

Santa Fe

  • 129,500 miles
Vehicle inspection performed by manufacture certified technician. Two issues were recommended by the technician: A) new tires. All 4 tires currently on the vehicle are around 5 years old (based on the dot date of manufacture), and have been driven for over 100,000 miles (based on odometer readings from 2010 and current). B) new rear brake pads and rotors. The inspection revealed rear pads around 3 mm, and rotors showing rust. These are safety issues, which should be addressed before selling the vehicle. Regular maintenance has been performed on this vehicle, but existing records do not specify that recommended fluid/timing belt replacements were performed.

- Plymouth, MN, USA

problem #22

Oct 222015

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 138,880 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving approximately 70 mph with the cruise control engaged, the vehicle accelerated independently without warning. In addition, the contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the failure was unable to be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,880. Updated 02/12/16 consumer stated manufacturer agreed to pay for parts and to replace the brake switch. Had many sensor failures. Updated 5/21/18

- Long Lake, MN, USA

problem #21

May 082015

Santa Fe

  • 21,000 miles
We were exiting a ramp off rt 75 in Florida. Our speed was about 30 mph. Suddenly we loss power steering and braking and acceleration. We coasted to a stop. We turned off the ignition and restarted the car after about 2 minutes...everything returned to normal. It was the second such experience. The first was August 2013. The dealership replaced the throttle sensor at that time. This latest experience is the exact duplicate of the first. I am taking the car to the dealership tomorrow morning.

- Lady Lake, FL, USA

problem #20

May 102015

Santa Fe

  • 79,500 miles
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.

- Sanford, ME, USA

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