YearToAvoid

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe Airbags Problems

NHTSA has 29 owner complaints about airbag problems in the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe, 8% of all 358 complaints for this model year. That is #4 highest airbag complaint count among 21 Santa Fe model years. These complaints report 8 crashes and 10 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 80,000 miles.

Airbags complaints
29
8% of 358
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
10
Median mileage
80,000 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 11, 2010, latest Jan 21, 2025.

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2010Jul 2012Nov 2015Sep 2016Mar 2018Jan 2020Jul 2022
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2010 to Jan 2025; peak Mar 2017 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe

  1. NHTSA 12V354000Jul 25, 2012Airbags199,118 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

    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.

    Risk: 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.

Airbags complaints by Santa Fe model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200574 (34%)
  2. 200628 (26%)
  3. 2007102 (15%)
  4. 200870 (13%)
  5. 200929 (8%)
  6. 20109 (3%)
  7. 20117 (4%)
  8. 20126 (2%)
  9. 20135 (1%)
  10. 201413 (3%)
  11. 20159 (4%)
  12. 20169 (4%)
  13. 201720 (2%)
  14. 20186 (6%)
  15. 20197 (4%)
  16. 20207 (3%)
  17. 20212 (1%)
  18. 20225 (3%)
  19. 20232 (1%)
  20. 20241 (1%)
  21. 20252 (2%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe have airbag problems?
NHTSA has 29 owner complaints about the airbag in the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe, 8% of all complaints for this model year, including 8 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 80,000 miles.
Which Hyundai Santa Fe year has the most airbag complaints?
The 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe has the most airbag complaints (102), compared with 29 for the 2009.
Is there a airbag recall for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe concerns the airbag: 12V354000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.