YearToAvoid

2009 Hyundai Tucson Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#21 most-complained of 21 Tucson years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Hyundai Tucson has 18 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 0 out of 100 — #21 highest of 21 Tucson model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is airbags (6 complaints, 33% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes and 2 injuries.

Complaints
18
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
19 city / 24 hwy

Top 2009 Hyundai Tucson problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags6 (33%)
  2. Engine3 (17%)
  3. Electrical System2 (11%)
  4. Seat Belts2 (11%)
  5. Structure & Body2 (11%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (11%)
  7. Brakes1 (6%)
  8. Fuel System1 (6%)
  9. Other1 (6%)
  10. Steering1 (6%)
2009 Hyundai Tucson complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2009Oct 2010Jun 2013Oct 2015Jun 2019Nov 2024
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2009 to Mar 2026; peak Apr 2009 (2).

2009 Hyundai Tucson recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 13V113000Apr 1, 2013Electrical System1,712,336 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2009 Hyundai Tucson fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Tucson years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Best1065521
2008Best543121
2009Best018121
2010Best1559424.5
2011Best20124523.5

All Hyundai Tucson years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Hyundai Tucson a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Hyundai Tucson ranks #21 of 21 among Tucson model years (Complaint Index 0/100, verdict: Best). It has 18 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Hyundai Tucson?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (6 complaints), engine (3 complaints), and electrical system (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 29,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Hyundai Tucson have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Hyundai Tucson, most recently reported 2013, covering electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Hyundai Tucson?
EPA rates the 2009 Hyundai Tucson at 21 MPG combined (19 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.