YearToAvoid

2009 Hyundai Veracruz Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

0/100

#6 most-complained of 6 Veracruz years

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

The 2009 Hyundai Veracruz has 24 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 0 out of 100 — #6 highest of 6 Veracruz model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (12 complaints, 50% of the total). Complaints report 1 injury.

Complaints
24
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18
15.5 city / 22.5 hwy

Top 2009 Hyundai Veracruz problems

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

  1. Engine12 (50%)
  2. Electrical System10 (42%)
  3. Brakes6 (25%)
  4. Fuel System2 (8%)
  5. Other2 (8%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (8%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain2 (8%)
  8. Airbags1 (4%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (4%)
2009 Hyundai Veracruz complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2010Aug 2014Oct 2016Jan 2018Mar 2020Jun 2021Feb 2022
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2010 to Nov 2024; peak Oct 2011 (3).

2009 Hyundai Veracruz recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V705000Nov 13, 2020Engine60,097 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:seals/gaskets

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Veracruz vehicles that were previously recalled under recall number 14V-415. Oil may leak from the front cylinder bank cover gasket, potentially dripping onto the alternator and causing the charging system to become inoperative.

    Risk: An inoperative charging system can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the valve cover gasket and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 7, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 197.

  2. NHTSA 14V415000Jul 8, 2014Engine61,122 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Veracruz vehicles manufactured from December 26, 2006, through July 24, 2012. The affected vehicles may experience an oil leak from the front cylinder bank valve cover gasket. If there is a sufficient amount of oil dropped onto the alternator, the alternator will be damaged causing the charging system to become inoperative.

    Risk: If the alternator is damaged, the charging system warning lamp in the instrument cluster will illuminate, and the engine will lose power and the vehicle will eventually stop operating while being driven. An unexpected failure of motive power while driving increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect/repair or replace the alternator and the front valve cover gasket, free of charge. Hyundai sent out an interim letter to owners on September 3, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 121.

  3. 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 Veracruz fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15.5 MPG
Highway
22.5 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
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 Veracruz years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200720082009201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Avoid80145418
2008Avoid100230518
2009Good024318
2010Caution4091418.5
2011Caution60106418.5

All Hyundai Veracruz years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Hyundai Veracruz a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Hyundai Veracruz ranks #6 of 6 among Veracruz model years (Complaint Index 0/100, verdict: Good). It has 24 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Hyundai Veracruz?
The most reported problem areas are engine (12 complaints), electrical system (10 complaints), and brakes (6 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 74,733 miles.
Does the 2009 Hyundai Veracruz have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2009 Hyundai Veracruz, most recently reported 2020, covering engine and electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Hyundai Veracruz?
EPA rates the 2009 Hyundai Veracruz at 18 MPG combined (15.5 city / 22.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,600. 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.