2009 Hyundai Santa FE Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 29about this part
- Share
- 8%of 359 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 29 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Hyundai Santa FE, 8% of the 359 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“One morning the air bag light came on. We have had the car 18 months with a new car warranty because of mileage 72,000 when we bought it. Took to dealer and it was a bad clock spring which controls the air bag. If it returns says the air bag needs to be replaced $450 and not covered under bumper bumper warranty . Car was in the garage. Did not bump anything, no accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10887610, filed 2016-07, 79,625 miles“The vehicle was stationary stopped in a line of traffic on an exit ramp. Another vehicle, traveling at high speed, failed to notice traffic was stopped and struck my vehicle from behind. The force of the impact caused heavy damage to my rear bumper, bent the frame and crumpled the rear passenger side quarter panel, etc. It also launched my vehicle diagonally into the guard rail causing heavy damage to my front bumper and driver side quarter panel, etc. …”
NHTSA complaint #11090336, filed 2018-04, 127,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11292573, filed 2020-01, 43,000 miles“The air bag light came on my console 2 days ago. I took it to a mechanic who ran a diagnostic on it and concluded it was the occupant classification system (ocs). I found out there was a recall on 07/25/2012 recal number 12v354000 for this exact problem. However, I was not the owner at that time. I called 2 Hyundai dealerships nearby - countryside and st. Petersburg, fl who both told me they could not find any open recalls under my VIN number. This is unacceptable. Hyundai needs to accept all charges for the cost to repair this issue and it should be covered under the recall. …”
NHTSA complaint #11186132, filed 2019-03, 92,700 miles“On may 2010 the air bag warning indicator light on my dashboard suddenly illuminated and would not go out even when the vehicle was in operation. Got an appointment and took my 2009 santafe limited awd v6 into the dealer and here's the narrative from the dealer: customer states his air bag light is on present code b1334 f15 front impact sensor error in history cleared code verified to be ok there were no repairs completed, only the error code was cleared. …”
NHTSA complaint #10347148, filed 2010-08, 6,773 milesRelated recalls
- 12V354000Jul 25, 2012Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from April 19, 2006, through July 7, 2008. The occupant…Covers: Hyundai Santa FE 2007–2009
Related service bulletins
- 11032523Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province…
- 11032522Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by…
- 10196577May 14, 2021The warranty coverage for the clock spring has been extended to 15 years with unlimited mileage from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 1% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 2 | 1% |
| 2022 | 5 | 2% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 7 | 3% |
| 2019 | 7 | 3% |
| 2018 | 6 | 5% |
| 2017 | 20 | 2% |
| 2016 | 9 | 4% |
| 2015 | 9 | 4% |
| 2014 | 13 | 3% |
| 2013 | 5 | 1% |
| 2012 | 6 | 2% |
| 2011 | 7 | 4% |
| 2010 | 9 | 3% |
| 2009 | 29 | 8% |
| 2008 | 70 | 13% |
| 2007 | 102 | 15% |
| 2006 | 28 | 26% |
| 2005 | 74 | 34% |
| 2004 | 43 | 14% |
| 2003 | 42 | 14% |
| 2002 | 5 | 3% |
| 2001 | 3 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2009 Hyundai Santa FE
127 complaintsEngine
60 complaintsVehicle speed control
51 complaintsBrakes
50 complaintsElectrical system
50 complaintsOther or unknown
31 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
24 complaintsSteering
17 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsExterior lighting
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsSuspension
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Hyundai Santa FE
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology