Problems · by component

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe air bags problems

29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe cite air bags, 8% of all 359 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
29
8% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“On January 16,2025 I was driving my Hyundai Santa Fe on the freeway with my three children when the automatic brake system suddenly failed, causing me to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, we spun off the road, and the vehicle flipped four times, causing us multiple injuries. Additionally, due to a known recall involving the failure of the airbag deployment system, the airbags did not deploy during the crash. These combined defects caused me and my children to suffer significant injuries, including broken cervical spine. Broken thoracic spine and Broken Sternum. My daughter has a fractured spine and sternum. And both my sons have serious bruising and head trauma. Both the automatic brake system and the airbag system on this vehicle are part of existing recalls issued by Hyundai Motors. These failures directly contributed to the severity of our accident and the injuries we sustained”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 21, 2025Air bags, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11637444
“Took my car in for repair because I was told that my power steering pump and gaskets were bad. Upon further investigation it wasn’t neither. It was the power steering hose that goes from the power steering to the racket pinion. Both of the hoses had holes in them and were rusted out. Here Hyundai upgraded the power steering pump because of problems and I was never notified about the upgrade and you cannot purchase the hoses needed you have to purchase a whole new power steering pump that I don’t need. The airbag light is on and I couldn’t even order the airbag it was on back order when asked. The seat belt on the right passenger side in the back will not lock in place due to I don’t know what. Campaign 947 the under body corrosion treatment didn’t protect what it was suppose to causing my frame and control arms to go bad. I have had to replace upper and lower ball joints more than 4-5 times since I purchase this vehicle new from the dealership.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 31, 2023Steering, Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11552789
“******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE IT IS REQUESTED BY THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WISH TO HAVE IT REMOVED DUE TO COMING TO A CONCLUSION WITH THE DEALER*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2023Air bagsODI 11509922
“My vehicle shows diagnostic scan codes consistent with recalls that do include my vehicle's year, make, model, and trim, but does not include my VIN. I would like to have this safety hazard resolved, and it seems to me to be the responsibility of the maker.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 1, 2021Air bagsODI 11435172
“SLOWED DOWN TO PULL INTO PARKING SPOT AND SUDDENLY CAR PICKED UP SPEED AND CRASH THROUGH A VACANT STORE FRONT. CAR STOPPED AFTER HITTING A WALL AND MOVED WHAT EVER WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DRIVER OF CAR WAS SHAKEN UP BUT NO PHYSICAL INJURIES. CAR DAMAGED TOWED TO JUNK YARD AND INSURER TOTALED VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2021Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11422744
“THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. UNKNOWN CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. RECALL WAS DONE PRIOR TO BUYING THE CAR TO MY KNOWLEDGE. BUT I ASSUME THAT THE PART WENT OUT AGAIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 28, 2020Air bagsODI 11385370

Showing 6 of 29 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: sensor

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jul 25, 2012NHTSA 12V354000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.