Sign inCreate free garage
Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2009 Hyundai TucsonRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 18 owner complaints for the 2009 Hyundai Tucson. Most complaints involve air bags (6) and seat belts (2). The EPA rates it 20–22 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
20–22mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest Apr 2013
Owner complaints
18
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$2,850est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

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.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 1, 2013NHTSA 13V113000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

18 complaints filed with NHTSA · Apr 2009 – Mar 2026
  1. Air bags6
  2. Seat belts2
  3. Structure2
  4. Vehicle speed control2
  5. Electrical system2
  6. Fuel/propulsion system1
  7. Suspension1
  8. Steering1
  9. Engine1

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

By model year

Complaints for each Tucson model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2005185
2006135
200765
200843
200918
201059
2011124
2012255
2013266
2014203
2015229
20161,626
20171,096
2018398
2019385
2020179
202180
2022389
2023136
202499
2025295
202664
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

6 reports3 crashes
“my air bag light came on and I took it to a dealer and they said they repaired it by replacing a seat belt , a couple months later my car was in a hit and run and my front end was badly damaged and my air bags never deployed. they fixed my car and I got it back with the air bags light on again, took it back to the same dealer, they had the car and say they can't fix it, they said they looked around the country and can't find any replacement parts, they say there is no way to repair my car. My car is unsafe to drive and they say it can't be fixed and I did everything I was supposed to do with the car, took got care of it and its got low mileage for the year and now i'm being told it's out of warranty and it's my problem not the dealers or hyundia's. i'm now on SSd and can't afford a $300-500 a month payment and requested a buy back do to faulty equipment and repair and now a year later i'm still waiting to get a yes or no, my car is not safe and i'm out of luck with my car, the repair didn't work when needed, someone should be responsable for repair or equipment liability to help me find something safe to drive not all on me.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2026Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11726389

Seat belts

2 reports1 crash
“my air bag light is on again , my front end was hit bad and they air bags didn't deploy and after the car was fixed the light is always on again, Hyundia can't fix it or find parts to replace it”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 16, 2026Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 11718340

Structure

2 reports
“I had taken my car in to the dealership for oil change i was told by the mechanic not to drive my car unless it was absolulute necessary my whole undercarriage has rusted out i am unable to find out if there was ever a recall on this matter but dont understand why this has not been brought to my attention before this last oil change i am a retiree living on a budget and this has been so hard on me i can not afford a new car”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2022Suspension, StructureODI 11498518
All 2009 Tucson problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl · 2.7L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Tucson 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202522$2,850404
Tucson 2WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202622$2,850404
Tucson 4WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192421$2,950423
Tucson 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182420$3,100444
Tucson 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
182320$3,100444
  • Tucson 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    20 city · 25 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Tucson 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    20 city · 26 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Tucson 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    19 city · 24 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Tucson 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Tucson 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    18 city · 23 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Hyundai Tucson as of Nov 9, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 9, 2026Vehicle 5210
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2009 Tucson questions

How many recalls does the 2009 Hyundai Tucson have?

1 safety recall as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2009 Hyundai Tucson problems?

Owners filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (6), seat belts (2), structure (2). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2009 Hyundai Tucson get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Hyundai Tucson at 20–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 9, 2026