2009 Hyundai Tucson Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Hyundai Tucson. Part of Generation 1 — 2005–2009.

20082010
Complaints
24
per 10K Sold
15.6
US Sales
15,411
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 2009 Hyundai Tucson Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#16 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:40,000 mi
Crash-related:3
#22 complaints

Electrical Faults

#32 complaints

Seat Belt Issues

Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Hyundai Tucson.

Airbags
6
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
40,000
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Hyundai Tucson. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2009 Hyundai Tucson

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,712,336 vehicles.

13V113000Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
~1,712,336 affected

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.

Other Hyundai Tucson Years

2009 Hyundai Tucson — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2009 Hyundai Tucson reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2009 Hyundai Tucson has 24 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Airbags with 6 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Hyundai Tucson?
Top reported problems: Airbags (6 complaints, avg 40,000 mi); Electrical Faults (2 complaints); Seat Belt Issues (2 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Hyundai Tucson?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 40,000 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Hyundai Tucson?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Hyundai Tucson include 4 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Hyundai Tucson have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,712,336 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2009 Hyundai Tucson?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Hyundai Tucson reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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