2009 Hyundai Santa Fe Engine Problems

Your engine stalls while you're driving, forcing you to shift into neutral and restart the car. This is a serious safety concern since the engine can shut off unexpectedly at any time, potentially putting you and others at risk. The problem likely involves the fuel system, ignition system, or engine control components that need diagnostic testing and repair.

Your 2009 Santa Fe has been stalling while driving, especially when slowing down from highway speeds. The problem happens at various speeds but mechanics haven't been able to reproduce it to find the cause. This could involve checking your fuel system, ignition components, or engine control sensors to identify what's causing the stalling.

Your engine is leaking both coolant and oil. These leaks can lead to engine overheating and low oil levels if not addressed. You should have the leak sources identified and sealed, which may involve replacing gaskets, hoses, or seals.

Your Santa Fe is leaking oil onto the alternator from the valve cover area. Even though the valve cover has been replaced twice under a manufacturer service campaign, the oil leak has returned. The dealer confirmed this is the same issue covered by the recall, but your vehicle hasn't been repaired yet. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the valve cover again and inspecting the alternator for any oil damage.

Pulling into driveway. Car engine accelerated suddenly. Was just coasting in. The car wouldn't stop. Hit front of a home. The engine sounded like a race car.

January 2022, I had to have the car towed to the dealership after the car came to an abrupt stop in the middle of driving. Once at the dealership, it was determined that oil leakage from the engine had coated the alternator. I researched this to only discover Service Campaign SB-100058931-4495 (08/15/2015) had alerted dealerships to cylinder head gasket and alternator challenges as described in Campaign 15-01-031 (July 2015). Also referenced was Service Campaign 936. I had not received a notice from my dealer, nor had the 17-point "inspection" revealed this problem any service in the last 6.5 years since the Hyundai alert. This week, 08/09/2022, I drove to the dealership after two days of calling. Eight calls - no answer. I requested the service director (Mr. Matt) look at a video showing smoke rising from the engine compartment after a 30 minute drive and ask him to look at the engine area where oil spray has returned. I am concerned about driving the vehicle for fear of fire hazard, particularly since I must make a 12-hour roundtrip drive next weekend. I was assured there was not fire hazard or safety issue to be concerned about and was scheduled for the next available service appt on August 31, 2022. I drove the car this morning 17 miles and the engine compartment again was releasing visible smoking oil fumes. Apparently, this repair needs to be done again to ensure the engine gasket problem (likely caused by the different metals used on the bolts and screws through the engine block causing the components to loosen) needs to be completed again....under the original Bulletin. I have read the filings and it appears some vehicles have required the service repair up to 3 times. I expect the labor and parts to be covered. In the meantime, rest assured I have plans to rent a vehicle for that long required drive. The dealer has refused to provide any assistance with the loaner. Terrible service. No fire hazard? Really?

While exiting highway, decelerating but still going mid-range speed (about 40 mph), car stalled and all power was lost. Could no longer control direction and almost slammed into median the first time (two days ago) and today, almost slammed into oncoming traffic.

RANDOMLY HESITATES AND THEN STALLS WHILE DRIVING.

JUST BOUGHT A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT OUT OF TOWN BEFORE IT STALLED ON ME SEVERAL TIMES. I WOULD HURRY UP PUT IN PARK AND START UP. I TOOK IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY SEEN THIS A LOT OF TIMES BEFORE. ITS THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER. 2375 DOLLAR FIX.

PURCHASED USED W/ 103K MI ON IT FROM A DEALERSHIP. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT DEALERSHIP - ALTERNATOR AND PURGE VALVE REPLACED - THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. DROVE HOME AND JUST BEFORE TURNING RIGHT INTO DRIVEWAY AND STILL ON 55MPH BUSY COUNTY ROAD, ENGINE SHUT OFF (ALL DASH AND CONSOLE LIGHTS ON AND WIPERS RUNNING) RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. NO STEERING OR BRAKES. I HAD TO COAST TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PUT IT IN PARK, TURNED THE KEY OFF AND TURNED IT RIGHT BACK ON. WAS ABLE TO BACK UP AND PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AS IT WAS BEING TAKEN BACK TO THE SHOP THE NEXT DAY - NO SIGN OF FIX. I HAD JUST DRIVEN FROM THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE (ABOUT 25 MILES) ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE...A NUMBER OF RIGHT AND LEFT TURNS, ON AND OFF RAMPS, STOP LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS AND RESIDENTIAL ROADS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT AND THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE TOTALED OUT AND SOLD FOR PARTS. HYUNDAI SHOULD RETURN OUR MONEY - WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE.

ENGINE STALLED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS WITH NO BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING.I AM SCARED TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPEND DRIVING AT 55MPH ON FREEWAY.

MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE KEEPS RANDOMLY STALLING OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY, WHILE MAKING TURNS ONTO BUSY STREETS DURING RUSH HOUR AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A LIGHT, MAKING TURNS AFTER DECELERATING, NO PARTICULAR PATTERN. THERE IS ALSO NO WARNING WHATSOEVER! WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS OUT, I LOSE MY POWER STEERING, THUS BASICALLY HAVING MINIMAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK MY CAR DIRECTLY INTO THE DEALER AFTER THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE EVENT. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY COULD TRY REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY AND THAT IT MAY FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE NOT SURE BECAUSE THEY DID FIND A PROBLEM. AS I STATED BEFORE, THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THERE IS A PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR MANY TIMES BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO STALL.

MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STALLED OUT AGAIN. THIS EVENT HAPPENED WHILE TURNING LEFT ONTO A BUSY STREET AFTER SITING AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHILE PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT IN THE WAY OF OTHER DRIVERS. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS FORCED TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES, AS IT APPEARS THAT I HAVE JUST DECIDED TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED. VERY DANGEROUS AND COMPLETELY OUT OF MY CONTROL.

DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED ONE BLOCK FROM HOME, ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN.

VEHICLE STALLED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TOOK VEHICLE TO HYUNDAI DEALER, THEY COULD FIND REASON FOR THE STALLING. NO CODES CHECKED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE AFTERMARKET AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,371.

AFTER FILLING MY GAS TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2009 SANTA FE WOULD READ EMPTY AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE BETWEEN EMPTY AND HALF FULL. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE ONBOARD COMPUTER AND THE CODE SAID IT WAS THE FUEL SENSORS. HE REPLACED BOTH OF THEM, AT A COST OF $500, AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. MILEAGE WAS SLIGHTLY UNDER 100,000 MILES.

VEHICLE RECALL NOTICE. RECALL STATES THAT ALTERNATOR MAY FAIL ON SAID VEHICLE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER, ETC., ETC. TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED DEALER. ALMOST 2- HRS. REP CAME TO ME FOR 1400 EST IN CAR REPAIRS. NO INFORMATION ON ALTERNATOR. TALKED TO BOSS AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES WAS TOLD IT WAS ABOUT THE VALVE COVER GASKET. WORK COMPLETED. ALMOST 3-HRS. RECALL NOTICE IS FALSE INFORMATION TO BRING CAR OWNERS INTO DEALER TO PERFORM MULTI POINT INSPECTION, ETC., AND PERFORM NEEDED WORK. NOT CENTERED ON AUTO RECALL AT ALL. UNSAT. CAR WAS AT DEALERSHIP IN SHOP FOR REVIEW AND WARRANTY WORK FOR RECALL. BECAUSE OF RECALL WORK. ALL OTHER CARS(ENTAILING MONIES) AFTER ME WERE COMPLETED BEFORE ME. I WAS LAST OUT OF WAITING ROOM.

THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON A SLOW SPEED EXIT AND LEFT ME WITH NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES IN A CURVE. THE VEHICLE STARTED UP AFTER I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND I CONTINUED ON WITH NO MORE ISSUE. JULY 21, 2016 AT 4:45PM. THIS HAS BEEN THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE 2 YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT BUT ITS A CONCERN.

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAD A FLUCTUATION IDLE FOR OVER A YEAR. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON THIS ISSUE MANY TIMES. NO CODES ARE EVERY THROWN. I BROUGHT THE TSB ABOUT IDLE ISSUES TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTIONS. THEY SAID THIS WAS ONLY FOR CERTAIN ERROR CODES. HYUNDAI USA WAS DIRECTLY CONTACTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE FOR THIS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE 3.3L V6 ENGINE. SE TRIM LEVEL. THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN DECELERATING FROM A HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO A STOP. IT STALLED BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED. IT RESTARTED AND DROVE AFTER THAT. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I STOPPED AT THE DEALER THAT SAME DAY. I HAD THEM CHECK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM JSUT TO BE SURE THAT WAS NOT THE ISSUE. BATTERY, CHARING, ETC ALL TESTED FINE. I HAVE THE PRINTOUT. SO THE VECHICLE DID NOT SHOW A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE DEALER OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. IT IS CLEAR FROM SEARCHING THE INTERNET THAT MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH HYUNDAI VEHICLES AROUND 2009 STALLING. MOST ALL OF THESE PEOPLE REPORT THE ISSUE WITH NO CODES. SO THE DEALER IS LIMITED IN WHAT THEY CAN DO. THEY TALKED ABOUT ECM UPDATES (FIRMWARE), AND A FUEL SYSTEM SENSOR, AND THE CRANKCASE SENOR. THIS IS CLEARLY A LARGE ISSUE PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK. THE NHTSA AND NTSB SHOULD LAUNCH A FULL INVESTIGATION, AND FIND A REAL SOLUTION. ISSUE A TSB AT A MINIMUM, OR A RECALL IF NEEDED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN FUEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON EVEN THOUGH I HAD A LEAST 1/2 TANK OF GAS. FILLED UP MY GAS TANK, ALL LIGHTS WERE OUT. WHEN I HAD APPROXIMATELY 1/2 TANK AGAIN, THE ENGINE AND FUEL LIGHTS CAME ON. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE 2 FUEL SENSORS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $350.00. UPON ONLINE RESEARCHING, I LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS, IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HYUNDAI NEEDS TO REPAIR AT NO COST TO THE OWNER OF THESE VEHICLES. IN MY CASE, I NEED TO BE REIMBURSE THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *JS

1ST. TIME; DRIVING ON I-75 ENGINE SHUT DOWN LEAVING COMPLETELY NO POWER, (BRAKES, A/C, STEERING OR SIGNALS) 2ND. TIME: 4/07/2012 ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH SAME RESULTS 28000 MILES. 3RD. TIME; 03/03/2013 ENGINE SHUT DOWN AGAIN ON I-75 CAUSING CAR TO HAVE TO PULL OVER INTO MEDIAN / STARTED UP AFTER 15 MINUTES & WAS TAKING TO HYUNDAI DEALER WHO STILL COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM 37500 MILES. 4TH. & LAST INCIDENT; 08/25/2014; ENGINE SHUT DOWN LEAVING NO POWERIN STEERING, A/C, BRAKES, WINDOWS OR SIGNALS. WAS ABLE TO GET INTO TARGET PARKING LOT BEFORE TURNING OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED VEHICLE 35 MINUTES LATER AND DROVE TO DEALERSHIP WHO TIGHTENED BATTERY CABLE CONNECTION & WAS TOLD TO MONITOR! AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A NEW VEHICLE... *TR

UPON TAKE OFF FROM SIGNAL LIGHT, AT ABOUT 10-15 MILES AN HOUR, VEHICLE ENGINE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. AT THE TIME WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED KEY OFF. WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED ENGINE AND VEHICLE STARTED UP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH HYUNDAI VEHICLES ALONG WITH NO RESOLUTION FROM MANUFACTURER. *TR

FUEL GAUGE IS ERRATIC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, FAILS NJ EMISSIONS, DEALER WILL NOT FIX A KNOWN ISSUE!!!! *TR

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY FORTY (40) MILES PER HOUR, IN TRAFFIC, WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT-OFF. I QUICKLY TURNED THE IGNITION TO "OFF" AND THEN BACK ON. THE ENGINE STARTED IMMEDIATELY. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, WHEN I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT. I QUICKLY TURNED THE IGNITION TO "OFF" AND THEN BACK ON. THE ENGINE STARTED IMMEDIATELY, ON BOTH OCCASIONS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO PLANET HYUNDAI IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, ON AUGUST 7, 2013. THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR SYSTEMS CHECK AND COULD NOT PRODUCE THE SAME ENGINE SHUT-OFF EVENT, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED TWICE BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,004.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE, BUT THERE WAS NO DETERMINATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE THAT MAY HAVE ORIGINATING IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, BATTERY, OR FUSE BOX. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON THERE WAS A LOUD HUMMING SOUND AND A VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THAT THEY ALSO HEARD THE SOUND. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT WAS TYPICAL FOR THAT SIZE ENGINE. THERE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,700.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 20 MILES PER HOUR. AND HAD TO TOWED TO DEALER AND IT COME TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM TOYOTA IS HAVING WITH THE GAS PEDALS. *TR

MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTE FE JUST PURCHASED WITH 50 MILES ON IN 07/29/09, BLEW UP ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND TOTALLY BURNED THE FRONT AND ENGINE. I HAVE AN EVALUATION FROM 21ST CENTURY APPRAISERS REQUIRED BY GEICO WHOM DIAGNOSED A TOTAL LOSS. VALUESCOPE GEICO CLAIM SERVICES MARKET REPORT REPORT REFERENCE NUMBER: 42157015 ADJUSTER: HUFFMAN-PARENT, BRAD CLAIM REFERENCE: 0180834550101087-01 GEICO C-CODE: CAG605 LOSS INCIDENT DATE: 09/04/2009 DATE SUBMITTED: 09/10/2009 INSURED: LAWSON OWNER: CLEO LAWSON POLICY NUMBER: 0311588404 APPRAISER: HUFFMAN-PARENT, BRAD INTRODUCTION GEICO HAS CONDUCTED AN INSPECTION OF YOUR 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 4X2 GLS 4 DOOR SPORTS UTILITY LOCATED IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. THE INSPECTION INFORMATION WAS THEN USED TO CONDUCT RESEARCH IN YOUR LOCAL MARKET TO DETERMINE THE MARKET VALUE OF YOUR VEHICLE. THE LOCAL MARKET VALUE OF YOUR VEHICLE WAS DEFINED BY THE ZIP CODE 73114 -- OKLAHOMA CITY, OK THE RECOMMENDED SETTLEMENT AMOUNT BASED ON THE LOSS VEHICLE DESCRIPTION PROVIDED BY GEICO IS $18,369.00. *TR