2009 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 285 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 28 involved a crash and 11 involved a fire. 24 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/moduleFeb 4, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.
Campaign 20V061000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemFeb 23, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. The electronic power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127.
Campaign 15V100000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
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.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Campaign 13V113000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveMar 15, 2011
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2008. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS IN THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A WEIGHT SENSOR DESIGNED TO DEACTIVATE THE RIGHT FRONTAL AIRBAG WHEN OCCUPANTS OF CERTAIN WEIGHTS OCCUPY THE SEAT. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE, BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE CONNECTOR COULD BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MALFUNCTION SUCH THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT.
THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY IN CRASHES IN WHICH IT SHOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONNECTOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTING TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 11V143000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
144 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Jun 20, 2013
DRIVING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 45MPH WHEN THE EPS LIGHT CAME ON AND IT BECAME HARD TO STEER THE CAR. I DID A SEARCH TO FIND MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALLS AS OF YET. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST! NOT AFTER! I AM CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND AFRAID TO HEAR WHAT IT WILL COST ME CAUSE I'M NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO DO RIGHT TO THE CUSTOMERS OR RISK DEVELOPING A BAD RAP. *TR
Steering, May 20, 2013
THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AS THE EPS INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING SO I PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE CAR WHICH TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE REST OF THE WAY HOME (APPRX 5 MILES) IT STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 6 MORE TIMES. AGAIN THIS MORNING (5/20) ON THE WAY TO WORK IT STOPPED WORKING. EACH TIME IT STOPS I AM ABLE TO TEMPORARILY "FIX IT" BY RESTARTING THE ENGINE. TO BE SAFE I'M KEEPING OFF THE HIGHWAY. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT MY EPS INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY BUT WITHOUT THE EPS ITSELF FAILING. DURING THESE PRIOR INCIDENTS MY MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM AND TURNED THE LIGHT OFF, BUT FOUND IT TROUBLING. I TOOK IT TO HYUNDAI AT ONE POINT AND THEY CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG AND TURNED THE LIGHT OFF. *TR
Steering, May 1, 2013
STEERING WHEEL STICKING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. I WAS TOLD TODAY STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY THE RACK TOO. IN ADDITION, HEARING A NOISE WHILE TURNING OR BACKING UP BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND TOOK THE CAR IN. FIRST TIME, STATED BAD AXLE AND REPLACED. SECOND TIME, STILL HEARD NOISE AGAIN AND TOLD EVERYTHING IS FINE AT 53,000 MILES. THIRD TIME, AT ABOUT 67,000 TOLD IT WAS THE SHAFT DUE TO BEING WORN OUT ALONG WITH THE STEERING COLUMN AND POSSIBLE THE RACK TOO. I SEE SEVERAL STEERING COLUMN COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS NOT BEING LOOKED INTO? *TR
Steering, Apr 12, 2013
MAKING HARD LEFT TURN AFTER BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, POWER STEERING FAILS. RESTARTED CAR TO RESTORE POWER STEERING. ALSO FAILED ON A ROUGH ROAD WITH NO TURN. REPRODUCED PROBLEM WITH A HARD LEFT TURN WHILE STANDING STILL. IN ALL CASES, RESTARTING THE CAR RESOLVES THE PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Jan 2, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, WHERE IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,243.
Steering, Dec 29, 2012
DRIVING AROUND 45MPH, TRYING TO TURN LEFT AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND THE APS LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO PEARSON HYUNDAI AND HAD CHECKED OUT. PER PEARSON, THEY FOUND A CODE C1290, TORQUE SENSOR MAIN SIGNAL FAULT. WILL NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN. APPR. COST OF $1600.00. PER PEARSON, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND VEHICLE SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN UNTIL REPAIRED. NEED INFORMATION ON ANY AND ALL RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Suspension, May 16, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING PULLED TOWARD THE RIGHT ON ITS OWN. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES TO BE ALIGNED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 23,000. UPDATED 7/18/12 *CN UPDATED 07/25/12
Steering, Suspension, May 16, 2012
CAR CONSISTENTLY STEERS OR PULLS TO THE RIGHT EVEN WHEN DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACE. TIRES CHECKED AND NOT THE PROBLEM. DEALER DID AN ALIGNMENT BUT STILL PULLS TO RIGHT. DEALER NOT ABLE TO FIX AFTER TWO VISITS. MIGHT BE A DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING.
Steering, May 1, 2012
DRIVING 25 MPH THE EPS INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING SO I PULLED OVER AND AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF IT WORKED FINE. AFTER MANY MORE OF THE SAME DEALS THE STEERING WOULD NOT COME BACK.I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JS
Steering, Jan 23, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION. UPON RESTART, THE CONTACT REGAINED STEERING AND MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 02/27/12*LJ UPDATED 02/28/12
Steering, Jan 10, 2012
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, COMING BACK FROM GYM, WHEN MY EPS LIGHT WENT ON--SECONDS AFTER THE LIGHT APPEARED, MY POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. I STRUGGLED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, THEN RAN OFF THE ROAD AFTER PULLING WITH BOTH ARMS TO PULL THE CAR OVER. I EVENTUALLY DROVE THE CAR HOME WITH MY HAZARDS AT A VERY SLOW SPEED SINCE I HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY TURNING THE CAR ETC. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY. I CALLED HYUNDAI (CUSTOMER CONNECT ) MY CASE NUMBER IS[XXX]. THEY HAVE ONLY RESPONDED THAT THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME ANY OF THE 2400 DOLLARS IT COST TO REPLACE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, Nov 18, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE STEERING FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000 . UPDATED 12/16/11*LJ UPDATED 01/20/12
Steering, Aug 30, 2011
I WAS DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT IN MY 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA AND MY EPS LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. I HAD IT TOWED IN TO THE ALAN VINES AUTOMOTIVE IN JACKSON, TN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE NET AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Jul 7, 2011
FRONT END MAKING A NOISE UPON A SLOW TO MEDIUM FRONT OR BACK-UP TURN. ALSO, AT VARIOUS TIMES THE ESP LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING(VERY DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE ROAD AT SPEED). ALSO, THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING VERY UNEVENLY(REAR TIRES FINE). THEY REPLACED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY ON 24DEC 2010 WITH MILEAGE AT 35,791. THEY OFFERED TO SELL ME TWO FRONT TIRES, ALIGNMENT AND BALANCE AT A STEEP PRICE, I DECLINED AND HAD MY MECHANIC DO IT FOR LESS. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE DEFECT CAUSED MY TIRES TO WEAR OUT TOO SOON. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENS WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED YOU WILL SUFFER INJURIES. THIS IS MY THIRD HYUNDAI, THE TWO WERE FINE. *TR
Steering, Apr 13, 2011
STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Steering, Jan 12, 2011
MY DAUGHTER RECEIVED A SHOCK UPON PLACING HER HAND TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THINKING NOTHING OF THIS SHE STARTED THE CAR AND STARTED TO BACK OUT OF THE CAR PORT. WHEN SHE NEEDED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO EXIT THE DRIVEWAY THE STEERING DID NOT MOVE OR RESPOND. LOOKING AT THE DASH, A WARNING LIGHT WAS ON "EPS". THE OWNER'S MANUAL HAD LITTLE TO NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE EPS WARNING. I DECIDED TO LOOK AT ALL THE FUSES, FIRST INSIDE THE CAR AND THEN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NONE OF THE FUSES WERE BLOWN. I REPLACED THE FUSE COMPARTMENT COVERS AND STARTED THE CAR. THE EPS WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT THIS TIME AND NORMAL STEERING ABILITIES ARE OKAY. WHAT IF THIS "SHOCK" HAD HAPPENED WHEN TRAVELLING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED? IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN POWER STEERING FAILED THE DRIVER COULD STILL TURN THE WHEEL WITH GREAT EFFORT, HOWEVER I COULD NOT EVEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL 1/2 INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION.
Steering, Sep 26, 2010
I SEE HYUNDAI SONATA ARE BEING RECALLED FOR A STEERING PROBLEM. I SUGGEST SOMEONE CHECK 2009 ELANTRAS. I FIND THE STEERING OVER RESPONDS WHEN I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT CUT ME OFF, ETC. IF I NEED TO QUICKLY STEER HARD, I FEEL THE VEHICLE FISHTALES OR TURNS IN UNEXPECTED WAYS. I HAVE DRIVEN FOR OVER 35 YEARS, IN MANY DIFFERENT CARS. THIS IS THE ONLY CAR THAT DOES THIS. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WITH MY NEW CAR WAS THE TIRE/WHEEL BALANCE. IT IS BETTER, BUT STILL SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE INVESTIGATED BY KNOWLEDGEABLE, INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONALS. MUCH THANKS *TR
Steering, Jul 22, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPS LIGHT AND THE ETS LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24454.
Steering, Jun 21, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY AND IN AN UNEVEN MANNER. THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES EXHIBITED MORE WEAR THAN THE OUTSIDE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT TIRES WERE ALSO REPLACED. WITHIN 5,000 MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ