2009 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 460 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 21 involved a crash and 11 involved a fire. 26 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, rearAug 12, 2013
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 1, 2005, through January 21, 2010; and model year 2006-2011 Azera vehicles manufactured September 27, 2005, through November 22, 2010 originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Road salt and water can enter portions of the rear crossmember, leading to corrosion of the crossmember steel. This may lead to detachment of one of the rear control arms.
Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the crossmember assembly. The recall began on October 8, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 113.
Campaign 13V354000 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
Representative owner complaints: electronic stability control (esc)
51 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 16, 2020
WAS DRIVING ON ACCESS ROAD AND THE ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO STALL- UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. HAD TO PULL TO SIDE OF THE ROAD ON WURZBACH PARKWAY. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND HAD CAM SHAFT, CRANKSHAFT SENSORS REMOVED AND REPLACED. HAD $700 OF OTHER WORK DONE AND CAR WORKED GREAT FOR 2 WEEKS. UNFORTUNATELY TODAY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. LUCKILY I GOT TO SAFETY BUT COULD'VE BEEN KILLED IF I WASN'T SO LUCKY... PRETTY RIDICULOUS PROBLEM TO HAVE ESPECIALLY AS SO MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM...
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Aug 2, 2019
TAKATA RECALL ON JULY 27, 28 2019 THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL DRIVING SOUTH ON I 75 AND LATER ON THE STREETS. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING THE CAR IT DROVE ALONG OK. DURING OUR RETURN TRIP, THE CAR STALLED AGAIN DRIVING NORTH ON I 75 , AND WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONLY SECONDS BEFORE A 18 WHEELER PASSED US WITHIN LESS THAN A FOOT BETWEEN US. ALL FIVE US COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE WERE LUCKY TO FIND A NATIONAL REPAIR SHOP OPENED ON A SUNDAY WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR( THE CAR HAS 54,000 MILES ) . THE PART WAS REPLACED AND AFTER 4 HOURS WE WERE ON OUR WAY, MINUS $400 PLUS DOLLARS. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM -THAT THIS SENSOR MUST BE RECALLED- AND THE PUBLIC MADE AWARE OF THE DANGER.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jul 11, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. ALSO, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED, BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. ADDITIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO HERITAGE HYUNDAI TOWSON (801 YORK RD, TOWSON, MD, 877-387-5495) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 12, 2018
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT ILLUMINATES FOR NO REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, NORMAL SURFACE STREETS, AND HAS OCCURRED WHILE BRAKING. POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY DURING TURNS WHILE ON CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAYS. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO TESTED THE POWER STEERING AND FOUND NO ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE PUMP IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE STEERING, WITH A RECALL ISSUED, ON 2008 AND 2011 SONATA MODELS, HOWEVER THE 2009 MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH. ON THOSE RECALLS THE COMPUTER CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE POWER STEERING CONTROL UNIT HAD BECOME DAMAGED AND MADE THE VEHICLE MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN POSSIBLY CAUSING A WRECK. STEERING ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING OVER THE YEARS.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 29, 2018
WHILE DRIVING, THE ESC OFF LIGHT COMES ON. IT DOES SO RANDOMLY, BUT FREQUENTLY WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jul 26, 2018
MY BRAKE LIGHT STOP SWITCH BROKE INTO PIECES WITH NORMAL USE SO THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. MY FRONT BRAKE HOSE SPRUNG A FLUID LEAK THAT MADE THE BRAKES FULLY STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRIVE. THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE SPLIT AND CRACKED PREMATURELY CUASING THE BRALE FLUID TO EMPTY OUT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS EVENT HAPPENED DURING A DRIVE. MY ESC LIGHT IS ON BIG PROBBLEM IM ASSUMING. MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AS WELL BOTH INDICATE ARE OFF AND NON WORKING.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 13, 2018
WHILE DRIVING THE ESC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES THEN IT WILL ONLY LET ME 'COAST' ABOUT 5MPH.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jun 21, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "ESC OFF" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHEN DEPRESSED AND THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. PACIFICO HYUNDAI IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 4, 2018
WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY, STRAIGHT ON A LEVEL ROAD ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON. OCCASIONALLY TURNS OFF BUT MOSTLY STAYS ON. CARS AROUND 95000 MILES AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA I HAD AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND NEED TO CALL IN AN ELECTRICIAN.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Dec 21, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ELECTRICAL MODULE IS DEFECTIVE BY AUTOZONE,. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE USUAL STUFF LIKE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE AND OTHER FLUIDS. BUT ALL OF THEM WERE OK. WE TRIED TO LEAVE AGAIN WITH NO SUCCESS. WE HAD NO POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT WHEN WE TRIED TO PRESS THE GAS NOTHING WOULD GO. SO WE STOPPED THE CAR WAITED FOR A WHILE AND THEN THE CAR STARTED. WE COUNTINUED OUR TRIP CAREFULLY, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. AFTER WE ARRIVED TO OUR DESTINATION I WENT TO AUTOZONE TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THE ELETRICAL AND CPU MODULES ARE DAMAGED. THAT OF COURSE HAS ME A LITTLE WORRIED. WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR SO IT COULDNT BE FOR THAT REASON.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 30, 2017
ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATES ONCE THE CAR IS STARTED AND CANNOT BE TURNED OFF BY DEPRESSING THE SWITCH, THIS ALSO SEEMS TO DISABLE THE CRUISE CONTROL.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 22, 2017
THE ESC LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR JERKS AS THIS HAPPENS. ONCE IN THIS CONDITION, THE CAR RUNS EXTREMELY ROUGH AND WILL EVEN STALL WHEN STARTING FROM A FULL STOP (STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION). DURING ONE OCCURRENCE, THE CAR WOULDN'T GO FASTER THAN 25 MPH WHEN GOING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE. I CAN'T TURN OFF ESC; PRESSING THE SWITCH IS IGNORED. IF I TURN OFF/ON THE CAR, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GO AWAY FOR A WHILE.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 15, 2017
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC). THE "ESC OFF" INDICATOR LAMP BECOMES ILLUMINATED WHILE I AM DRIVING. I AM UNABLE TO TURN IT OFF BY PRESSING THE ESC BUTTON. WHEN THE ESC OFF INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED, THIS ALSO CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT FUNCTION, CREATING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 30, 2017
ESC LIGHT WILL COME ON AT VARIOUS TIMES AND ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF. WILL GET CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WITH THIS BUT NOT ALWAYS. THIS MAY OCCUR GOING 20 MPH ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS OR GOING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. NO RHYME OR REASON FOR IT GOING OFF. MAY BE DRY OR WET PAVEMENT WARM OR COLD OUT. HEN ENGINE DIES AT HIGH SPEED MAY START BACK UP UPON DECELERATION OR MAY NEED TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. SOMETIMES RESETS UPON RESTARTING THE FIRST TIME BUT OTHER TIMES IT TAKES A FEW TIMES OF TURNING ENGINE OFF THEN ON.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 17, 2017
THE ESC OFF LIGHT COMES ON AND PUSHING THE ON/OFF SWITCH DOES NOT PUT IT OUT. IF I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RE START, THE DASH LIGHT GOES OUT. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS USUALLY HAPPENS GOING 30-40MPH AND I FEEL A SLIGHT JERK IN THE CAR THEN IT COMES ON. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 60MPH. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS 07/12/17 DRIVING AROUND 30MPH.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 6, 2017
WE PURCHASED A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA FROM VOSS HYUNDAI IN CENTERVILLE, OHIO ON 5/21/2009. ON 10/14/14 WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN 'IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL' WHICH STATED THAT THEY CHANGED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BECAUSE IT COULD BE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSE SEVERAL PROBLEMS, ONE OF WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) LAMP AMONG OTHER THINGS. EIGHT DAYS AGO OUR ESC LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK THE CAR TO VOSS THIS MORNING ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I WOULD BE CHARGED $103 TO EVEN FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, NOT TO MENTION THE CHARGES FOR ACTUALLY FIXING A SAFETY RECALL PROBLEM WHICH I AM SURE WOULD BE EXPENSIVE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS RECALL WORK. THEY MAY HAVE REPLACED A PERFECTLY GOOD BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A FAULTY ONE. THIS CAR HAS 12,875 MILES ON IT AND WE ONLY USE IT OCCASIONALLY. IT IS IN A GARAGE AT ALL TIMES AND THIS MORNING WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS BEEN OUT IN RAIN. WE HAD NOT BOUGHT A NEW CAR IN MANY YEARS AND BOUGHT THIS ONE BECAUSE OF THE GREAT 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON IT. APPARENTLY I SHOULD HAVE SAT IN THE SHOWROOM AND ASKED TO READ THE FINE PRINT ON THEIR WARRANTY BEFORE BUYING IT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH ALL MODELS OF HYUNDAIS. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED STABILITY AND STEERING PROBLEMS RELATED TO THIS DEFECT IN DESIGN OR PARTS WHICH COULD EASILY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. WE REALLY LIKED THE CAR UNTIL THIS HAPPENED, THE DEALERSHIP 'NOT SO MUCH' NOW. I REALLY THINK THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD ADMIT THAT THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND FIX THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY FOR THE MANY OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THIS HAPPEN TO THEM, NOT JUST A $10 BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AFTER A $103 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 16, 2016
ESC LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY SOMETIMES ENGINE HESITATION IS INVOLVED. THIS HAPPENS AT VARYING SPEEDS, VARYING OPERATING TEMPS, AND VARYING WEATHER/TEMP CONDITIONS.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 14, 2016
THE LIGHT TURNS ON AND YOU TRY TO PUSH THE SWITCH TO IT BACK ON BUT IT DOES NOTHING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. THE FIRST I HAD SOME SENSOR REPLACED BUT ITS BACK ON DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 15, 2016
MY ESC & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND CAR STALLS AND SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING ON STREETS AND THE FREEWAY.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 16, 2016
WHEN START THE ENGINEERING AND DRIVE FOR 2-3 SECONDS, THE ESC OFF LIGHT WILL LIGHT AND STAYS ON, WILL NOT GO OFF. I HEARD IT HAD RECALL ON 2006-2008 MODEL FOR THIS, BUT NOT 2009MODELS.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 5, 2016
MY LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF ON THE ESC NOT SURE WHY OR WHAT TO DO.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, May 17, 2016
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT A RATE OF 30 TO 40 MPH, I FELT A JERK IN THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION SPEED OF MY VEHICLE, AND AFTERWORDS NOTICED MY ESC OFF LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHTS HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED AND UNABLE TO BE SHUT OFF WITH MY ESC SWITCH. I ALSO NOTICED THAT I WAS UNABLE TO REV MY ENGINE PAST 3000RPM'S, CONSEQUENTLY AFFECTING MY VEHICLE'S USABLE POWER BAND AND RENDERING ME(THE DRIVER) UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR'S OVERALL SPEED. AFTER TURNING MY VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY UNTIL I WAS AGAIN DRIVING. I THEN WENT TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE MY CAR'S COMPUTER SCANNED AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY CRANKSHAFT OR CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. MY COMPUTER WAS THEN RESET, BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 20, 2016
THE MOTOR IN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS GONE OUT. WHEN I TOLD A COUSIN OF MINE WHO OWNS A SONATA SAID THAT HYUNDIAS ARE KNOWN FOR THAT PROBLEM, REALLY!!
Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 11, 2016
ESC LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THEN GOING OFF. HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 28, 2016
ESC LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI. PREVIOUS RECALLS AND CURRENT RECALL ON SOME MODELS. I AM FILING A COMPLAINTS WITH NATIONAL SAFETY SO THAT A RECALL CAN BE EXTENDED TO MORE VEHICLES. HYUNDAI IS UNWILLING TO FIX THESE ISSUES WITHOUT A RECALL. WANT PEOPLE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.