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: engine
62 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Aug 1, 2018
"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN I SLOW DOWN MY CAR JERKS.
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.
Engine, Jun 12, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY, THE CAMSHAFT SENSORS, AND THE TIMING CHAIN WERE ALL FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
Engine, Jan 5, 2018
THE #3 BEARING SPUN CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO BE ABLE TO RUN. SIMILAR TO THE 2011 RECALL. NOW CAR HAS A ROD KNOCK.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 29, 2017
WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, MY SONATA STOPPED ACCELERATING. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AS MY CAR WAS RAPIDLY DECELERATING. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, AND AFTER LETTING IT SET FOR A FEW MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO START UP AGAIN AND PROCEED WITHOUT TROUBLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN SINCE, BOTH ON A FREEWAY AND ONCE ON A SIDE STREET. I AM ON MY WAY TO MY DEALER TODAY TO CHECK THIS OUT. ALSO, I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET, AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AMONG THESE MODELS.
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.
Engine, Nov 7, 2017
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN WITH JERKING AND SHAKING LIKE MOTIONS WHICH WAS VERY DISTRACTING AND CAUSED ME TO BECOME AFRAID IN THE MOVING TRAFFIC. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG. THEN I GLANCED AT TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND NOTICED IT WAS HEATING UP IN THE RED AND RAN HOT. NOW IT WON'T RUN.
Engine, Jul 23, 2017
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONNECTING ROD WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V568000 (ENGINE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN ALABAMA. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE CAR SINCE.
Engine, Jul 17, 2017
EMISSIONS WARNING HAD BEEN ON FOR A SHORT TIME. 20 MINUTES AFTER A BIG PUFF OF SMOKE, THE CAR DIED AND THE MECHANIC SAYS THE MOTOR IS LOCKED AND IT WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. VERY LITTLE WARNING OR POOR CAR PERFORMANCE.
Engine, Jun 27, 2017
WAS BACKING CAR OUT OF OUR GARAGE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (SOLID AND NOT BLINKING) SO DROVE CAR BACK INTO OUR GARAGE AND TURNED IT OFF. NO UNUSUAL SOUNDS OBSERVED WHEN BACKING OUT OR PULLING BACK IN TO GARAGE. FROM THAT POINT ON THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER START. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. 110,618 MILES AND WAS TOLD ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS PERMANENT TIMING CHAIN HAD JUMPED TIME. DEALER COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY REASON WHY THE CHAIN WOULD JUMP TIME. LEARNED THAT RECALL EXISTS FOR NEWER MODELS OF SONATAS THAT HAVE SAME ENGINE THAT HAVE ISSUE WITH INTERNAL OIL DISTRIBUTION TROUBLE THAT SEIZES ENGINE CAUSING TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP. ENGINE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP WITH USED 62,000 MI ENGINE.
Engine, Jun 20, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL THE THIRD ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (JACK GIAMBALVO HYUNDAI 2425 INDUSTRIAL HWY, EAST YORK, PA 17402 (717) 755-2944). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE TO OCCUR WHILE AT THE DEALER IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,788.
Engine, May 25, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONNECTING ROD WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V568000 (ENGINE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN ALABAMA. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.
Engine, Apr 7, 2017
OUR CAR, A 2009 HYUNDAI SONOTA, HAS HAD THE SAME ENGINE ISSUES AS THE HYUNDAI RECALL SET FORTH ON APRIL OF 2017. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP, WE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. THE SYMPTOMS OF THE CAR ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE IN THE 2017 RECALL, BUT WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP, OUR VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WE MAINTAINED THE CAR PROPERLY AS SET BY THE DEALERSHIP (OIL CHANGES, ETC.).
Engine, Feb 13, 2017
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DEEP PUDDLE (3-4 INCHES), THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AS THE ENGINE STALLS AND I LOSE ALL POWER ACCESSORIES. ONCE I RESTART THE ENGINE, THE BATTERY LIGHT GOES OUT AFTER A SHORT TIME AND ALL IS GOOD AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR I'VE HAD THE CAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF IT HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STEER AWAY FROM TROUBLE.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 5, 2016
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE READS INTAKE VALVE CIRCUIT HAS LOW VOLTAGE. NOTICED REDUCED GAS MILEAGE ECONOMY AND POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 5, 2016
FRONT ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO ALTERNATOR CAUSING IT TO BECOME DAMAGED, WHICH LED TO POOR TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND THEN COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 5, 2016
FRONT ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO ALTERNATOR CAUSING IT TO BECOME DAMAGED, WHICH LED TO POOR TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND THEN COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER.
Engine, Nov 21, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PRESENCE OF METAL SHAVINGS MIXED WITHIN THE OIL AND HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 6, 2016
I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75 WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE CAR LOST SPEED GRADUALLY FROM 60 MPH TO 10 MPH. FORTUNATELY I WAS NEAR AN EXIT AND WAS ABLE TO EXIT AND STOP AT A HOTEL PARKING LOT. THIS WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE SINCE OTHER CARS WERE SPEEDING AROUND ME AT 70+ MPH, THEN CUTTING IN FRONT OF ME TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO OTHER RESULT. NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS CLOSED FOR THE WEEKEND SO I'M WITHOUT A CAR FOR THE WEEKEND AND WILL HAVE TO MISS WORK TOMORROW. UNKNOWN CAUSE. I'M NOT ABLE TO SCAN DOCUMENTS.
Electrical system, Engine, Nov 1, 2016
CAR STARTED AS USUAL AND I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GETTING READY TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 20 MPH AND REACH 1000 RPM. IT DIED SHORTLY THEREAFTER ON THE HIGHWAY FRONTAGE ROAD. ALL OF THE LIGHTS FOR ABS, BRAKES, CHECK ENGINE ETC. CAME ON BUT THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS WOULD NOT WORK SO I HAD TO KEEP PUMPING THE BRAKES SO NOBODY WOULD RUN INTO THE BACK END OF MY CAR. IT WOULD NOT RESTART SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER STATED VALVE COVER GASKET HAD LEAKED OIL ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AND RUINED IT. THAT IN TURN RUINED THE BATTERY. CAR WAS REPAIRED FOR $1400 INCLUDING THE TOW AND A RENTAL CAR. AFTER LOOKING AT HYUNDAI RECALLS, I NOTICED THE ONE FOR THE 2009 VERA CRUZ (NHTSA# 14V415000) IN WHICH 61,122 UNITS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. IN RESEARCHING THE AFFECTED VALVE COVER GASKET, I FOUND THE SAME ONE WAS USED ON MY 3.3L ENGINE THAT WAS LISTED AS DEFECTIVE ON THE 3.8L VERA CRUZ ENGINE. IF THAT PART WAS DEFECTIVE ON THAT VEHICLE, WHY WAS THE SCOPE OF THIS RECALL NOT EXTENDED TO COVER ALL POSSIBLE VEHICLES THAT COULD BE AFFECTED? I WOULD LIKE THE COST OF REPAIRS REFUNDED TO ME SINCE HYUNDAI OBVIOUSLY KNEW THIS PART WAS DEFECTIVE BUT DIDN'T ISSUE A RECALL TO COVER ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR
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.
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.
Power train, Engine, Jan 13, 2016
THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI SONATA 2009, ANYTIME THE CAR IS ACCELERATED THE TRANSMISSION BOX GETS STUCK WHICH COULD LEAD TO SAFETY HAZARDS.
Engine, Jul 30, 2015
IGNITION SWITCH ENGAGES STARTER WHEN TURNING ENGINE OFF. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ENGINE STARTED ON ITS OWN WHEN KEY WAS IN ACCESSORY POSITION.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, May 27, 2015
THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL DOWN TO MY ALTERNATOR, CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION AND MAKING MY TRANSMISSION SHIFT AWKWARDLY.