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: power train
41 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Aug 2, 2013
I HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR JERKING RATHER HARD WITH THE AUTO-TRANNY DOWNSHIFTED FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR WHENEVER I SLOWED DOWN. THIS SOMEWHAT STOPPED WHEN THE CAR GOT WARMED UP, GUESSING MORE SPECIFICALLY WHEN THE TRANNY HEATED UP. I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. I'M IN A WARMER CLIMATE SINCE AND HAVEN'T SEEN IT BUT WILL SEE HOW IT BEHAVES THIS WINTER IN AUSTIN, TX VERSUS LAS CRUCES, NM. I THINK IT MAY HAVE STOPPED ABOUT THE SAME TIME A) IT GOT A LITTLE WARMER OUT AND B) I SIMULTANEOUSLY STOPPED PUTTING IN IT NEUTRAL AT STOPLIGHTS (TRYING TO SAVE MY CLUTCH FROM WEAR AT THE TIME.) PERHAPS IT USED THIS "NEUTRAL" INFO IN ITS COMPUTATION FOR THE TRANNY COMPUTER AND THAT WAS THIS ISSUE. OR MAYBE IT WAS THE COLD AND I STILL WILL FIND I HAVE THE PROBLEM. OR BOTH. NOT SURE BUT WANTED TO PUT THIS OUT THERE SINCE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE BUT AM PROBABLY THE ONLY WITH THE PROBLEM WHO WAS PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AT LIGHTS. *TR
Suspension, Power train, Engine, Jul 20, 2013, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS AQUA PLANNING, THE DRIVER LOST A COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS BOUNCING BETWEEN ROAD SIDES, LEFT AND RIGHT - 3 TIMES. THE CAR HIT THE GATE RAILS 3 TIMES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS CAME OUT AND THE SEAT BELTS APPEARED NOT TO BE LOCKED AT THE MOMENT OF ACCIDENT. AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER'S BODY MOVED FREELY IN THE CAR AND HIT THE LEFT RIB AND INTERNAL ORGANS, AND HIT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FACE, INCLUDING CHEEK BONE AND NOSE. THE PASSENGER'S FACE WAS SEVERELY BRUISED AND SWOLLEN. BESIDES, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAD A WHIPLASH. *TR
Power train, Wheels, Service brakes, Jul 17, 2013
HEARD SQUEALING AND HOWLING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES HUNG UP AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTOR ($189.00). I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND NOTHING WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I PURCHASED THE ITEMS AND WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO BE REPLACED WE DISCOVERED THE DUST BOOT WAS PULLED OUT OF THE CALIPER (WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY) I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT EVERY 7000 MILES THE CALIPERS WOULD NEED REBUILT. I'VE BEEN DRIVING AND GREW UP AROUND GARAGES AND NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING! *TR
Power train, Engine, Apr 16, 2013
WHILE SLOWING AT AROUND 25-30 MPH THE CAR WOULD "JERK" FORCEFULLY LIKE A SUDDEN STOP. THIS HAPPENED EVERY DAY. IT WOULD IMPROVE AS IT WARMED UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN EXCUSES (THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED FLUSHED-AT MY EXPENSE, MY DRIVING HABITS, ETC). FINALLY AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY ADMITTED THE ISSUE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED AFTER THEY "RESET" AND FLUSHED THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMED TO GET BETTER. I STILL FEEL THE "JERK" IN THE DOWNSHIFT, BUT IT IS NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST $100.00 JUST FOR THEM TO "LOOK AT IT" EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Power train, Mar 7, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. *TR
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 4, 2013
NOTICED THE CAR DOES NOT PULL UP THE STEEP HILL VERY WELL. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID TRANSMISSION OIL IS DIRTY AND SMELLS BAD AND IT NEEDS TRANSMISSION FLUSH, RESETTING OF TRANSMISSION SHIFT POINTS, AND FUEL SYSTEM CLEAN . I POINTED OUT THESE ARE NOT PER SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT AND WAS CONCERNED THE CAR WAS CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS SO EARLY IN ITS USAGE . WILL TAKE IT FOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH AS THAT IS WHAT DEALER INSISTS ON BEFORE THEY INFORM ME IF THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE PRESENT. *TR
Power train, Aug 18, 2012
WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE'S 2009 SONATA THE CLUTCH BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO USE MY FOOT TO PULL THE CLUTCH BACK UP TO THE NORMAL OPERATING HEIGHT IN ORDER TO CHANGE GEARS. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED AS THE PERSON BEHIND ME EXPECTED ACCELERATION AT THE TIME BUT I WAS SLOWING DOWN DUE TO THE INABILITY TO SWITCH GEARS IN A TIMELY MANNER. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING THIS PROBLEM AND IS AT TIMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO GEAR REQUIRING ME TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT GOES INTO GEAR PROPERLY. HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEREFORE THEY CLAIM NOTHING IS WRONG. THEY LUBRICATED THE LINKAGE AND SAID THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD DO. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH REPUTABLE SHOPS IN THE AREA AND THEY CLAIM IT IS CERTAINLY A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN, BUT HYUNDAI WILL NOT FIX THIS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD MY WIFE TRANSPORTS BOTH OF MY CHILDREN DAILY IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, Jun 22, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH SHE ENGAGED THE CLUTCH TO CHANGE GEARS HOWEVER THE CLUTCH BECAME STUCK AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE MANEUVER. SHE PROCEEDED TO PUMP THE CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES AS IT BEGAN TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. A WEEK LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN HOWEVER, THEY WERE STILL UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Power train, May 6, 2012
CLUTCH PEDAL STICKS TO FLOOR. VERY SCARY. IT HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES. AND HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER. THEY SAY ALL IS FINE. I COULD NOT STOP MY CAR. I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NOT ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN IT HAPPENED. MY CAR IS A 5 SPEED MAL. I SEE OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Mar 23, 2012
SEVERAL INSTANCES OF CLUTCH DROPPING TO FLOOR (USUALLY IN HIGH SPEED URBAN TRAFFIC) MAKING SHIFTING IMPOSSIBLE, AND LEADING TO PULLING ON TO SHOULDER AND ROLLING UNTIL ENGINE KILLS AT LOW SPEED. HAVE REPORTED TO HYUNDAI, AND TAKEN TO DEALER...THEY SAY WITHOUT DUPLICATING THE PROBLEM, THEY CAN'T FIX. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED ABOUT A HALF DOZEN TIMES BETWEEN 10,000 AND 44,000 MILES. IT IS DANGEROUS.. I AM TRYING TO DOCUMENT WITH HYUNDAI AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AS THEY APPARENTLY ARE NOT INTERESTED UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE.. *TR
Power train, Air bags, Sep 12, 2011, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH THE WHEELS LOCKED AND/OR THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STEER TO THE RIGHT AND CRASH INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT FENDER WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS SENDING A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Power train, Jun 22, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT INTERMITTENTLY BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
Power train, Jul 26, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE GEARS BY ENGAGING THE CLUTCH BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES LATER WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE GEARS AND THE CLUTCH BECAME STUCK IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION. HE HAD TO MANUALLY RELEASE THE CLUTCH BY USING HIS FOOT TO RELEASE THE CLUTCH TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,500.
Power train, Air bags, May 27, 2010, crash
I HAVE A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA WITH A 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010, I WAS TRAVELING ON ROUTE295 SOUTH IN RI WHEN I TRIED TO SHIFT FROM 4TH GEAR TO 5TH GEAR. I PRESSED MY CLUTCH IN AND TRIED TO SHIFT, THE CLUTCH NEVER CAME BACK UP AND MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. I COULDN'T GET THE CLUTCH TO COME BACK AND THE CAR LOST ITS SPEED DOWN TO ABOUT 5-10 MILES PER HOUR, IF THAT. THE PERSON BEHIND ME WENT AROUND ME BUT THE WOMAN BEHIND HIM SMASHED INTO ME DOING AROUND 70MPH. HER CAR PUSHED MINE FORWARD AND INTO THE NEXT LANE. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. LUCKILY, I WALKED AWAY WITH A BRUISED LEFT ARM AND THAT WAS ALL. MY HUSBAND HAD CALLED OUR DEALERSHIP A FEW TIMES REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T STICK ALL THE TIME, THEY COULDN'T TELL US WHAT WAS WRONG. MY CAR IS AN ABSOLUTE MESS RIGHT NOW AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED. *TR
Power train, May 14, 2010
THE CLUTCH ON MY 5 SPEED 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA IS SPORADICALLY DROPPING TO THE FLOOR AND NOT ALLOWING ME TO CHANGE GEARS. I WAS NEARLY HIT FROM BEHIND, AS THE CAR BEHIND ME ASSUMED I'D BE ACCELERATING, BUT WHEN THE CLUTCH DROPS (WITHOUT MUCH RESISTANCE) THE LINKAGE LOCKS AND I CAN'T CHANGE GEARS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY, AND HE SAID THEY HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT THE AFTER-MARKET FLOOR MAT WAS CAUSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO GET CAUGHT. I REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT WHEN I WENT TO PICK-UP MY CAR (SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED FOR THE DAY), AND, IN THEIR PARKING LOT, GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE CLUTCH PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND I COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS, UNTIL I HIT THE CLUTCH A FEW MORE TIMES! I WENT INSIDE TO COMPLAIN TO THE SALES STAFF. THEY SAID I HAD TO BRING IT IN TOMORROW. APPARENTLY, HYUNDAI IS HAVING LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CLUTCHES, BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT, BECAUSE IT IS COSTLY TO TAKE APART THE TRANSMISSION TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG. WE BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE 10-YEAR POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY! THIS IS DANGEROUS AND IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! *TR
Power train, Jul 17, 2009
THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN WHEN PASSING A SHORT LINE OF CARS, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE SPEEDS OF OVER 80 MPH BEFORE THE IGNITION WAS SHUT OFF AND TURNED BACK ON RESULTING IN NORMALITY. *TR