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: other or unspecified
48 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Mar 13, 2017
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND HAS BEEN FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. MY BOYFRIEND'S FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR, SAME YEAR AND HIS IS WORSE THAN MINE. MY CONCERN IS THIS IS WHERE AIRBAG IS LOCATED.
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.
Other or unspecified, Oct 8, 2016
SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. NOTHING HIT THE CAR AND I DID NOT CROSS UNDER AN OVER-PATH. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO SOUNDS OF WIND OR AIR ENTERING THE SUNROOF. CHUNKS OF GLASS FEW OFF THE CAR AND COULD HAVE DAMAGED OTHER VEHICLE OR COULD HAVE CAUSED A WRECK. IT RAINED OVERNIGHT AFTER THIS INCIDENT AND MY CLOTH SEATS WERE SOAKED. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE SUNROOF REPAIRED A FEW DAYS LATER.
Other or unspecified, May 26, 2016
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE SUN VISOR THAT WAS UP BROKE AND SWUNG DOWN ALMOST HITTING ME IN THE FACE. IT NO LONGER WILL STAY UP AS IT'S INTENDED AND SWINGS DOWN BLOCKING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING. IT'S A HAZARD AND ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE MANY OTHERS HAVE AS WELL.
Other or unspecified, Mar 11, 2016
WHEN DRIVING MY CAR WILL JERK LIKE IT IS SHIFTING ROUGH. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES GRABBING BUT WHEN I GOOGLED IT I READ THAT IT COULD BE ECM AND TCM SOFTWARE PROBLEM. IT JERKS SOMETIMES SO BADLY THAT IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE BUMPED INTO SOMETHING. CALLED DEALER BUT WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IT IS PROBABLY AN UPDATE NEEDED TO THE ECM AND TCM SOFTWARE AND IT COULD COST $200. IF THAT IS THE CASE IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT HYUNDAI COVERS.
Other or unspecified, Jan 16, 2016
SUN VISOR FELL DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR.
Other or unspecified, Dec 13, 2015
WE BOUGHT A USED 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA AND AFTER 9 MONTHS THE NAVIGATIO SYSTEM WENT BLANK. VERY DISAPPOINTED. IT FLASHES TH 33RD HYUNDAI LOGO FOLLOWED BY A BLANK WHITE SCREEN. TRYED REBOOTING. $100 JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG. NOW WE FIND OUT THERE WERE PROBLEMS FROM THE GET GO WITH THO S SYSTEM. VERY DISTRACTING AND SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT. WE BOUGHT AN EXTENDED PLAN WHICH DOES NOT SEEM TO COVER NAVIGATION.
Other or unspecified, Dec 3, 2015
TRANSMISSION ISSUE: EXPERIENCING A HARSH DOWN SHIFT WHEN BRAKING. THIS RECALL IS ALREADY KNOW FOR THE 2011 MODEL IN WHICH HYUNDAI SAYS IT IS A TIMING ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY HAVE TO RESET IT.
Other or unspecified, Nov 3, 2015
MY DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FLOPS DOWN. IT LOOKS GOOD, IS NOT TORN OR APPEAR ABUSED, BUT IT KEEPS FLOPPING DOWN WHEN I DRIVE AND THE ANGLE BLOCKS MY VIEW. I DO NOT KNOW WHY IT HAPPENED, I SIMPLY TRIED TO PUSH IT INTO THE POSITION THAT SUITS ME BEST AND SOME PLASTIC FELL FROM THE END PIECE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. I WAS PARKED AT THE TIME, PREPARING TO DRIVE.
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 10, 2015
WHILE PUMPING GAS IT APPEARS TO BE FULL (WHEN IT IS NOT EVEN 3/4 FULL TANK) GASS SPILLS OR SPURTS OUT ON FLOOR AND MY FEET. VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN CABIN WHEN PROCEED TO DRIV AND CLEARS OUT AFTER MAYBE 5-10 MILES
Other or unspecified, Oct 2, 2015
NOTICED ON PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD NEAR THE AIRBAG THAT THERE WAS A LONG CRACK FROM WINDSHIELD DOWN ENTIRE FRONT OF DASH AREA. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER NOTICED ANOTHER CRACK JUST ON THE OPPOSITE OF THE DASHBOARD IN SAME AREA WHERE AIRBAG WOULD BE LOCATED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO HYUNDAI DEALER TO SURVEY ISSUE AND INQUIRE ABOUT SAFETY ISSUE. I ADVISED THEM THAT I HAVE A CUSTOM MADE SUNSHADE WHICH IS USED ON VEHICLE DAILY FOR SUN PROTECTION ON THE DASHBOARD AS WELL AS ENTIRE VEHICLE.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Sep 26, 2015
WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR I COULD NOT START MY CAR THE KEY SWITCH KEEPS LOCKING AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WHEN U ARE TRYING TO GET THE KEY OUT AND I WAS EVEN PUSHING ON THE BRAKE TO GET IT TO RELEASE THE LOCK IT TOOK FIVE MINUTES TO FINALLY TO GET THE KEY TO TURN TO START THE CAR. I HAVE HAD IT ONE DAY WHERE I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF AND THE KEY WAS STUCK IN IT AND THE DEALER SHIP COULD NOT EVEN GET THE CAR TO SHUT OFF OR GET THE KEY TO TURN IT WAS ALSO STUCK IN IT . I'M WORRIED ABOUT BEING SOMEWHERE WHERE I CAN'T START THE CAR OR THE KEY STUCK IN IT AND IT'S LOCKED UP ALL TOGETHER FOR GOOD I'VE HEARD THERE BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND IF IT'S GONNA BE FIXED OR NOT
Other or unspecified, Sep 26, 2015
I HAVE NOTICED MY PAINT ON MY HYUNDAI SONATA FOR 2009 HAS BEEN CHIPPING AWAY AND FLAKING OFF WHEN EVER IT RAINS AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AND IT'S A NEWER CAR AND I ALSO NOTICE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON GOING THROUGH THIS . THIS CAR GONNA LOOK UGLY WHEN ALL THE PAINT THAT'S CHIPPING OFF AND FLAKING OFF WHEN NOTHING BEEN HITTING THE CAR TO CAUSE THE PAINT TO FLAKE OFF AND IT'S A NEWER MODEL . SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT AND IT SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AT ALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S DOING THIS I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR NOW THIS IS NOT RIGHT. ALSO MY BUTTON FOR THE GAS DOOR QUIT WORKING ON THE SECOND DAY I GOT IT AND I ALSO NOTICE OTHER PEOPLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND I ALSO KNOW I HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT ALSO BEEN ADDRESSED TOO MY DOOR UNLOCKS WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND IT SHOULDN'T UNLOCK CAUSE I'LL BE SITTING THERE AND SOMEONE CAN JUST OPEN THE DOOR IF I WAS BEING HIJACKED AND IT SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT EITHER AND UNLOCKING WHEN U PUT THE CAR IN PARK THIS NEEDS FIXED FOR SAFETY REASONS TOO
Other or unspecified, Aug 12, 2015
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WOULD NOT STAY UP, CAUSING IT DROP IN FRONT OF EYES. MOVED TO SIDE, THEN FORCIBLY REMOVED IT WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION. APPEARS TO BE SAME PROBLEM RELATED TO MODELS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT 2009 NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jul 6, 2015
ON JULY 1, 2014 THE REAR CALIPER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAR HAD SEIZED, STRIPPING THE BRAKES TO METAL ON METAL. ON AUGUST 30, 2014, THE REAR CALIPER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR FOLLOWED SUIT. LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER I HAVE REPLACED EACH OF THE REAR CALIPERS ONCE AGAIN. I HAD THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE REPAIRED ON MAY 15, 2015, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE ON JUNE 9, 2015. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH JUST OVER 53,000 MILES ON IT IN 2013. TODAY, IT HAS 101,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE REPLACED FOUR CALIPERS, THREE ROTORS AND FIVE SETS OF BRAKE PADS. EACH TIME MY CALIPERS FAILED I WAS PLACED IN DANGER OF TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AND FIRE, UNKNOWINGLY. THE MECHANICS WHO WORKED ON MY CAR HAVE INDIVIDUALLY THEORIZED THAT AN ENGINEERING FAILURE IS THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. LAST WEEK I CONTACTED HYUNDAI FOR FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS. THE COMPANY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REIMBURSE ME SINCE THE PARTS WERE NOT REPLACED WITH HYUNDAI FACTORY PARTS, OR REPAIRED BY A HYUNDAI CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP. I AM AWARE THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST HYUNDAI BASED ON THIS ISSUE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. I HAVE ALSO READ, AND HEARD ABOUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS EXACT PROBLEM (REAR CALIPER PROBLEM) IN THEIR HYUNDAI SONATAS, BUILT BETWEEN THE YEARS 2006-2010.
Other or unspecified, Jun 26, 2015
I HAVE A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. IT HAS ABOUT 140,000 MILES ON IT AND IS ADMITTEDLY WELL OUTSIDE OF ANY WARRANTY, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THIS CASE REQUIRES AN EXCEPTION. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE PAINT STARTED CHIPPING OFF MY CAR. NOT LITTLE SCRATCHES BUT FAIRLY LARGE SPOTS. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI WHO SAID IT WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY, AND I LET IT GO. LAST SATURDAY, DURING A HARD RAIN, THE PAINT LITERALLY FELL OFF MY CAR. MY HUSBAND DROVE TO COLUMBUS THAT DAY, AND WHEN HE ARRIVED, THE PAINT HAD VANISHED FROM THE ENTIRE ROOF. PATCHES CAME OFF OF THE HOOD AS WELL. AND THE TRUNK IS BEGINNING TO PEEL. I AM TOLD THIS IS A DELAMINATION ISSUE RELATED TO METAL PAINT PREPARATION. WHILE I REALIZE THAT THE CAR IS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY, I STAND BY MY STATEMENT THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY MILES A CAR HAS ON IT, THE PAINT SHOULD NOT COME OFF IN THE RAIN! HYUNDAI REFUSES TO EVEN REFER THE CASE TO A SUPERVISOR. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR HAPPENS, AND I ACCEPT THAT. BUT THIS IS CLEARLY A FACTORY DEFECT, AND I THINK HYUNDAI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. SINCE HYUNDAI IS TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE, I AM SEEKING OTHERS TO WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR A MORE FORMAL APPROACH TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED.
Other or unspecified, Jun 1, 2015
WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN DRIVE THE GEAR SHIFT DISPLAY WILL SHOW RANDOM GEARS. IT WILL CYCLE THROUGH ALL THE GEARS UNTIL YOU SELECT TO USE THE MANUAL SHIFT (+/-) TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE IN THE PROPER GEAR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE ON OTHERS CAR IN THE SONATA LINE UP JUST NOT THIS YEAR. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED. I AM TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE CAR DEALER TODAY TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 27, 2015
THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE GAS CAP DOES NOT WORK.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Aug 24, 2013
RIGHT REAR BRAKE MAKES PULSATING RATTLE SOUND. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE AFTER SEVERAL MILES OF DRIVING IN WARM, DRY WEATHER. TECHNICIANS CAN'T FIND PERMANENT CURE BUT IT DID GO AWAY FOR AWHILE AFTER THE ROTOR WAS RESURFACED. HOWEVER, THE NOISE HAS RETURNED. THIS IS THE SAME WHEEL ON WHICH SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES AGO THE CALIPER SEIZED CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE ON THAT WHEEL. THE RATTLING SOUND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME, AND THE MILEAGE I ENTERED FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS A SHEER GUESS.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jul 12, 2013
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, 'ESC OFF' LIGHT CAME ON; AT THE SAME TIME, THE CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING AND I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ALL QUIT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. *TR
Other or unspecified, Jun 11, 2011, fire
I STARTED MY CAR AND AS I STARTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SO I COULD PULL OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE SMOKE SPEWED FROM MY DASHBOARD. I LOOKED UP UNDER THE DASH AND NOTICED THE WIRING HARNESS IN FLAMES. I EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALER. THEY EXAMINED THE DAMAGE AND SAID TAT IT WOULD COST ME $4000 TO REPAIR IT AS I NEEDED A NEW WIRING HARNESS. HYUNDAI CLAIMS IT WASN'T A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND THEREHAS BEEN NO ALTERATIONS OR MODIFICATIONS, THE SAME WIRING HARNESS IS USED IN KIA WHICH HAS A RECALL ON A WIRING HARNESS. I AM IN POSSESSION OF THE BURNT HARNESS AND IT CLEARLY HAS KIA WRITTEN ON IT
Other or unspecified, Jun 11, 2011
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT TO THIRD GEAR AND DISCOVERED I HAD NO CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED FOR THE NEXT HALF HOUR TILL I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, WHERE I PARKED IT. A FEW HOURS LATER I STARTED TO GO HOME AND THE CLUTCH WORKED FINE. INDICATING THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN THE CLUTCH. I BELIEVE THE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER LOSES PRESSURE SOMEHOW CAUSING THE PROBLEM
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Jun 9, 2011
I HAVE HAD 2 INSTANCES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. 1ST INCIDENT I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AND THE CAR SHOT BACKWARD NARROWLY MISSING MY HOUSE. 2ND INCIDENT ABOUT A MONTH LATER I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR SHOT FORWARD & I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING A FENCE. BOTH INCIDENTS THE VEHICLE WAS GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE VEHICLE JERKING OCCASIONALLY IN TRAFFIC WHEN YOU EASE UP ON THE GAS PEDAL.