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
460 reports, newest first.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 9, 2018
INTERMITTENT STALLS OR ATTEMPTS TO STALL OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS. ALWAYS STALLED WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE STATIONARY; ATTEMPTS TO STALL WHILE IN MOTION OR TRYING TO ACCELERATE. VEHICLE HAS ACTUALLY STALLED ON HIGHWAY. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WHERE SUCCESSFUL, HOWEVER. NO TROUBLE CODE TO SOLVE PROBLEM BUT WORKED FINE UP UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILED ALTOGETHER. CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT START WHILE TURNING IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. FOUND OUT FROM MECHANIC AFTER IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN THAT IT WAS FUEL PUMP FAILURE BUT SYMPTOMS CONCLUDE FUEL PUMP DEFECT FROM YEARS PAST.
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.
Seat belts, Mar 16, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH IN A TIMELY MANNER. IT TOOK THE CONTACT THREE MINUTES OR MORE TO GET OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT DUE TO THE FAULTY SEAT BELT. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Power train, Feb 19, 2018
MY CAR GEAR SHIFT LOCKS UP. I CANNOT CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO GO IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. I HAVE TO UTILIZE THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFT OVERRIDE EVERY TIME I NEED TO CHANGE GEARS. THE CAR WILL BE STATIONARY AND I MUST KEEP MY FEET ON THE BRAKES AT ALL TIMES AS I FEAR IT MAY SHIFT ON ITS OWN. IT IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM THAT BEGAN 3 WEEKS AGO.
Structure, Jan 16, 2018
THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN MANY PLACES. THESE ARE DEEP CRACKS AND MORE ARE OCCURRING. HYUNDAI SHOULD REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD.
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.
Air bags, Dec 22, 2017
DRIVING ALONG ON A CITY STREET AND NOTICED AIRBAG INDICATOR ON CONSOLE WAS ON. LOOKED AROUND AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR OFF LIGHT WAS NOT OFF. PASSENGER SEAT BELT INDICATOR WAS FLASHING AND THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN SEAT.
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.
Other or unspecified, Dec 5, 2017
2009 HUYNDAI SONATA STARTER INSTALLED IN JUNE 2017 BY DEALER AFTER DIAGNOSING A DEFECTIVE STARTER WAS THE REASON FOR A STRANGE SOUND WHEN STARTING THE CAR. IN DECEMBER 2017, THE SAME DEALER STATES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS SENDING A SIGNAL AT THE WRONG TIME AND AS A RESULT, THE SAME SOUND OCCURS. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE SAME SOUND IS NOT A RESULT OF THE STARTER, BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Steering, Nov 20, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MAPLE HILL AUTO GROUP, 5622 W MAIN ST, KALAMAZOO, MI 49009) WHERE THE DEALER FOUND NO ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT FREQUENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. *TT *TR
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.
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.
Structure, Oct 25, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG. WALLACE AUTOMOTIVE IN STUART, FLORIDA 34997 WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE DASHBOARD. AT THE REQUEST OF HYUNDAI, THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM A REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
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.
Steering, Sep 22, 2017
BOTH OF MY 2009 SONATA'S HAVE/HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I GOTTEN RID OF 1 OF THEM. POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNING. DEALER NEVER DOCUMENTED BUT DID PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN. 2011 SONATA'S DID HAVE A RECALL. HYUNDAI SAID OUT OF WARRANTY NOW AS IT HAS 117K MILES. BOTH MY 2009 SONATA'S HAD THE PROBLEM, I WIFE GOT RID OF HERS LAST YEAR. PLESE MAKE HYUNDAI DO THE RIGHT THING....DRIVING IS UNSAFE WITH FAULTY STEERING.
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.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 18, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE IGNITION SWITCH SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TYSINGER HYUNDAI IN HAMPTON, VIRGINIA TO BE REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT A LOCKSMITH WOULD NEED TO UNLOCK THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,248. UPDATED 10/18/17*LJ *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 9, 2017
MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THEM AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES PER YEAR. AFTER THE MOST RECENT CHANGE THEY BLEW BACK IN WITHIN TWO WEEKS. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON AT ALL TIMES.
Steering, Jul 30, 2017
VEHICLE SITTING IN DRIVE WAY. GEAR SHIFT WONT WONT MOVE,AND IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN TO START ENGINE .SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH
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.
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.