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.
Structure, Nov 1, 2016
THE PAINT BEGAN TO COME OFF ON THE FRONT OF MY CAR 3-4 YEARS AGO. FINALLY TOOK IT TO HYUNDAI COMPLAINING THAT IT MUST BE A DEFECT SINCE: 1) NO ACCIDENTS, 2) DO NOT PARK UNDER PECAN TREES, 3) NO HAIL DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE PAINT TO COME OFF TO THE POINT THAT THE HOOD HAD ALMOST STARTED TO RUST THROUGH. COST ME $597.80 TO HAVE IT STRIPPED, REPAINTED, ETC.
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
Service brakes, Oct 26, 2016
I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE JULY 2014. I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 54K MILES. I CURRENTLY HAVE 107K MILES AND IT'S OCTOBER 2016.I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKES 4 TIMES, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FAIL CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT HEAT AND DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. THE PROBLEM ALSO CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF FUEL ECONOMY. IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE AND A RECALL HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE STARTING IN MODEL YEAR 2011. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE 2009 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES *TR
Visibility/wiper, Oct 23, 2016
SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP IT KEEPS FALLING DOWN OBSTRUCTING MY VISION WHILE DRIVING. *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.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Oct 14, 2016, fire
ON 10/08/2009 MY 209 HYUNDAI SONATA WENT INTO AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS ON A NARROW DIRT ROAD WITH LITTLE LIMITED OPTIONS AS TO WHERE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I MISSED A BOULDER, GARAGE, AND TREE BEFORE HITTING THE SIDE OF A HOUSE. THE AMBULANCE WAS CALLED AND I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL EMERGENCY ROOM. I HAD A CONCUSSION, FRACTURED KNEE ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF BRUISES AND ABRASIONS. THE EMTS TOLD ME HOW LUCKY IF WAS SINCE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.. AN INTERNET SEARCH, INCLUDING YOUR WEBSITE, NOTES THESE PROBLEMS GOING BACK SEVERAL YEARS. TOYOTA HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND DID A RECALL. MY INJURIES WILL EXCEED THE LIMIT OF MY INSURANCE AND I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE A CAR. I KNOW HOW LUCKY I WAS TO WALK AWAY. I AM SURE OTHERS HAD MORE SERIOUS INJURIES AND HIGHER EXPENSES. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO FORCE HYUNDAI TO DO THE RIGHT THING?
Service brakes, Oct 12, 2016
PURCHASED MY 2009 SONATA IN FEBRUARY 2009, BY MID JULY I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES. I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND ONLY HAD ABOUT 5000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS REQUIRED TO CHECK THE BRAKES EVERY 3500 MILES AND IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, NOT EVEN THE 5 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. IT IS NOW 2016 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY REAR BRAKE CALIPERS, PADS AND ROTORS EVERY 6 MONTHS AT A COST OF OVER $400 EVERY TIME. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF GRINDING, HEAT AND MASSIVE VIBRATION IN THE REAR WHILE BRAKING TO THIS POINT. I HAVE RETURNED MY CAR FOR BOTH CURRENT RECALLS (NOT APPLICABLE TO BRAKES). WITH SO MANY MODELS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES, ITS VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT HYUNDAI WILL NOT REPAIR THEIR FAULTY ENGINEERING AND THE NHTSA HAS NOT INVESTIGATED THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH BRAKING SYSTEMS IN THESE CARS.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Oct 10, 2016
UPON ACCELERATING UP AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY, CAR ACCELERATED AT AN UNREASONABLE RATE OF SPEED TRIED USING BRAKES, BUT THEY WERE GONE. CAR HIT SPEEDS OF 60/65 MPH FOR MORE THAN 3 MILES ON A TURNPIKE. PARKING BRAKE DID NOT WORK, BRAKE PEDAL WAS DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE AUTO. AFTER TRAVELING MORE THAN 3 MILES, IN THE SHOULDER, I PUT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND FINALLY STOP. TOWED FROM TURNPIKE TO DEALERSHIP. KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE 2006 MODEL, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING SIMILAR TO MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE SONATA 2009.
Service brakes, Oct 9, 2016
A FEW MILE FROM HOME ON RURAL HIGHWAY DRIVERS SIDE REAR BRAKES SUDDENLY SEIZED LURCHING THE VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED, ENGINE RPM WENT WAY UP. UPON ARRIVING AT HOME, BRAKES WERE SMOKING HOT AND ON INSPECTION BRAKE PADS AND METAL ALMOST GONE, ROTOR HAD THINNED TO 1/4 ", AND METAL POWDER WAS ALL OVER THE RIM, SIDE AND REAR OF CAR.
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.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 6, 2016
SUN VISOR ON DRIVER SIDE IS BROKEN (WON'T STAY UP) AND THE SUN VISOR DROPS DOWN VERTICALLY BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW. THIS PROBLEM WAS PART OF A RECALL IN THE TWO PRIOR YEAR MODELS (2007 AND 2008), BUT HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM PERSISTS IN THE 2009 YEAR MODEL
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.
Electrical system, Aug 24, 2016
THE POWER SIDE WINDOW BUTTON IS FLOPPY IT JUST STAYS DOWN AND YOU HAVE TO PULL IT BACK UP MANUALLY ITS LIKE THE SPRING IS BROKEN. THE HVAC MOTOR BLOWER DOESN'T ALWAYS BLOW I HAVE TO MESS WITH THE KNOB TO GET THE HEAT OR AC TO WORK.
Steering, Aug 18, 2016
WHEN RUNNING SOMETIME THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE HARD TO TURN WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, I CONTACTED HYUNDAI FOR THIS IS PART OF THE RECALL ON ALL HYUNDAI SONATA BUILT ON DECEMBER 2009. BUT HYUNDAI IS TELLING ME THAT IT NOT COVER BY THE RECALL ON THE STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO FIXED THIS PROBLEM. ...UPDATED 04/11/17 *BF *TR
Air bags, Jul 25, 2016
DASHBOARD CRACKING DIRECTLY AROUND AIR BAG UNIT UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO HYUNDAI, AFFECTING NUMEROUS MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. HYUNDAI DEALERS REFUSE TO CLASSIFY IT A SAFETY DEFECT, AND HAVE TOLD ME THE DASHBOARD REPLACEMENT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTOMER. MULTIPLE HYUNDAI SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE INTERNET CONFIRM WHAT I SUSPECT, THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE. CRACKS BEGAN APPEARING AT ABOUT 68,000 MILES, APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER 2015, AND ARE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. CAR NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES (JULY 2016).
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 17, 2016, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS VIEWED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE THE FUEL PUMP WAS BEING REPLACED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE FUEL CONNECTOR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Vehicle speed control, Jun 17, 2016, crash
I WAS AT THE GAS PUMP TRYING TO EASE UP TO GET CLOSER SO THE NOZZLE COULD REACH MY TANK. IN THE PROCESS OF EASING UP THE CAR TOOK OFF FORWARD, CAUSING THE DOOR TO CLOSE MY LEG IN THE DOOR ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOOSE MY LEG. THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK.
Power train, Service brakes, Jun 14, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED AS THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC ). ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE GEAR LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
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.
Electrical system, May 21, 2016
TAMARA RECALL. MY SEAT WON'T MOVE BACK OR FORWARD . ELECTRICAL SWITCH.
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.
Vehicle speed control, May 11, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE PULLING INTO A FUEL STATION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
Electrical system, Apr 29, 2016
BOUGHT CAR NEW , AT 30,000 MILE STARTER REPLACED [ COULD NOT TURN KEY IN IGNITION] . THAT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY . AT 63,000 MILES IGNTION WENT [ AGAIN UNABLE TO TURN KEY TO START CAR ] AND I WAS STRANDED WITH VEHICLE.--THIS TIME APPROX $650.00 I FOR REPAIRS . I HAVE HEARD /READ THERE IS A HISTORY FO THIS KIND OF PROBLEM . HYUNDAI DID GIVE ME A $200.CREDIT TOWARD NEXT REPAIR . WITH MY AGE AND BEING WIDOWED I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THIS CAR IS GOING TO BE SAFE FOR ME . I JUST DON'T THINK WITH THE AMOUNT OF MILEAGE THAT THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE EXISTED . ARE THEY USING INFERIOR PARTS ??
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!!