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, Apr 20, 2016
THE DOOR HANDLE CAME OF THE BACK DOOR, I HAVE NEVER KNOWN THE DOOR HANDLE TO JUST COME OFF THE DOOR OF A CAR.
Steering, Apr 11, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND BECAME A FREQUENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 05/10/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO NORMAL. UPDATED 05/11/16. *JB
Service brakes, Apr 7, 2016
HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES TWICE. AFTER READING 200 COMPLAINTS ONLINE, I HAVE DISCOVERED IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ALL SONATAS. THE NEW BRAKES HAVE TO BE GROUND DOWN TO FIT THE SONATA.
Air bags, Mar 18, 2016, crash
CROSSING INTERSECTION ON GREEN LIGHT. INATTENTIVE DRIVER RAN RED LIGHT, CRUSHING PASSENGER SIDE AND FORCING CAR INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS IMPACT CAUSED THE REAR OF AUTO TO BE CRUSHED. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND, THUS, DID NOT PROTECT FROM INJURY.
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.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 11, 2016
ESC LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THEN GOING OFF. HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
Power train, Mar 10, 2016
MY CAR JERKS DURING BRAKING OR DOWNSHIFTING AROUND 15-20 MILE PER HOUR. IT ONLY DOES THIS AFTER CAR HAS SAT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND STOPS AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. MY SONATA IS AUTOMATIC.
Structure, Mar 8, 2016
THE 2009 SONATA HAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRONT FRAME THAT HOLDS UP THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. I DO NOT LIVE AT THE BEACH, AND IS ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS FOUND BY A MECHANIC DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. CHUNKS OF FRAME WERE FALLING OFF AS WE WERE INSPECTING THE RUST. IT IS BEING REPLACED DUE TO EMINENT, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ONLY TIME HE HAS EVER SEEN THIS IS ON 20-25 YEAR OLD BEACH CARS.
Service brakes, Feb 29, 2016
THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS APPEAR TO BE DEFECTIVE IN THAT A HIGH PERCENTAGE SEEM TO FAIL. THIS IS THE SECOND CALIPER THAT HAS REQUIRED REPAIR/REPLACEMENT, WHICH NECESSARILY ALSO REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. IT APPEARS THAT THE CALIPERS STICK IN THE EXTENDED POSITION CAUSING (IN THE BEST CASE) THE RAPID WEAR OF THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS, AND (IN THE WORST CASE) A HEAT BUILD UP, AND A FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. INTERNET BLOGS INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE BUT IS SYSTEMIC WITH HYUNDAI SONATAS, AND PARTICULARLY 2009 AND LATER. I WILL NOTE THAT HYUNDAI HAD A BRAKE RECALL REGARDING CALIPERS FOR SONATAS BETWEEN 2011 AND 2014, BUT THAT IT DID NOT EXTEND TO THE 2009 SONATAS.
Wheels, Service brakes, Feb 22, 2016
IN FEBRUARY OF 2015, LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED, I NOTICED THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS SCREECHING WHEN IN MOTION LIKE A BELT IN THE ENGINE WOULD. I TOOK IT TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY MADE ME AWARE THAT THE CALIPER HAD LOCKED UP AND NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED & REPAIRED ALONG WITH A BRAND NEW ROTOR. I FIGURED THIS WAS JUST A ONE TIME ISSUE, UNTIL JUST THIS MONTH (FEBRUARY OF 2016) LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER REPAIRING THE CALIPER AND BRAKE SYSTEM IN THE LEFT REAR TIRE, A STRONG BURNING SMELL WAS APPEARING PERIODICALLY FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AFTER ANY DRIVE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SAME HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHO MADE ME AWARE THAT THE CALIPER WAS NOW LOCKED UP IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AND REPAIRED. IN BOTH CIRCUMSTANCES I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE OFF THEIR LOT AND HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR TO LEAVE THE CAR FOR REPAIRS. I DID MY RESEARCH... APPARENTLY THIS SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR HAS GIVEN LOTS OF PEOPLE THE SAME ISSUES.. BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND IN BOTH CIRCUMSTANCES I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH MY CAR SEAT AGED TODDLER IN THE BACK SEAT. PLEASE HELP ME GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS!!
Structure, Feb 17, 2016
PAINT IS BLISTERED & PEELING OFF IN BIG CHUNKS. PRIMARILY THE HOOD, ROOF & TRUCK. VEHICLE IS PEARL WHITE IN COLOR
Structure, Feb 16, 2016
THE PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING OFF MY CAR FOR OVER A YEAR EXPOSING THE BARE METAL. THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT USE ANY PRIMER ON THE CAR, SO WHEN I APPLY TOUCH UP PAINT, IT WON'T STICK. HOW ARE THEY ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS? IT'S A FINANCIAL DISASTER FOR CONSUMERS. I SAW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE ABOUT THE PEELING PAINT YET THE COMPANY STILL GETS AWAY WITH DOING NOTHING.
Service brakes, Feb 16, 2016
I HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING THEY WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT. I HAVE TO PRESS THE PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR TO TRY AND STOP THE CAR. MY CAR WAS REPAIRED IN SEPTEMBER 2015, NOVEMBER 2015, DECEMBER 2015 AND MY BRAKES WENT OUT AGAIN ON YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2016 WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD END UP BEING A DEADLY PROBLEM.
Suspension, Structure, Feb 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME, CONTROL ARM, SWAY BAR IN LINKS, AND THE REAR ASSIST ARMS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,600.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 28, 2016
ESC LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI. PREVIOUS RECALLS AND CURRENT RECALL ON SOME MODELS. I AM FILING A COMPLAINTS WITH NATIONAL SAFETY SO THAT A RECALL CAN BE EXTENDED TO MORE VEHICLES. HYUNDAI IS UNWILLING TO FIX THESE ISSUES WITHOUT A RECALL. WANT PEOPLE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
Service brakes, Jan 20, 2016
THE CAR HAS HAD FOUR REAR CALIPER FAILURES. THESE CALIPER FAILURES HAVE ALSO CONSUMED THREE SETS OF REAR BRAKE PADS AND TWO SETS OF REAR ROTORS. THE FAILURE APPEARS TO BE AN EXCESSIVE WEAR/SLOW TO RELEASE CONDITION THAT CREATES AN OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, WHICH HAS SYMPTOMS OF A BURNING SMELL FROM THE BRAKES AND THE RIM OF EACH WHEEL BEING FAR TOO HOT TO TOUCH. ONCE WE NOTICED THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, WE NOTICED THAT THE BURNING SMELL CAN START WITHIN ABOUT 1/2 MILE DRIVE.
Other or unspecified, Jan 16, 2016
SUN VISOR FELL DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR.
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.
Structure, Jan 6, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TO THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HANDLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Structure, Dec 28, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED MULTIPLE CRACKS ALONG THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 07/12/16*LJ UPDATED 08/03/16.*JB
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.
Visibility, Dec 9, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 56 MPH, THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,351.
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.
Electrical system, Seat belts, Nov 23, 2015
WHILE DRIIVING WITH THE SEAT BELT FASTENED....THE SEAT BELT LIGHT GOES OFF AND WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED...IT DOESNT ALWAYS STOP....OR CATCH THE LIGHT GOES OFF WHETHER THE SEAT BELT IS FASTENED OR NOT. TLOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE GOES ON AND OFF AT TIMES...HAD CHECKED AND THE REPLY WAS IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE.
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.