2009 Hyundai Sonata Brakes Problems

Brakes seize up while driving and then cannot move the vehicle. This causes a dangerous situation while driving and then breaks lock up and cannot move car even though vehicle is on and then stopped for a stop light. Car must then be turned off and sit for about 30 minutes so it can unseize and when that happens, you can then resume driving and then check engine light comes on. Brake lights were staying on even when vehicle is shut completely off. ABS and ESC lights stay on consistently and never turn off. Vehicle brake switch was replaced at Carolina Hyundai of high point, NC. So break lights have been repaired. They had to order the stop switch lamp replacement for recall as it was never done and will be fixed in next week. 3 door handles fell off and cannot open the rear driver side door at all. Window electric system won’t let windows go up and down and had to make a latch pull string to open driver door. Passenger door will not open at all and no handle and is a dangerous situation. Break switch not being replaced would have cause an electrical fire and is a complete dangerous vehicle even after being inspected less than a week ago

NHTSA ID

11709161

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Brake Calipers are getting stuck often damaging the rotors and pads. This happens even for new calipers and rotors that won't last more than one year after replacement. The parts were original from manufacturer. The rear and front brakes were randomly getting stuck on one wheel after a period of using brakes. This put the vehicle in danger of getting fire from overheating rotors or increasing the risk of a crash because of an unusable brake system. This incident has repeated over time from 2017 till 2025 inducing big spendings for fixing brakes

NHTSA ID

11684682

Incident

May 30, 2025

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud grinding noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be inspected. The contact later discovered that the dealer only did a visual inspection of the brake pads and rotors. The mechanic stated that there were metal shavings from the brake pads and that the contact should wash the wheels to clear the metal shavings. The wheels were washed as instructed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 181,000.

NHTSA ID

11438569

Incident

Sep 2, 2021

Mileage

181,000 mi

The problem as reported by so many others that the rear brake system has an inherent failure in the caliper/rotor/brake pads. I have vested nearly $2500.00 on the three for mentioned parts and labor over last 4 years. Between Midas and now a private mechanic have tried better lube on slide pins but the problem still persists. A little research states that the caliper piston doesn't retract from the rotors and in turn heating up the brake components to the point of failure. Some Law firms have stated the problem is a production flaw my problem with a system with this failure rate isn't recognized by the Hyundia. Calipers should simply last 80 to a 100 thousand miles under most driving conditions. Looking forward to your response. Kerry yakel

NHTSA ID

11425266

Incident

Jul 17, 2021

BRAKE LIGHT FAULTY IT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA ID

11378637

Incident

Oct 20, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

BRAKE PEDAL LIGHT FAULTY STAYS ON ALWAYS.

NHTSA ID

11378636

Incident

Oct 20, 2019

Mileage

168,000 mi

COMPLETE BREAK SYSTEM AS BEEN DONE AS WELL AS TIRES WITH ROTATIONS, HAVING TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTARS OFTEN. CONTINUES TO PULL HARD TO RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AND IS FAR FROM A SMOOTH RIDE. WHEN BREAKING THE CAR FEELS TO PULL FORWARD. THE EMERGENCY BREAK DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THIS FEELS LIKE A NEVER ENDING ISSUE. THE CAR SEEMS TO SIT LOW ON ONE SIDE, HAVE TO TAKE IT TO GET LOOKED AT.

NHTSA ID

11361574

Incident

Sep 27, 2020

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. HECU INTERNAL FAILURE. ACTIVE DTC PRESENT: C1237 PRIMARY PRESSURE SENSOR SIGNAL. SENSOR FAILURE INSIDE THE ABS CONTROL CYCLE. VALUES AT PRESSURE SENSOR CHANGED FROM 0.3 BAR TO 78.0 BAR; NO CHANGE IN SUPPLY VOLTAGE. SUPPLY VOLTAGE CONSTANTLY AT 14V. HYUNDAI HAS MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS AND THAT THIS PART IS LIFE THREATENING IF IT FAILS - BUT SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THEY ARE SHYING AWAY. ONLINE THERE ARE SEVERAL KNOWN ISSUES WITH HYNDAI AND HECU. SPECIALLY FOR MODELS BEFORE 2009. ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT HYUNDAI IS NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE AVOIDING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND PLAYING WITH HUMAN LIFE. WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO SOMETHING.

NHTSA ID

11301374

Incident

Jan 19, 2020

Mileage

96,500 mi

REAR END OF VEHICLE SWAYS AROUND AS IF DRIVING ON ICE. FEELS EXACTLY LIKE DESCRIPTIONS OF ISSUE WITH RECALL 13V354000. HYUNDAI SAYS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. EXCESSIVE PLAY IN REAR END, AND VERY NOTICEABLE BURNING SMELL COMING FROM REAR END AFTER DRIVING. CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF REAR BRAKES AND TIRES. HAS CAUSED REAR BRAKE HOSES TO FAIL. OCCASIONALLY BRAKE PEDAL SINKS TO FLOOR WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE FEELS AS IF A GUST OF WIND COULD SEND IT OFF THE ROAD. NEED TO DO A TON OF STEERING TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. FRONT END WAS ALIGNED 25,000 MILES AGO.

NHTSA ID

11228886

Incident

May 3, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

JERKING WHEN BRAKEING TO STOP OR WHEN SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN. TAKENSEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE BUT UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, NO EGINE LIGT HAS COME ON THEREFORE THEY CAN NOT REPAIR. PLEASE WE NEED YOUR HELP.

NHTSA ID

11205422

Incident

May 3, 2018

ISSUE 1 AT 29,476 MILES, 23 SEPT 2011. REAR BRAKES SEIZED DUE TO REAR CALIPER SLIDES STICKING. PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANT BY DEALER, BILL MARSH TRAVERSE CITY, MI . REPAIR ORDER 737578. ISSUE 2 REAR BRAKES NOISE AND WORN. 69,385 MILES. 29 MAY 14. REAR CALIPER PISTON SEIZED. NEW CALIPERS, PADS AND ROTORS. REPAIR ORDER 771872. ISSUE 3, REAR BRAKES NOISE AND HOT. 104, 051 MILES. 24 OCT 2017. RR CALIPER SEIZED. PADS, ROTORS BOTH SIDES REAR AND FRONT REPLACED. RIGHT REAR CALIPER REPLACED. BILL MARSH RO NO 427604. ISSUE 4 REAR BRAKES NOISE. TRAVERSE REAR CALIPER FAILED AGAIN. REAR ROTORS, PADS, AND RR CALIPER REPLACED. 28 FEB 2019. BILL MARSH HYUNDAI REPAIR ORDER 432896. 4 REPLACEMENTS OF RIGHTREAR BRAKE CALIPER , BRAKE PAD, AND ROTORS ARE EXCESSIVE AND ABNORMAL. THIS MODEL YEAR SONATA SHOULD BE ADDED TO RECALL FOR REAR BRAKES. MANY MORE COMPLAINTS OF PREMATURE REAR BRAKES FAILURE ARE NOTED ONLINE FOR MODEL YEARS 2009, 2010. BRAKES GET EXTREMELY HOT AND FUEL ECONOMY SUFFER GREATLY WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS.

NHTSA ID

11183287

Incident

Feb 27, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY BRAKE LIGHT STOP SWITCH BROKE INTO PIECES WITH NORMAL USE SO THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. MY FRONT BRAKE HOSE SPRUNG A FLUID LEAK THAT MADE THE BRAKES FULLY STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRIVE. THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE SPLIT AND CRACKED PREMATURELY CUASING THE BRALE FLUID TO EMPTY OUT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS EVENT HAPPENED DURING A DRIVE. MY ESC LIGHT IS ON BIG PROBBLEM IM ASSUMING. MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AS WELL BOTH INDICATE ARE OFF AND NON WORKING.

NHTSA ID

11113718

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

I OWN A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE OPERATING I NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN SPEED, COASTING, FUEL ECONOMY, AND BRAKING DISTANCE. UPON PARKING MY CAR I SMELLED BURNING BRAKES. AS I WALKED PAST THE DRIVER REAR TIRE I COULD FEEL THE HEAT RADIATING FROM THE TIRE. I DIDN'T DARE TOUCH THE RIM FOR FEAR IT WOULD BURN ME. DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A SEIZED REAR DRIVER BRAKE CALIPER PISTON. THIS CAUSED RUINED THE REAR BRAKES AND PUT UNDUE STRESS ON THE FRONT BRAKES. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM AS THEY HAD ALL BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH COVERED THE REAR CALIPER REPLACEMENT BUT NOTHING ELSE. BURNING THROUGH BRAKES IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVEN'T NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ID

10971671

Incident

Apr 3, 2017

Mileage

73,000 mi

STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT. ON 01/14/17 I HAD AN APPOINTMENT AT PLAZA HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 2700 NOSTRAND AVE, BROOKLYN NY 11210 TO REPLACE MY STOP LAMP SWITCH. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK AT THAT TIME. THE PART WAS ORDERED ON 01/14/2017 AND AS OF THIS WRITING (02/17/2017) THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE PART AND HAVE NO ESTIMATED TIME OR ARRIVAL ON THE PART. NO ONE EVEN NOTIFIED ME THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS NOT COMPLETED. I HAD TO COME BACK IN THE FOLLOWING DAY 01/15/2017 BECAUSE MY BREAK LIGHTS WERE NOT TURNING OFF. AT THAT TIME THEY ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE ME FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT I ADVISED THE MANAGER THAT I WAS THERE LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO TO ADDRESS THE STOP LAMP SWITCH, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSING THE ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME AT THAT TIME THAT THE PART WAS STILL ON ORDER. THEY REFUSE TO GIVE ME AN ETA. I CALLED HYUNDAI'S CORPORATE OFFICE, AND THEY COULD NOT GET AN ANSWER FROM PLAZA AUTO EITHER. THIS IS A SERIOUS RECALL AS IT EFFECTS MY ABILITY TO SIGNAL THAT I'M BREAKING. I WILL ATTEMPT TO GO TO ANOTHER SERVICE DEPARTMENT OR REMEDY MYSELF, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID

10955202

Incident

Jan 14, 2017

REAR BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE SEIZED AT LEAST 7 TIMES, CAUSING ME TO NEED TO REPLACE THEM. I'M AT 115,000 MILES AND HAVE HAD THE LEFT ONE SEIZE, DESTROYING THE ROTOR AND PAD 4 TIMES, AND THE RIGHT ONE SEIZE 3 TIMES (ONCE RECURRING WITHIN 15,000 MILES OF REPLACEMENT). THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT DIFFERENT SHOPS, BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING. FIRST TIME OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER 30,000 MILES. OCCURS EVERY 1-2 YEARS SINCE THEN. MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE IS NOW (CAR IS BEING REPAIRED THIS MORNING, LEFT REAR CALIPER/ROTOR/PAD). NOTICED MASSIVE SHIMMYING THIS TIME. PREVIOUS TIMES HAVE BEEN NOTICED FROM: GRINDING NOISE, CAR WON'T ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH (LOCKED IN ENGAGED BRAKE MODE THAT TIME), AND SEVERE BUCKING WHILE BEING DRIVEN.

NHTSA ID

10955007

Incident

Feb 15, 2017

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS PRESENT OUTSIDE THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CALIPER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER 7,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 05/17/17 *BF *CN

NHTSA ID

10936702

Incident

May 21, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS PRESENT OUTSIDE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A GRINDING NOISE WAS PRESENT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CALIPER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER 7,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10936675

Incident

May 21, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS NOT FUNCTIONING/BROKEN CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO STAY ON AND ESC BUTTON IS NOT FUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ID

10925557

Incident

Nov 10, 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

NHTSA ID

10918971

Incident

Oct 26, 2016

Mileage

107,217 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10915467

Incident

Oct 12, 2016

Mileage

5,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10915037

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10914932

Incident

Sep 30, 2016

Mileage

126,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10874148

Incident

May 16, 2016

Mileage

20,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10854193

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID

10839039

Incident

Feb 29, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi