2009 Hyundai Sonata Owner Complaints

My 2009 Hyundai Sonata was taken to the Hyundai of Lincolnwood dealership on May 19th. The certified technician formally diagnosed severe structural corrosion on both front and rear subframes (engine cradles), declaring the vehicle completely unsafe to drive. The dealership is withholding the vehicle under safety custody but refuses to provide a loaner or rental car. Hyundai Motor America states the replacement parts are on indefinite backorder with no ETA, leaving me stranded with no safe alternative transportation since May 19th. This severe structural corrosion poses an imminent risk of suspension failure while driving

NHTSA ID

11742084

Incident

May 19, 2026

Passenger seat belt doesn’t click in. Miss fire Poor acceleration Exhaust leak Power lost Mechanic can’t find the problem Check engine light on

NHTSA ID

11715187

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

Once the car gets slowed down and reaches 20 mph of speed by applying the brake or not. It gives a sudden jerk, which causes immediate reduction in speed.

NHTSA ID

11714094

Incident

Jan 28, 2026

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

Oil Leak on Alternator Engine leaking oil from the front cylinder bank’s valve cover or from the valve cover’s gasket onto the alternator. An unknown amount of oil damaged the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven with a disabled charging system, the engine can shut off, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA ID

11684677

Incident

Aug 23, 2025

Engine leaking oil from the front cylinder bank’s valve cover or leaking from the valve cover’s gasket onto the alternator. A sufficient amount of oil could damage the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven with a disabled charging system, the engine can shut off, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA ID

11684675

Incident

Sep 18, 2019

The contact owned a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle was turning the corner. It was unknown if any warning lights were illuminated. As a result, the vehicle was T-boned by a vehicle that was turning the corner, then crashed and the vehicle came to a stop at an unknown location. Most of the impact was received from the front passenger side. The other divers speed was unknown. None of the air bags deployed. The contact suffered injuries to the head and the lungs when she impacted the steering wheel. The contact was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. The contact's daughter was in a coma and had brain trauma and a punctured lung. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The other vehicle owner was injured as well, the extent of his injuries was unknown. There was no property damage. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11645548

Incident

Feb 19, 2025

Mileage

140,000 mi

Excessively cracked dashboard. The entire dash in my 2009 Hyundai Sonata is cracked and a replacement has been denied by Hyundai USA. A cracked dashboard could cause reduced structural integrity. The dashboard is a structural component designed to help absorb and distribute some of the forces in a collision. Cracks can compromise this ability to perform this function potentially increasing the force experienced by the occupants and the and other parts of the vehicle. It can also cause increased risk of debris and shrapnel. During a collision the cracked dashboard may break apart more easily causing sharp or jagged pieces to become projectiles inside of the cabin these fragments can pose a serious injury risk to occupants. It can also result in an impaired airbag deployment. Many vehicles have airbags in the dashboard a severely cracked dashboard could obstruct or improperly deploy airbags for example the air bag may not fully deploy reducing its effectiveness and the dashboard may puncture or otherwise interfere with the airbag as it inflates creating additional safety hazards. Cracks may expose sharp edges or materials under the dashboard which could harm occupants during a collision, especially in areas where passengers may come into contact with the dashboard. A cracked dashboard could also cause a compromised electrical system dashboards house numerous electrical systems, sensors and controls cracks could indicate underlying damage to these components. In a collision these systems may fail or behave unpredictably which could further reduce safety features. Cracked dashboards present a significant risk during a collision and should be addressed by the manufacturer promptly to ensure its customer safety.

NHTSA ID

11632686

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel suddenly became stiff and failed to turn in either direction. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that an appointment was scheduled with the dealer to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V426000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

NHTSA ID

11630061

Incident

Dec 10, 2024

Mileage

151,000 mi

5/18/24 in the afternoon, driving the car on freeway. the car lost power. AC stopped. Heat and check engine lights came on. Pulled car to shoulder. Driver’s window was foggy. Smoke coming from front. Exited the car. Flames seen underneath front of car and passenger compartment. Smoke worsened and within minutes 10 foot high flames engulfed the car. Fire department had to extinguish the flames. And California Highway Patrol blocked off several lanes. The vehicle totally was incinerated. I filed a police report number 240518LA2144. I do not have the report yet. It is not ready. It was filed with the California highway patrol.

NHTSA ID

11591384

Incident

May 18, 2024

Vehicle sat in driveway for one week while on cruise. The day of return the sonata caught on fire without any person touching the car for one week. Brother who’s house it was at was woken by neighbors at 7sm. Home had minor damage, but it could of been bad if it was in someone’s garage. Fire started in engine and console. Fire department could not find out a reason. Car was totaled. Had to rent a car to get home that was 2 hours away. Never had an issue with this vehicle in the 12 years I owned it.

NHTSA ID

11573193

Incident

Feb 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. After calling AAA, the technician determined the vehicle had run out of gasoline however, the instrument panel was reading a half tank. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the instrument panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 184,500.

NHTSA ID

11543818

Incident

Jun 30, 2023

Mileage

184,500 mi

I see that the manufacturer has an "Open Service Campaign" on their Sonata's shark fins. I've taken mine to the local dealership and they want a min. $700 to replace the shark fin. It just came off somewhere (a couple of years ago) and, now, my car has to be jumped off if I let it sit more than two days. I have had it inspected by the dealer and an individual garage. No one would tell me what was draining my battery. I am a senior citizen and fear I will get stranded on the road somewhere. The missing fin lets water into my car, soaking the carpets, etc. Finally, it was suggested that the car cover I keep on it touches the exposed fin components and that's what was draining my battery. It seems that the manufacturer was aware enough of this faulty part to want to prevent complaints by voluntarily replacing problematic parts (thus the service campaign). And, there are a lot of videos on YouTube from DIY folks who've suffered through replacing the shark fins (many different models) themselves. It seems, however, the manufacturer only notified dealers with said "open service campaign," not the public, as in a proper Recall process. That way, they get to make more money off the public when the part falls off? Please advise how one might get the dealers to do the right thing. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11533647

Incident

Jul 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that in February 2022 there was an unknown recall campaign for the Stop Lamp Switch replacement and the recall repair was completed. The contact stated that the failure ha reoccurred, and the warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.

NHTSA ID

11528831

Incident

Jun 23, 2023

Mileage

146,000 mi

Valve cover gasket leaks and oil leaks on to the alternator which can cause the alternator to fail and the battery to not maintain a charge and the car can stall and then not start. This is the same exact problem problem that is in your recall on 2007-2012 Veracruz Recall number 20V705000 & 14V415000 And 2007-2009 Santa Fe vehicles have the same issue and Service Campaign 936 SB-10058931-4495 (TSB# 15-01-031).

NHTSA ID

11513832

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side front wheel was seized due to a malfunctioning yaw sensor. The ESC warning light was illuminated. The contact deactivated the traction control to prevent the failure from recurring. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and sent the contact a gift card for a diagnostic test. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

NHTSA ID

11506438

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

Mileage

175,000 mi

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The contact pushed the vehicle to the side of the road with the assistance of her father. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the local dealer. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The fuel pump was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer then diagnosed that the gasoline needed to be pumped out. The repair was completed; however, the failure recurred. The battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer for 3 months. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The dealer stated the car needs a new engine.

NHTSA ID

11498291

Incident

Sep 18, 2022

Mileage

140,000 mi

Passenger outside door handle fell off a couple years ago. Today the internal mechanism for the driver's side door broke so door will not open from the inside.

NHTSA ID

11480841

Incident

Aug 23, 2022

We purchased this vehicle used 9/2022. A week later it began to jump upon accelerating and slowing down. We took it in and they said it was the power train control module and our warranty would not cover it. So it would cost us around $1600. We can’t afford that. We have only driven it a few times since. We were parked in front of a curb and the car accelerated us into a curb. Now, the ESC OFF, ABS, and engine light are illuminated. This is not a. It also wear and tear issues, as I’ve seen many others posting similar experiences. Our car is an ‘09 with almost 90,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11472208

Incident

Sep 30, 2021

The sunroof detached from the vehicle at highway speed. The sunroof was not open or otherwise in operation when it detached. A mechanic concluded that the adhesive holding the glass to the sun roof assembly failed. The sunroof assembly was completely intact after the incident and did not appear to be damaged.

NHTSA ID

11469299

Incident

Jun 13, 2022

My door handles are breaking off. I was climbing in and out from my passenger seat..now my passenger and rear passenger door handles have broken off in the same day. I have no way in my vehicle now except through the window that I had to take off track to slide down to crawl in and out..im in a loss for words. This is humiliating.

NHTSA ID

11465890

Incident

May 1, 2022

Car was making a loud ticking noise while running and increased when accelerating. Also would shut off while accelerating. Auto shop ran a diagnostic and said there is a rod bearing failure.

NHTSA ID

11452289

Incident

Feb 10, 2022

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while his grandson was holding the inside rear driver's side door handle to exit the vehicle, the door handle cut his hand and he started bleeding abundantly. The contact and other family members were able to provide first aid to his grandson. The contact also stated that while holding the inside front passenger's side door handle to exit the vehicle, the door handle cut his hand. The contact immediately sought medical assistance at the nearest pharmacy. The contact stated that the vehicle door handles shining coating had peeled off and the remaining part of the coating had curled up and formed sharp blades. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that all four door handles needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they would send out a field technician to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer followed up and inquired for his signature so they could proceed with the inspection of his vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11452281

Incident

Jun 16, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was jump-started and driven to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 193,000.

NHTSA ID

11445306

Incident

Dec 14, 2021

Mileage

193,000 mi