2009 Hyundai Sonata Steering Problems

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

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

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

STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCKS UP FOR A SECOND OR 2 WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AROUND 15MPH THEN I WOULD HAVE TO LET MY FOOT OF THE GAS JUST TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO NORMAL. HAD THIS HAPPEN TOO MANY TIMES ALREADY. TRIED FIXING THE PROBLEM BY HAVING A MECHANIC SHOP CHANGE THE AXLES AND BUYING A NEW RACK N PINION AND TIRES AND GETTING A ALIMENT DONE IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. STEERING IS STILL GETS STIFF WHILE MAKING TURNS EVEN WITH ALL THE NEW PARTS ON THE CAR NOW

NHTSA ID

11414271

Incident

Feb 19, 2021

Mileage

153,523 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TURNING TO THE RIGHT WAS MORE DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA ID

11310306

Incident

Mar 15, 2019

Mileage

149,000 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

POWER STEERING GETS STIFF AND MAKES IT HARD TO TURN INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO CHARGE ME $145 JUST TO SAY NOTHING IS WRONG.

NHTSA ID

11186524

Incident

Feb 20, 2019

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY AND THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT DID NOT POWER OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT SLOWLY DROVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSSMEMBER WAS CORRODED AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL ALMOST DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SURESKY HYUNDAI (2 HATFIELD LN, GOSHEN, NY 10924, (845) 294-5177) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSSMEMBER WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *TT

NHTSA ID

11165582

Incident

Dec 23, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT ILLUMINATES FOR NO REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, NORMAL SURFACE STREETS, AND HAS OCCURRED WHILE BRAKING. POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY DURING TURNS WHILE ON CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAYS. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO TESTED THE POWER STEERING AND FOUND NO ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE PUMP IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE STEERING, WITH A RECALL ISSUED, ON 2008 AND 2011 SONATA MODELS, HOWEVER THE 2009 MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH. ON THOSE RECALLS THE COMPUTER CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE POWER STEERING CONTROL UNIT HAD BECOME DAMAGED AND MADE THE VEHICLE MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN POSSIBLY CAUSING A WRECK. STEERING ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING OVER THE YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11160973

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHEN STARTING THE CAR, ENGINE MAKES SCREECHING LOUD NOISES MOSTLY ON COLD CRANKS. THE IGNITION SWITCH BY PASSES THE ALT POSITION AND STARTS THE CAR. MAKES LOUD NOISE LIKE STARTER IS NOT RELEASING.

NHTSA ID

11142518

Incident

Oct 20, 2018

Mileage

1,716,152 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11047442

Incident

Apr 28, 2017

Mileage

68,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11025001

Incident

Sep 24, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11016242

Incident

Aug 17, 2017

Mileage

80,248 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11011552

Incident

Jul 25, 2017

STEERING IS LOCKING UP IN TURNS WHILE TURNING ON THE HIGHWAY! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! JUST CALLED DEALERSHIP & THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS HOWEVER IF YOU SEARCH STEERING PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET IT'S A VERY KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS! SOMETHING NEEDS DONE!

NHTSA ID

10993711

Incident

Jun 5, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF ON THE ESC NOT SURE WHY OR WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA ID

10903599

Incident

Aug 20, 2016

Mileage

89,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10896989

Incident

Aug 15, 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

NHTSA ID

10854770

Incident

Mar 7, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR I COULD NOT START MY CAR THE KEY SWITCH KEEPS LOCKING AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WHEN U ARE TRYING TO GET THE KEY OUT AND I WAS EVEN PUSHING ON THE BRAKE TO GET IT TO RELEASE THE LOCK IT TOOK FIVE MINUTES TO FINALLY TO GET THE KEY TO TURN TO START THE CAR. I HAVE HAD IT ONE DAY WHERE I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF AND THE KEY WAS STUCK IN IT AND THE DEALER SHIP COULD NOT EVEN GET THE CAR TO SHUT OFF OR GET THE KEY TO TURN IT WAS ALSO STUCK IN IT . I'M WORRIED ABOUT BEING SOMEWHERE WHERE I CAN'T START THE CAR OR THE KEY STUCK IN IT AND IT'S LOCKED UP ALL TOGETHER FOR GOOD I'VE HEARD THERE BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND IF IT'S GONNA BE FIXED OR NOT

NHTSA ID

10777877

Incident

Sep 24, 2015

THE STEERING GOES IN AND OUT OF POWER STEERING AT SLOW TO MEDIUM SPEEDS FROM AUG 2014 TO TODAY.

NHTSA ID

10721360

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILED TOTALLY ON 1/12/15--MANUAL HARD STEERING WORKED. IN SEPTEMBER I TOOK SONATA IN FOR STOP LIGHT RECALL AND ALSO HAD A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE. GOT 5 MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PROBLEM IN THE RECALL. I TOOK IT RIGHT BACK AND THEY SAID SOMETHING PROBABLY DIDN'T GET RESET AFTER THE ALIGNMENT. EVER SINCE THE POWER STEERING WAS VERY TIGHT AND SOMETIMES INTERMITTENT UNTIL THE CAR WAS WARMED UP. COMPUTER CHECK SHOWED NOTHING WRONG. WORKED WELL FOR ABOUT 4 WEEKS AND THEN POWER STEERING TOTALLY DISAPPEARED ON 1/12/15--CAR WAS TOWED TO HYUNDAI DEALER. DIAGNOSIS: COUPLER SEIZED UP--MAYBE CORROSION OR WEAR??? I HAD A TRULY PERFECT CAR WHEN I WENT FOR RECALL NOW I HAVE A HUGE REPAIR BILL. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS GARAGED CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE--SOMETHING DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT WITH THIS WHOLE SCENARIO. COULD THE ROT THAT IS REPORTED IN A SECOND RECALL OF THE REAR BE ALSO HAPPENING IN THE FRONT END? *TR

NHTSA ID

10672121

Incident

Jan 13, 2015

Mileage

33,000 mi

DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF RAIN, WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHERE OUR VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER STEERING AND OUR BATTERY LIGHT GOES ON DURING LOW SPEED OPERATION. . THERE WAS NO DEEP PUDDLES, JUST NORMAL RAIN ON STREETS. IN SOME CASES, TOTAL STALL AND OTHERS ENGINE SCREECHES AND RESTARTS. WITHOUT WARNING. FILED COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI AMERICA. TOOK TO DEALER. WAS ADVISED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR 2007-2009 HYUNDAI SONATAS. AND THERE WAS NO KNOWN FIX . HAD VEHICLE CHECKED. ADVISED ALL SPLASH GUARDS AND SHIELDS IN PLACE. COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AT DEALERSHIP. ONE SERVICE REP AT DEALERSHIP ADVISED HIS WIFE HAS SAME PROBLEM. ALL BELTS AND PULLEYS AND TENSION SPRINGS OK. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE RESPONSE WE HAVE RECEIVED AT HYUNDAI TO A "KNOWN " SAFETY PROBLEM. TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, FIVE(5) OCCASIONS HAVE OCCURRED. TOLD TO COME BACK WHEN IT RAINS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648543

Incident

Sep 11, 2012

Mileage

44,000 mi

MY STEERING AND BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. I HAD MY KIDS IN THE CAR AND LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED RIGHT BY MY HOUSE. NO TRAFFIC. EVEN THE SUSPENSION WAS AFFECTED.I IMMEDIATELY GOT KIDS OUT OF THE CAR AND CONTACTED MY INSURANCE TO TOW THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629691

Incident

Aug 30, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE ESC LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN MY VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS, CAUSING THE SHIFTER TO DOWNSHIFT INSTEAD OF KEEP MOVING THE CAR WHEN I PRESS THE GAS, AND THE GAS PEDAL BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE. THIS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE (I-78) TODAY, AND I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT IN THE MIDDLE LANE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM, AND IT SEEMS THERE WAS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS HYUNDAI MODELS, YET HYUNDAI HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE 2009 SONATA. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND COULD BE RELATED TO THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR OR A NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT BOTTOM LINE, IT CAUSES THE CAR TO BECOME UNRESPONSIVE WHILE IN MOTION, AND THE DRIVER NEEDS TO PULL OVER, SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND TURN IT ON AGAIN FOR IT TO MAYBE WORK, MAYBE NOT. THIS IS A HORRIBLE HEADACHE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND I AM SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY SONATA OWNER WITH THIS ISSUE. HERE IS EVIDENCE: HTTP://WWW.SONATAFORUMS.COM/FORUM/HYUNDAI-SONATA-ENGINE-TECHNICAL-DISCUSSION/1906-ESC-OFF-LIGHT-COMES-INTERMITTANTLY.HTML SO PLEASE GET IT DONE AND ISSUE A MUCH NEEDED RECALL FOR THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10617093

Incident

Jul 29, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

DRIVING CAR AND PULLED IN PARKING SPACE, PUT IN REVERSE TO TURN AROUND AND STEERING COLUMN WAS TOTALLY DISCONNECTED. THE STEERING WHEEL JUST WENT ROUND AND ROUND AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. HAD I NOT BEEN IN A PARKING LOT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FETAL CRASH IN THE 8 AM WORK TRAFFIC. I FIND ON THE CONSUMER REPORT WEB SITE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AS WELL. HOWEVER MY DEALER CHARGED ME FOR ALL THE REPAIRS AND A TOWING FEE. I HAVE NO FAITH IN THIS CAR ANYMORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10555052

Incident

Nov 25, 2013

Mileage

98,000 mi