2009 Hyundai Sonata Suspension 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 60 MPH, there was a loud popping sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact pulled over and inspected the vehicle. The contact became aware that the driver’s side front ball joint had detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an autobody shop to be repaired but the contact thought that there was a recall for the lower control arm ball joint that might have caused the failure. The vehicle was instead towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the driver’s side front ball joint needed to be replaced out of pocket. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

NHTSA ID

11440650

Incident

Oct 29, 2021

Mileage

58,000 mi

I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR ALIGNMENT. THEY SAID BOLTS RELATED TO REAR TIE RODS WERE RUSTED AND THEY COULD NOT DO IT. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND POSSIBLE REPAIR. HE SAID THE SAME. IN ADDITION HE ALSO SAID THAT THE STRUTS ARE LEAKING. I LOOKED INTO THE HISTORY OF MY VEHICLE, AS I BOUGHT IT USED 2 YEARS AGO. I FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED IN 2013 FOR SUSPENSION RELATED ISSUES. AND SOME 239000 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. I BELIEVE ITS THE SAME ISSUE WHICH HAS RESURFACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS PERFECTLY FINE OTHERWISE. BY THE WAY I HAVE A SALVAGE TITLE OF THE VEHICLE ON MY NAME IF THAT IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

11396823

Incident

Feb 17, 2021

Mileage

116,000 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

TAKATA RECALL. ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR. A DEER CAME OUT OF THE DITCH, MISSED THE DEER. MY DAUGHTER SWERVED INTO THE DITCH AND LAUNCHED OVER A GRAVEL ROAD AND DID A NOSE DIVE INTO A BEAN FIELD. CRASHING THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS TOTALED.

NHTSA ID

11246698

Incident

Aug 20, 2019

Mileage

10 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

VEHICLE SWAYS OUT OF CONTROL WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP OR MAKE A TURN. TOOK IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY DID AN INSPECTION AND DROVE IT AND SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. I ASKED THEM TO DRIVE IT AGAIN WITH ME IN IT AND THEN THEY INSPECTED IT AGAIN AND SAID THAT HE REAR SUB FRAME IS RUSTED OUT. THE CAR HAS NO OUTWARD SIGNS OF RUST, BUT APPARENTLY THE SUBFRAMES ON HYUNDAIS ARE KNOWN FOR THIS.

NHTSA ID

11161157

Incident

Dec 11, 2018

REAR CONTROL ARM COMPONENTS ARE FAULTY AND REQUIRE $2K IN REPLACING ENTIRE CONTROL ARM COMPONENT. HYUNDAI STATES IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER #113 DUE TO CURRENTLY NOT BEING REGISTERED IN A "SALT STATE" HOWEVER RECALL IS EXACT ISSUE AS CURRENT ISSUE WITH MY CAR. PROBLEM WAS RECENTLY IDENTIFIED AFTER MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE SHOP TO DETERMINE ISSUE WITH THE CAR. CAR HAS ISSUE WITH CONTROL, BRAKING AND SHAKING WHILE IN TRANSIT AS WELL AS A BURNING SMELL FROM THE REAR END.

NHTSA ID

11143815

Incident

Oct 20, 2018

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE OF A FAMILY MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,200.

NHTSA ID

11103993

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

146,200 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10824785

Incident

Feb 6, 2016

Mileage

43,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,900.

NHTSA ID

10637646

Incident

Jul 19, 2013

Mileage

41,900 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

PASSENGER REAR UPPER SHOCK TOWER WAS FILLED WITH(VERY RUSTY) WATER FROM HOLE IN A THE WHEEL WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583465

Incident

Apr 17, 2014

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V354000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING ABNORMALLY AND WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ID

10552938

Incident

Nov 5, 2013

Mileage

59,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS AQUA PLANNING, THE DRIVER LOST A COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS BOUNCING BETWEEN ROAD SIDES, LEFT AND RIGHT - 3 TIMES. THE CAR HIT THE GATE RAILS 3 TIMES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS CAME OUT AND THE SEAT BELTS APPEARED NOT TO BE LOCKED AT THE MOMENT OF ACCIDENT. AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER'S BODY MOVED FREELY IN THE CAR AND HIT THE LEFT RIB AND INTERNAL ORGANS, AND HIT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FACE, INCLUDING CHEEK BONE AND NOSE. THE PASSENGER'S FACE WAS SEVERELY BRUISED AND SWOLLEN. BESIDES, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAD A WHIPLASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525883

Incident

Jun 30, 2013

Mileage

72,000 mi

IN SPITE OF FOLLOWING MANUFACTURERS GUIDELINES FOR TIRE INFLATION AND FOLLOWING PROPER ROTATION TIMETABLES AND HAVING THE CAR ALIGNED THIS CAR EATS TIRES. I HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES 5 DIFFERENT TIMES IN LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. I PURCHASE PREMIUM, NAME BRAND TIRES WITH A MILEAGE RATING OF 60,000 MILES. IN 2011 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ALIGNMENT AT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. THEY INFORMED ME THAT "ALL LOWER CONTROL ARMS, CAM BOLTS AND BUSHINGS SEIZED DUE TO RUST; CAN'T ALIGN PROPERLY. I HAD A PLATINUM EXTENDED 100,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY THROUGH HYUNDAI. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO ADVISE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE ADJUSTER CAME AND INSPECTED AND "EXTENDED WARRANTY DENIED COVERAGE AS RUST WAS THE CAUSE, THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS." THE DEALERSHIP ARGUED THAT THIS IS THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE US AND WE HAVE SNOW AND THE ROADS ARE SALTED IN THE WINTER. DEALERSHIP FELT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED AND TRIED AGAIN BUT COVERAGE DENIED. AS THE OWNER I CALLED THE ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WAS ALSO DENIED. BECAUSE CORRECT ALIGNMENT IS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO RUST ISSUES THERE IS A HANDLING/STABILITY PROBLEM IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED FROM RUSTED ALIGNMENT COMPONENTS. I HAVE FOLLOWED PROPER SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE BUT DUE TO THE PROPENSITY OF RUSTING THIS HYUNDAI SONATA HAS DETERIORATED WORSE THAN COMPARABLE AUTOMOBILES THEREFORE CAUSING A SAFETY CONCERN AND A RESULTING LOSS OF VALUE. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THIS CAR IS EXPOSED TO NORTHERN SALTED ROADS MINIMALLY. I LEAVE THE NORTH THE FIRST OF JANUARY AND HEAD SOUTH AND RETURN IN EARLY APRIL AND HAVE DONE SO FOR THE PAST 3 WINTERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505494

Incident

Nov 3, 2011

Mileage

76,771 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE CONTACT HEARD A VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN BECOME UNSTABLE AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL WITH FORCE IN ORDER FOR IT TO REMAIN STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT AXLE HAD BECOME EXTREMELY LOOSE. THE DEALER VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,603 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,578.

NHTSA ID

10450104

Incident

Feb 5, 2012

Mileage

55,603 mi

HYUNDAI SONATA 2009 LIMITED FRONT LOUD THUD NOISE WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS AND WHEN TURNING RIGHT. THE THUD NOISE IS ONLY FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT STRUT. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE. IS A PRETTY OBVIOUS NOISE. DEALER REPLACED RIGHT STRUT AND INSULATOR AND THE NOISE CONTINUES. DEALER SAY THEY CANNOT JUST CHANGE OUT PARTS UNLESS THEY FIND A PROBLEM. CAR ACTS LIKE THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS COMING APART WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. PROBLEMS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART ON THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING AND WHILE GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10392655

Incident

Sep 1, 2010

Mileage

20,000 mi

COMPLAINED ABOUT SUSPENSION TO DEALER ON MY 2009 (11500 MILES) WHEN PURCHASED (11/01/2010) THEY SAID IT WAS OK. BROUGHT THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER WITH COMPLAINT ON SUSPENSION AND ROAD NOISE FROM BUMPS IN ROAD. THE TEST DRIVE REVEALED A LINK ON THE SWAY BAR WAS REPLACED. NO IMPROVEMENT IN NOISE FROM BUMPS. THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL. STILL NOT HAPPY WITH EITHER OF THE DEALER TESTS AND REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10382900

Incident

Jan 18, 2011

Mileage

12,500 mi

BAD PULL TO THE LEFT REPLCE FRONT STRUT,SPRING NOISES WHILE DRIVEING,TIRES FEATHERING,NO STABILITY WHILE DRIVING,ANY KIND OF BUMPS YOU ARE ALL OVER THE ROAD,SHIMMY IN STEERING WHEEL,WITH TWO PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT THE CAR LIFTS UP IN FRONT AND STABILITY WHILE DRIVING IS EVEN WORSE.THIS HAS BEEN OCCURING SINCE IT WAS NEW,EASY TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE,REPLACED RF STRUT,BALANCED TIRES ,NUMEROUS TIMES ON THE ALIGNMENT RACK,DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES ALL TIRES FEATHERING BUT SAY THEY CANT FIX IT

NHTSA ID

10323448

Incident

Oct 16, 2008

Mileage

1,100 mi

STRUT NOISE SOUNDS LIKE WORE OUT ON NEW 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS. FEAR THEY MAY BRAKE AND CAUSE ME TO HAVE A WRECK. LOUD NOISE OVER BUMPS UNDER CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284731

Incident

Jul 29, 2009

Mileage

1,259 mi

2009 HYUNDAI SONATA SOUNDS LIKE IT NEEDS NEW SHOCKS/STRUTS RIGHT OFF THE CAR LOT NOTICED AS SOON AS WE DROVE IT HOME FROM SIGNING THE PAPERS - LESS THAN 20 MILES ON IT TECH SAID MANY HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME THING BUT NO FIX HE TOLD ME TO COMPLAIN TO HYUNDAI CALLED AND THEY SAID SORRY THAT'S THE WAY THEY ARE THAT ITS OPERATING AS DESIGNED - JUST RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2002 SONATA - SUSPENSION IS FAULTY MUST BE REPLACED SAFETY HAZARD - WISH I HAD KNOWN BEFORE I BOUGHT THE 2009. REGRET PURCHASE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10278582

Incident

Apr 4, 2009

Mileage

20 mi

2009 HYUNDAI SONATA SOUNDS LIKE IT NEEDS NEW SHOCKS/STRUTS RIGHT OFF THE LOT CAR HAS LESS THAN 300 MILES ON IT WENT TO DEALER THE SERVICE TECH SAID MANY HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME THING BUT NO FIX HE TOLD ME TO COMPLAIN TO HYUNDAI CALLED AND THEY SAID SORRY THAT'S THE WAY THEY ARE THAT ITS OPERATING AS DESIGNED THIS WILL BE MY LAST HYUNDAI. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256944

Incident

Jan 19, 2008

Mileage

50 mi

LOUD NOISE OVER BUMPS. SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245002

Incident

Oct 9, 2008

I BOUGHT A NEW 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED- I TOOK IT THE HYUNDAI SERVICE IN YONKERS NY TO TEST DRIVE MY NEW CAR . IT SEEMED TO ME THE CAR HAD BAD FRONT SHOCKS ABSORBERS. AFTER BEING DRIVEN BY ONE OF THEIR SERVICE MEN HE AGREED THAT SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG. I WAS TOLD TO BRING BACK THE CAR WHEN THE NEW SHOCKS ARRIVE. THE MANAGER AND HIS SERVICE MEN WERE VERY COURTEOUS TO ME AND HANDLED THE SITUATION VERY PROFESSIONALLY. UNTIL THE TIME THE NEW SHOCKS ARRIVE I WILL NOT USE THE CAR, BECAUSE I CONSIDER IT A DANGER ON THE ROAD. I'M HOPING THAT WILL BE THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237499

Incident

Aug 6, 2008

Mileage

200 mi