10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,872 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Hyundai Sonata body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2009 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #30

Aug 232022

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #29

Aug 312020

Sonata

  • 168,200 miles
As I tried to open my passenger front side door this morning I pulled the handle off. The portion of the handle that connects into the latch mechanism had snapped off in the door. I would just take it in and get it fixed, but this is the third time I have had this exact problem, having lost the passenger rear handle earlier this summer and the driver's front about a year and a half ago. I can only conclude there must be a distinct defect with the construction on the doors of this model, and searching around the internet I've found a handful of other people who have had the same issue with their Sonatas.

- Cayce, SC, USA

problem #28

Mar 102020

Sonata

  • 163,881 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the driver's side front door was unable to be opened from inside the vehicle. The contacted rolled the window down and unlocked the door using the outside door handle. The vehicle was taken to key Hyundai located at (4660-100 southside boulevard, jacksonville, fl 32216 (904) 642-6060) where the technician inspected the door and determined that the door handle clip fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 163,881.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #27

Aug 202019

Sonata

  • 10 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Pine Island, MN, USA

problem #26

May 282019

Sonata

  • 72,115 miles
Passenger door handle fell off or broke off while opening door strong smell of gas only after filling car up with gas and small puddle under rear gas tank after sitting all night only happens if tank is more then 3/4 filled

- Westerly, RI, USA

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problem #25

Jul 012017

Sonata

  • 125,000 miles
Exterior door handles break when opening the door to enter the car while the car was parked. Currently the front passenger side exterior handle and the rear passenger side handle has broken.

- Dunstable, MA, USA

problem #24

Dec 022018

Sonata

  • 89,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Passenger exterior door handle fell off. Vehicle was parked when went to open door handle broke off in my hand. Had to open door from inside. Checked google understand this is ongoing problem with Hyundai models. Many complaints.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #23

Jul 012018

Sonata

  • miles
Takata recall the dashboard is serverly cracking over the air bag an across the dashboard. Started in July and getting worst. I never been in an accident the body of the car is in good condition for its age. Mileage is due to highway driving.( I do not know how the airbag is setup in dashboard but there two long crack about 10 TO12 inches apart from the windshield to the glove compartment and now another one about 8 inches coming from the side of that going across the dashboard.)

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #22

Dec 012015

Sonata

  • miles
The entire dashboard is cracked in many places. These are deep cracks and more are occurring. Hyundai should replace the entire dashboard.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #21

Oct 252016

Sonata

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. While the vehicle was stationary, the dashboard fractured directly above the passenger's air bag. Wallace automotive in stuart, Florida 34997 was made aware of the failure and took pictures of the dashboard. At the request of Hyundai, the dealer did not perform a repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Hobe Sound, FL, USA

problem #20

Nov 012012

Sonata

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The paint began to come off on the front of my car 3-4 years ago. Finally took it to Hyundai complaining that it must be a defect since: 1) no accidents, 2) do not park under pecan trees, 3) no hail damage. There was no reason for the paint to come off to the point that the hood had almost started to rust through. Cost me $597.80 to have it stripped, repainted, etc.

- Tallassee, AL, USA

problem #19

Feb 232016

Sonata

  • 124,000 miles
The door handle came of the back door, I have never known the door handle to just come off the door of a car.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #18

Mar 082016

Sonata

  • 150,000 miles
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.

- Merritt Island, FL, USA

problem #17

Aug 012013

Sonata

  • 60,000 miles
Paint is blistered & peeling off in big chunks. Primarily the hood, roof & truck. Vehicle is pearl white in color

- Brick, NJ, USA

problem #16

Jan 012015

Sonata

  • 25,000 miles
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.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #15

Feb 062016

Sonata

  • 43,600 miles
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.

- Charolette, NC, USA

problem #14

Aug 032015

Sonata

  • 121,000 miles
Hyundai Sonata 2009 red warning light for passenger seal belt stays lit even if no ones setting there or only a purse, or no one setting ther. So I have to put seal belt into lock even when no one setting there. So I have to fasten seat belt all the time. When driving car all the time have to keep it fastened. Also window electric switch on driver side most times doesn't function properly. Then deal sold me it a few months ago. I opened door cover to see if it was a switch problem & there was 2/12 inches of dried dirt in bottom of door panel. Dealer large one in san antonio, tx, at used lot say it is normal. I seem to think it might have been flooded in water he say no way it normal. Sure jokes on me now purchased as is dummy me, in limbo in tx. Car paint is starting to chip as well with deep open scratches weird every wash seems to make it worse looking.

- Marble Falls, TX, USA

problem #13

Apr 012015

Sonata 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact noticed that the front passenger side dashboard exhibited severe cracks near the air bag housing the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000. Updated 11/23/15 updated 1/14/2016 updated 02/03/17 updated 04/07/17

- Delray Beach , FL, USA

problem #12

Jan 032015

Sonata

  • 69,000 miles
We came home from a short trip and noticed that the paint on the hood of our car had peeled off in a few spots. Some spots larger than others. The grey primer is showing now and we have a white car. Why is paint peeling off of an 09 Hyundai? should not be happening!!!

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #11

Jan 112015

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 31,186 miles
The drivers side interior door handle is made of artificial "chrome". a few days ago, I opened the door and got a severely lacerated finger which bled a lot. I wrote to Hyundai about my injury. They sympathized, but said the car was out of warranty. As my vehicle only has 31,186 miles on it and is housed in my garage, I did not expect to be injured by a defective door handle on a pristinely maintained vehicle. This is a known issue, as I have found hundreds of posts on the internet about injuries from this handle. NHTSA has previously issued a recall for earlier model Hyundai's with this same problem. Here is one of the many quotes that I found.... "Hyundai is recalling 91,000 Sonatas because the chrome plating on the upper edge of the interior handle may wear, "causing cracking or separation between the chrome plating on the inboard and outboard surfaces of the handle." NHTSA says the sharp edge can cause "laceration injuries to anyone using the door handle." Please let me know what can be done before more people are injured by this defect. Thanks so much! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Warrenton, VA, USA

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