10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,060 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

Feb 042021

Sonata

  • 142,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while his son was attempting to park at the car wash, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated causing the vehicle to jump the parking barrier hitting the vacuum machine. No injuries were sustained however the vacuum machine was damaged along with the front bumper was cracked and scratched. The manufacturer was notified and the vehicle was inspected at rick case (180 satellite blvd duluth ga, 30096) where no failure was determined. The failure mileage was 142,000.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #28

Nov 202019

Sonata

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. While reversing, the vehicle violently accelerated and struck a light pole. The contact shifted into drive and the vehicle accelerated again. The contact mentioned that the tires were spinning. After several attempts, the contact shifted into park and the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was restarted and drove normally. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000. The VIN was unknown.

- Tween Lakes, WI, USA

problem #27

May 122019

Sonata

  • miles
Stalls randomly and intermittently anytime and at any speed without warning. It happens while cruising on a freeway or stopped on a light.

- Columbia Heights, MN, USA

problem #26

Feb 012019

Sonata

  • 81,000 miles

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

The contact owned a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 10-15 mph and making a left turn, the vehicle independently accelerated to approximately 50-60 mph. The vehicle crashed into a telephone pole. The air bag deployed. The contact sustained two broken legs, a broken ankle, and several broken ribs, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact was extracted from the vehicle using the jaws of life. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and provided case number: 15535396. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.

- Hackensack, NJ, USA

problem #25

Jul 062018

Sonata

  • 61,000 miles
While driving the ESC and check engine light comes then it will only let me 'coast' about 5mph.

- Chipley, FL, USA

problem #24

Oct 082016

Sonata

  • miles
On 10/08/2009 my 209 Hyundai Sonata went into an unintended acceleration. As soon as I put the car into drive it began to accelerate. The brakes did not work and I was able to shift into neutral. I was on a narrow dirt road with little limited options as to where to steer the vehicle. I missed a boulder, garage, and tree before hitting the side of a house. The ambulance was called and I was transported to the local emergency room. I had a concussion, fractured knee along with a number of bruises and abrasions. The emts told me how lucky if was since the air bags did not deploy.. an internet search, including your website, notes these problems going back several years. Toyota had the same problem and did a recall. My injuries will exceed the limit of my insurance and I will have to purchase a car. I know how lucky I was to walk away. I am sure others had more serious injuries and higher expenses. What does it take to force Hyundai to do the right thing?

- Topsham, ME, USA

problem #23

Sep 012016

Sonata

  • 115,000 miles

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

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.

- Fairfield, CT, USA

problem #22

May 042016

Sonata

  • miles
I was at the gas pump trying to ease up to get closer so the nozzle could reach my tank. In the process of easing up the car took off forward, causing the door to close my leg in the door almost causing me to loose my leg. The accelerator got stuck.

- Flomaton, AL, USA

problem #21

May 042016

Sonata

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. While pulling into a fuel station, the vehicle accelerated independently. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.

- Slomaton, AL, USA

problem #20

Jun 152015

Sonata 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. While parking, the vehicle accelerated in reverse. The contact attempted to apply the brakes, but the vehicle kept accelerating. The contact crashed into the vehicle in its rear. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000. MA 08/05/2015 updated 9/24/2015

- Staten Island , NY, USA

problem #19

Jul 292014

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 67,000 miles

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

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: 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.

- Somerset, NJ, USA

problem #18

Jan 042014

Sonata

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the shifter became stuck in park. The contact was able to shift into drive however, the vehicle then abnormally accelerated and caused the contact to crash into a wall. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer to have repairs under NHTSA campaign I.D. 13V113000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic) however, the dealer stated that the recall defect could have caused the vehicle to accelerate. The failure mileage was 65,000.

- Hillsboro, OR, USA

problem #17

Dec 262013

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 41,500 miles
ESC off light comes on a few minutes after starting the vehicle. Resets after vehicle is shut off only to come back on a few minutes later. Additional sometimes cruise cannot be turned on and under no circumstances will engage with ESC off light on.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #16

Sep 102012

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 62,000 miles
Basically it appears that I'm having the same brake switch issue common with many Hyundai. However, currently the '09 Sonata is not covered under any recall. The problem began at least a year ago when the ESC off light would turn on at random times. It would normally clear upon turning the car off. A few days ago the ESC off light would not turn off. Today I could not shift into park from drive. After searching the internet I quickly found the brake switch issue. I confirmed that my brake lights were not functional. This is something occurs with absolutely no warning which is a bit scary since I drive home on a major highway. I'm not sure how long the brake lights had been out. I also noticed that the cruise control stopped functioning when the ESC off light became permanent. However, for some reason it started working again when the shift lock problem occurred. Odd. Not sure why an additional issue would make the speed control functional again.

- Bow, NH, USA

problem #15

Jun 122013

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
Some times when starting the car with my foot on the brake the rpms go up to about 1200 and then down to 800 rpms. When my foot is removed from the brake the car wants to accelerate and go on its own often. While stoped at a stop sign or stoped with my foot on the brake the car will lurch forward when released, some times spinning the tires. It is progressively getting worse after returning from a 5000 mile trip in June, 2013. The car purchased new and has a automatic transmission with aprox. 65000 miles total on the car. This is a accident waiting to happen and should have a recall.

- Big Lake, MN, USA

problem #14

Jun 052013

Sonata

  • 99,827 miles
While driving home, I braked to turn into my neighborhood and was almost rear ended. My friend whom was following me stated that my rear brakes did not come on when I brake. I attempted to park my vehicle and I could not put the car into park but only neutral, nor could I shut off the vehicle. The key would not turn to shut off the vehicle. I had drive the car to a friends garage, place the car into neutral, detach the battery in order to have the vehicle shut off.

- Clinton, MD, USA

problem #13

Feb 082013

Sonata

  • 63,214 miles
I was driving the Sonata when all of a sudden the car lost its force and wouldn't move. While stuck in the middle of the street I was pushing the gas peddle but the car would not go. The ESC off light came on, and the check engine light as well. I powered the car off and turned it back on but the car still did not have a lot of force, but enough to get to a nearby parking lot. I left the car off in a parking lot for about 5 min and turned it back on. The ESC light turned off, but not the check engine. There have been similar problems where its a switch in the brake peddle but that should not make the entire car shut off. I took it to my dealership since I just bought the car 2 weeks ago and now I'm waiting for diagnostics to come back.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #12

Dec 312012

Sonata

  • 33,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while sitting at a traffic light with the brakes engaged, the vehicle lunged forward in acceleration. The contact stated that in order to stop the vehicle, she shifted into neutral and turned off the vehicle. Once the vehicle was restarted it resumed normal function. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 33,000 and the current mileage was 33,200.

- Niskayuna, NY, USA

problem #11

Sep 232012

Sonata

  • 21,956 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, he attempted to brake but the vehicle continued to increase speed up to 50 mph. The contact mentioned that the engine revved, but did not brake. The contact stated that he stopped and put vehicle in neutral, then to drive gear. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 21,956.

- Howard Beach , NY, USA

problem #10

Jun 292012

Sonata

  • 94,782 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that as he started his vehicle with the brakes engaged, he shifted to reverse and the vehicle accelerated suddenly without warning. The contact crashed into a telephone pole. He then shifted into drive with the brakes still depressed when the vehicle rapidly accelerated again and crashed into a concrete wall. The contact sustained whiplash to the neck. The police were notified and a police report was filed. There were extensive damages to the rear and front bumper of the vehicle but the vehicle was not destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the acceleration issue and a representative was sent to further inspect the failure. After the inspection, the representative advised that the vehicle was operating as normal and no failures were found. The failure mileage was 94,782.

- Lowville, NY, USA

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