10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,222 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2009 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #45

Jul 202023

Sonata

  • miles

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

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.

- Abita Springs, LA, USA

problem #44

Nov 012022

Sonata

  • miles
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).

- Addison, IL, USA

problem #43

May 012022

Sonata

  • miles
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.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #42

Jun 152021

Sonata

  • miles

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

Dash pad directly above the passenger side airbag has cracked with an approximately 12 inch vertical long crack

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #41

Jul 152021

Sonata

  • miles
None of my lights on my dash has changed. Areas affected: Service Brakes, Hydraulics, and exterior lighting, Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to engaged the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. As mentioned in the recall from 4/1/13. 2nd recall For Suspension: control arm separation May suddenly changed the rear wheel alignment affecting the handling of the car increasing the risk of a crash. Another main common issue is The rusted out subframe, lower control arms, cam bolts, bushings, control arm, subframe, and sway bar. This is causing me to drive unstable and hold the steering wheel forcefully in order to remain straight.

- Flora, IL, USA

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problem #40

May 242021

Sonata

  • miles
All car systems flashed and car went completely dead. Nothing worked. First time it happened mechanic said alternator and battery had to be changed. A year and a half later exact same thing happened and again new mechanic says the alternator needs to be changed. BIG SAFETY ISUUE AS CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY WITH CARS GOING ALL AROUND ME TRYING TO AVOID ME. This is Second time the alternator has to be replaced with only 2000 miles on the car after the alternator was replaced the first time.

- Fairfield , CT, USA

problem #39

Nov 212020

Sonata

  • miles

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

The ignition locked, the key was unable to turn over. Thankfully, I was parked in a business establishments parking lot.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #38

Mar 032020

Sonata

  • miles
Please, I went to one of the vision Hyundai outlets to rectify some recalls on my Hyundai 2009 sonate. I was also informed by the mechanic that my subframe has holes and added that it calls for concern as a safety issue. Please, I do not have the $800 he said it would cost. I see that someother persons had complained in the past and made a clear strong standing to Hyundai Consumer Affairs that it is a safety issue and had their vehicles repaired at no cost to the owners. Bearing in mind that a subframe on a car should not be rusting out, I need your input to have this issued resolved.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #37

Jul 012019

Sonata

  • miles
My dashboard on passenger side of car started cracking last year. It is over the airbag so I now try not to put anyone in that seat or sit there myself. It started out as 1 crack and everyday there is more.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #36

Jan 192020

Sonata

  • 96,500 miles
Check engine light is on. Hecu internal failure. Active dtc present: C1237 primary pressure sensor signal. Sensor failure inside the ABS control cycle. Values at pressure sensor changed from 0.3 bar to 78.0 bar; no change in supply voltage. Supply voltage constantly at 14V. Hyundai has mentioned that there are no active recalls and that this part is life threatening if it fails - but since the warranty has expired they are shying away. Online there are several known issues with hyndai and hecu. Specially for models before 2009. Its hard to believe that Hyundai is not aware of this problem and seems like they are avoiding their responsibility and playing with human life. Would appreciate if the government can do something.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #35

May 012017

Sonata

  • 80,000 miles

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

My car has always been kept in garage. About 2 years ago I advised my dealer that cracks were developing on my dashboard. I was concerned because it is over airbags. I was told I would be responsible for repairs. I see other consumers with same model having same problems. I been retired last 3 years and have driven my car less than 5 thousand miles, car is kept in garage and the crack has now spread to driver's side of dashboard! I hope a recall occurs for this problem before an accident happens. I should not be responsible for safety defects in car!

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #34

Jul 092019

Sonata

  • 0 miles
The passenger side dashboard has two long cracks around or within the airbag area. Based on some google search, this appears to be a common problem in the Sonata. I have the single owner of this vehicle. There was major accident, and no front collision of this vehicle. The cracks apparently are due to poor rubber quality. The cracks have been noticed for roughly a week, though the exact date of its first appearnce is uncertain.

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #33

Jul 112019

Sonata

  • miles
My dash is cracking in two different places and 1 is close to the air bag and it concerns me if I get in car accident that my air bags deploy and afraid the whole dash will come off and it does not seem safe to

- Joplin, MO, USA

problem #32

Feb 022017

Sonata

  • 89,000 miles
Engine oil leaks since 2 years ago

- Latham, NY, USA

problem #31

Feb 192013

Sonata

  • miles
Severely cracked dashboard

- S Pasadena, FL, USA

problem #30

Jul 182016

Sonata

  • miles
I bought my car on July 18th 2016. That is the only time I have had a passing inspection sticker. The check engine light came on shortly after I drove off the lot. Over the past two years I have tried to get it fixed. The code is a P0442 code. I have brought it to 4 mechanics and they can not find the issue. We have changed the gas cap twice, done purge valves, and hoses. We also did 7 smoke tests and still can not find the issue. I still owe 7,000 on the vehicle and have been paying it but it's not drivable due to the rejection for the inspection. I know of 2 Hyundai Sonatas with the same problem. One being a 2006 and the other also a 2009. I keep looking to see if there is a recall but haven't found anything. I don't have any other options as far as what to do. Please help me if you can it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

- Plymouth, MA, USA

problem #29

Jan 012019

Sonata

  • 100,000 miles
The alarm will sound randomly while driving or parked. We are not sure what is going on. It happens dozens of times a day and alarms my teenage driver. The button is not pushed, nothing is touching the car. Just random. We want this fixed because it is a safety concern, especially when she is driving and the alarm goes off for no reason.

- Largo, FL, USA

problem #28

Dec 122018

Sonata

  • 40,000 miles
I bought the used car in the spring, it currently has 44,000 miles on it. When the weather got cold, it began to jerk violently at 20 mph when I decelerate. When I slow the vehicle it feels as if someone has hit me from behind. When making right hand turns I am concerned that the car will switch gears and lurch me into oncoming traffic. Items on my seat that are not secure are propelled to the floor. I will not let anyone else operate the vehicle because I feel that it would be very easy to lose control of the vehicle during the deceleration. I contacted Hyundai corporation- mistakenly told me it was under warranty and then recanted when they realized I was a second owner which only covers 5 years or 60,000. Hyundai representative states that this is not a safety issue, that there are no technical bulletins applying to my automobile. Refuses to fix it free of charge despite there being countless other complaints of the same nature on the NHTSA site.

- Eatontown, NJ, USA

problem #27

Nov 122018

Sonata

  • miles
Transmission shift down

- Commerce, TX, USA

problem #26

Sep 282018

Sonata

  • miles
I have been having trouble with the car starting intermittently over the last 6 months. The lights on the dashboard comes up but the car will not turn over. Previously I had to get a new starter on 10/29/2015 with 40524 miles on the car at this time; the 2009 Sonata was then about 6 years old; I paid $100 as it was just slightly over 5 year and the dealership said they would prorate it. I have been having similar problem with the vehicle again since January 2018 with the car starting/turning over intermittently; lights on dashboard comes up but car does not turn over. I took to dealer today and the car had 60925 miles on it, the dealership person stated they were 90-95% sure it was the starter but not 100% and estimated the cost for the new starter to be over $500. The dealership person said that the warranty on the starter put in on 10/29/2015 was 12 months/12000, and therefore no cost adjustment.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

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