2.4

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,423 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 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2009 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #22

Apr 012013

Sonata

  • 68,000 miles

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

In April 2013 my rear brakes had to be replaced for inspection. The right rear side was down to nothing, it was rubbing bare metal to bare metal, brakes again rotors. The left side was also more worn than it should have been, but not as bad as the right side. In July 2013 the same issue happened again. The right rear side was rubbing metal to metal, brakes against rotor. The left side was fine. The brakes parts (caliper) were working appropriately. In October 2013 the right rear brakes began squealing and approximately 2 weeks after the squealing began it started making the same grinding noise as it did the previous times and the brakes had to be replaced again. This time, the caliper also had to be replaced. My rear brakes have had to be replaced three times in 8 months.

- Jeannette, PA, USA

problem #21

Apr 182013

Sonata

  • 37,778 miles
I had to replace the rear brake pads and rotors. The rotors were warped from the pads constantly rubbing on them. Clearly there is a problem here with the number of complaints I see. My mechanic could not believe the damage done to the rotors and told me the front brakes usually wear first. I have also had the vehicle in twice for the rough done shifting that occurs when the vehicle is cold. The dealership reprogrammed the transmission both times but that did not solve the problem. I also had a problem with the ESC light staying on but the dealership replaced the rear wheel speed sensor.

- Ashtabula, OH, USA

problem #20

Nov 012011

Sonata

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the ESC warning light illuminated intermittently. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number 13V113000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was not available.

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #19

Sep 012013

Sonata

  • 139,400 miles

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

My ESC and air bag malfunction lights are illuminated and my brakes mal-functions. Recall campaign 110 recalls the brake light switch on some of these cars but not on my year and model. I am suggesting that the recall may need to be expanded to include the 2009 Sonata since the switches seem to malfunction in that make/model/year as well.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #18

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 #17

Jul 062009

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 50 miles
Erratic shifting. Sometimes lurches forward into a higher gear when coming to a stop, nearly causing me to hit car ahead of me. Also front brake rotors are warped causing rumble. I am an exceptionally conservative driver, mildly accelerates and brakes gradually well ahead of stopping. I had the computer upgrade that was supposed to correct the transmission problem shortly after purchasing car at suresky in goshen, NY. This failed to correct problem and I don't have the time nor want to continually spend my saturdays sitting for hours in the service area waiting room. I have read many similar complaints online and it seems that Hyundai chooses not to address this problem. This is my third and will be the last Hyundai purchase.

- Greenwood Lake, NY, USA

problem #16

Jun 012012

Sonata

  • 95,000 miles

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

Right rear brake makes pulsating rattle sound. Seems to happen more after several miles of driving in warm, dry weather. Technicians can't find permanent cure but it did go away for awhile after the rotor was resurfaced. However, the noise has returned. This is the same wheel on which several thousand miles ago the caliper seized causing me to have to replace the entire brake on that wheel. The rattling sound has been going on for a long time, and the mileage I entered for this complaint is a sheer guess.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #15

Aug 132013

Sonata

  • 69,200 miles
The rear calipers mounting bracket is holding the brakes way to tightly to the rotors so they are constantly being applied. The only way to prevent this from happening is to manually grind down the sides of the brakes to make them fit properly. I found this out when I changed my brakes before a long car ride (approx 4 hours). The brakes were holding the car back and throwing off my alignment. Bought vehicle with 49000 miles with new brakes. Replaced them at 68200. Currently has 69200 and I have to replace the brakes again because the hot friction completely ruined the brakes. My wife is pregnant and I do not feel safe knowing my brakes might burn out at some point and fail.

- Montgomery, NY, USA

problem #14

Aug 122013

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 58,488 miles
Rear brake calipers are locking up causing premature excessive wear of the rear brakes. This is undetectable in the drivability of the car until the brake pads are worn so low that they make noise.

- Plymouth, MN, USA

problem #13

Jul 162013

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 43,000 miles
Heard squealing and howling from the rear driver side. Took to dealership and was told that the brakes hung up and I needed to replace brakes and rotor ($189). I was told that this is a maintenance issue and nothing was covered under warranty. I purchased the items and when they were going to be replaced we discovered the dust boot was pulled out of the caliper (which would have been covered under warranty) I contacted the dealer and was told that every 7000 miles the calipers would need rebuilt. I've been driving and grew up around garages and never heard of such a thing!

- Shippensburg, PA, USA

problem #12

Jul 112013

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 68,500 miles

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

Driving on the interstate, 'ESC off' light came on; at the same time, the cruise control quit working and I noticed that the brake lights all quit working at the same time.

- Orange Park, FL, USA

problem #11

May 022013

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
ESC light constantly on no brakes lights.

- Danbury, CT, USA

problem #10

Aug 032012

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 137,218 miles
During vehicle operation, several people passed me and made various hand signals and gestures (profane, specifically), as I apparently had lost functionality of my brake lights during my journey home from work. With no indication on the operator console to alert the operator that this had occurred, I did not realize that the brake lights were not functioning until I had arrived to my home (barely averting 2-3 rear end collisions along the way). When I pulled into my drive way and attempted to shift the car from drive (D) to park (P), I was unable to advance the shifter passed reverse (R). I had to place the vehicle in neutral (N) and engage the handbrake. I retrieved a flathead screwdriver to engage the shift lock on the shift console and placed the vehicle into park (P). After learning of this issue, I took the vehicle to the nearest dealership, who advised me that the brake switch was faulty and needed to be replaced. I paid to have it replaced. A short time later, I saw the press release from Hyundai that several vehicles were being recalled because of this exact issue, though, after contacting the dealership and Hyundai direct, I learned that my vehicle was not part of their campaign. As a degreed mechanical engineer, I maintain that this issue should be part of the recall and consider this to be a design fault of the vehicle. If I had been rear ended, I could have been met by a lawsuit (not to mentioned sustained an injury) because of not functioning brake lights. I've made several contacts with Hyundai and they will not budge on their stance that this is a design issue. There must either be a fail safe to ensure that the brake lights are functional or, at the very least, an alarm on the operator console alerting the driver that the brake switch has stopped functioning. I am very appalled with Hyundai's behavior and response to this issue.

- Columbiana, OH, USA

problem #9

Jan 022011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 31,300 miles
Heard squealing and grinding coming from rear brakes.replaced pads and lubricated pins, now 6/2013 hear the same noise again and this time premature wear of the pads and rotors are warped and falling apart. Also lug nuts are rusted and swollen (this at 45000) just under 14000 after last replacement. I will be taking it to a certified mechanic so the dealership cannot triple charge for work and tell me it is my fault. We'll see how long this repair lasts. Also had the car in for bouncing in the front...had tires rotated and rebalanced and still does it periodically the dealer said nothing wrong with the front end.

- Attica, NY, USA

problem #8

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 #7

Feb 042013

Sonata

  • 52,000 miles
The right rear brake pad was worn down paper thin and caused the rotor to be scored. After the rotor and pads where replaced the same passenger read wheel began to burn and caused a very pungent order. Large amounts of brake dust also began to collect on the wheel. This same problem has already been reported by others.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #6

Dec 262012

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
Heard noise from brakes and thought it was front pads.changed front pads but it did not solve problem. Took back tires off to check brakes and much to my surprise there was hardly any pads left. Changed pads and that stopped the noise only to have to bring my car in for service do to the fact that the calipers were not releasing. They kept the car for 2 days and said that calipers were bad. They had to put new brakes on(mine were only on a week) turn the rotors and said my brake fluid was contaminated. 10 yr 100000 mile warranty plus bought extended warranty and I still had to pay for something they call normal wear. Nothing normal about that!also wanted to drain old brake fluid and charge $129.99 for something they had to do when they put new calipers on any way by bleeding the lines. Then to charge $110 to turn the rotors. I argued and everyone I talked to said this is guide lines we have to follow. I cant believe there is not a recall on this.I am not the only one that has complained about back brakes causing problems on Sonatas. They do not cover parts from normal wear if calipers didn't malfunction I wouldn't have had to have anything done to my car. They deny, deny, deny until someone gets killed. Could be another Toyota ordeal!

- Lansing , IL, USA

problem #5

Jan 042013

Sonata

  • 62,300 miles
I purchased my 2009 Sonata in March of 2012 at the local Hyundai dealership, with about 44K on it. Everything was checked off and confirmed as in good working order. A history report showed the brakes being replaced last at 41K miles. I took my car in for its 60K checkup and have been told the rear brakes are shot, and everything needs to be replaced...pads, calipers, rotors, etc. It hadn't made a grinding noise or anything at that point, so I decided to take it to a certified mechanic I usually go to. He confirmed everything and said all told the repair is going to cost me roughly $800!!! he also told me it was a big issue they see only on Hyundai's, and that there is no way the rear brakes should ever go before the front brakes need to be replaced because there is so much force that is needed to brake the front of the car compared to the rear. So did research and find out that this is a huge problem with these vehicles. I am not looking forward to replacing my entire rear brake system every 15-20K miles. I will be filing a formal complain with Hyundai as well...my hope is if they want to keep their customers, they will do something about this all too common issue!

- Hartford, WI, USA

problem #4

Oct 252012

Sonata

  • 65,000 miles
I had my rear brakes and rotors replaces in February 2012 at around 60K miles. In October 2012 again my car felt like it was dragging and I heard the tell tale squealing of the brakes so I took it back to the repair shop to be told my rear brakes and rotors again were worn out and chewed through, and no that my calipers had seized and I would need to pay yet again to have this issue repaired. The mechanic made a comment that the only time he'd ever seen this before was from young people doing "power slides" on their cars, something I would never do (I am 28 years old). Upon research I find this is a well documented problem when searching online for break problems with this car for model years 2006-2010, enough that there is even a class action lawsuit in New York. Hyundai needs to recall and repair these vehicles as well as reimburse for the expense of fixing these up until they issue the recall.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #3

Aug 092012

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 43,939 miles
Was driving and noticed a burning smell in the car. Stopped and could find anything wrong. So we drove home, at maybe 15 miles from home we noticed a scraping sound. And could not drive any further, being late at night we called a friend who has a tow truck and is mechanic. Told us the brake pads were worn and was scraping metal to metal.he towed us home for $25 when we got home we called roadside service they towed it napleton Hyundai in calumet city ill we purchased the car from, family hynudai 8101 w 159th St tinley park ill the vehicle was a used trade in with 39,736 miles purchase date was 2/18/2012. Upon inspection at napleton Hyundai we were told that the left rear brake pad had hung up in holder and that we needed to replace it and rotor. The right pads were fine and hardly any wear at all we were told the warranty does not cover that. Why should one side go bad and not the other. Unless there is a defect some where.

- Riverdale, IL, USA

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