2009 Hyundai ELANTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
252 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 185 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 130 of 252 complaints (51.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 127 | 50.4% |
| Braking behavior | 44 | 17.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 130 |
| Air Bags | 40 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Service Brakes | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
Steering: 130; Air Bags: 40; Electrical System: 23; Service Brakes: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Engine: 13; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 10; Unknown Or Other: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 35 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 46 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 40 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 46; 100,000 to 149,999: 40; 150,000 and above: 10
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 23 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2009: 3; 2010: 11; 2011: 10; 2012: 8; 2013: 19; 2014: 22; 2015: 26; 2016: 21; 2017: 10; 2018: 23; 2019: 23; 2020: 11; 2021: 14; 2022: 14; 2023: 13; 2024: 14; 2025: 3; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 127 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10289117 · 2009-10-20 (October 20, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT INVOLVED FIVE VEHICLES. HER VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT WHICH CAUSED HER VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT AS WELL. SHE STATED THAT THE CRASH WAS NOT A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THAT IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM WHEN HER CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT COULD NOT RECALL IF OTHER DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289117 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10344706 · 2010-07-22 (July 22, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPS LIGHT AND THE ETS LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24454.
Owner-reported narrative. 24,454 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10299954 · 2010-01-16 (January 16, 2010)
I WAS DRIVING A NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER BACK AND FORTH. I WAS WAITING FOR THE ABS TO DO WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO , IT THEN PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER TWICE. MY HEAD HIT THE ROOF TWICE MY NECK AND BACK WERE TWISTED, MY LEFT ARM AND SHOULDER WERE TWISTED AND KNEES HIT THE DASH I BELIEVE. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP THERE WAS GLASS EVERYWHERE INCLUDING ALL OVER ME. THIS CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS AND SIDE AIR BAG CURTAINS. NONE OF THESE SAFET…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310796 · 2010-02-16 (February 16, 2010)
WHEN THERE IS SNOWFALL AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED,THERE IS A HORRENDOUS GRINDING SOUND-BRAKES LOCK UP,WILL NOT WORK AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL INTERSECTIONS,AND ALMOST INTO PARKED CARS,ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STREET POLES. THANKFULLY NO PEDESTRIANS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10406398 · 2011-06-08 (June 8, 2011)
PANIC ALARM ENGAGES ON ITS OWN (WHILE PARKED) IN DRIVEWAY OR WORK PARKING LOT. CHECKED ALL DOORS, HOOD, TRUNK TO ENSURE THEY WERE CLOSED. HAS NOT HAPPENED WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. WHEN USING KEY FOB(MANUF SUPPLIED) PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. PRESS LOCK DR BUTTON(30-40 MIN LATER) ALARM SOUNDS,PRESS UNLOCK BUTTON(40-60 MIN LATER) ALARM SOUNDS OR DOES NOT COME ON AGAIN. PRESS LOCK BUTTON TO SECURE CAR, DOORS CLICK TWICE BUT ALARM ENGAGEMENT SOUND OR LIGHT VERIFICATION DOES NOT HAPPEN. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM SO I AM SURE IF TAKEN TO DEALER IT WILL NOT H…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10406398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10507155 · 2013-04-04 (April 4, 2013)
CAR ALARM ACTIVATES AT RANDOM WHEN PARKED, INCESSANT NOISE AND WORK PROBLEM. CAR GEAR STUCK-STOP LAMP SWITCH REPAIRED-LATER RECALL, CD MALFUNCTION-ATE DISC, DOOR SENSOR INDICATOR LIGHTS STUCK ON, BATTERY DIES DESPITE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REVEALING NO PROBLEMS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10311308 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)
2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA BRAND NEW BOUGHT. 1. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT ON 'PARKING' ON A HILL, IT SLIPS BACK ABOUT COUPLE OF FEET. IT SEEM LIKE GEARS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY (NOT IN POSITION) BECAUSE I FELT AND HEARD CLICKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE GEARS SLIPPING BY NOT BEING IN CORRECT POSITION. 2. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT QUITE OFTEN WHEN IT'S PARKED ON A HILL. ABOUT 1-2 TIMES A WEEK. WHEN IT HAPPENS AND I TRY TO SEE IF IT REPEATS, BY GOING BACK AND FORTH THE CAR AND PUT ON PARKING AGAIN, IT DOES NOT SEEM TO REPEAT. 3. I HAVEN'T DON…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10444848 · 2012-01-23 (January 23, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION. UPON RESTART, THE CONTACT REGAINED STEERING AND MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILU…
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10281582 · 2009-08-24 (August 24, 2009)
FUEL INJECTION AND COMPUTER FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 5,600 MILES. CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10595478 · 2014-06-02 (June 2, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE A TROUBLE CODE WAS DETECTED. THE POWER STEERING SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,384.
Owner-reported narrative. 79,384 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595478 at NHTSA ↗