2009 Hyundai ELANTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 10291175 · 2009-11-05 (November 5, 2009)
2009 ELANTRA GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK UNDER FLOOR MAT. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291175 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 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 10319873 · 2010-03-15 (March 15, 2010)
HYUNDAI IS EQUIPPING THESE ELANTRAS WITH SOLUS TIRES WHICH ARE VERY SUBSTANDARD ALL WEATHER TIRES FOR TRACTION. TIRES CONSTANTLY SLIDE AND LOOSE CONTACT WITH ROAD SURFACE ON WET, DRY SANDY AND SNOW COVERED PAVEMENT, CONSTANTLY CAUSING THE ABS BRAKES TO ENGAGE, AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER ACROSS ROAD SURFACE. IT IS AT IT'S WORST IN ANY KIND OF SNOW EVEN AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH. CAR ALMOST WENT OFF ROADWAY SEVERAL TIMES DURING SNOW WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 5 & 15 MPH. COMPLAINED TO DEALER WHERE CAR PURCHASED AND THEY COULD NOT CARE LESS! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326932 · 2010-04-21 (April 21, 2010)
COULDN'T STOP IN TIME TO AVOID REAREND COLLISION MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA 09 AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ,THE FRONT CLIP WAS TOTALED. HYUNDI SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR MY INJURIES WHICH IS SEVERE NECK AND BACK PAIN. I NEED SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO PROCEED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10326932 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V143000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Reported: 2011-03-15 (March 15, 2011)
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2008. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS IN THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A WEIGHT SENSOR DESIGNED TO DEACTIVATE THE RIGHT FRONTAL AIRBAG WHEN OCCUPANTS OF CERTAIN WEIGHTS OCCUPY THE SEAT. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE, BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE CONNECTOR COULD BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MALFUNCTION SUCH THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT.
Consequence: THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY IN CRASHES IN WHICH IT SHOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONNECTOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTING TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
NHTSA campaign record ↗13V113000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V100000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2015-02-23 (February 23, 2015)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. The electronic power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.
Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V061000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Reported: 2020-02-04 (February 4, 2020)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
Consequence: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.
NHTSA campaign record ↗