There are 14 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2009 Hyundai Elantrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owned a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that on one occasion when the vehicle was turned on, the brake and ABS warning lights illuminated. On another occasion, while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied for approximately 5 days, there was smoke coming from the front of the hood of the vehicle. The department extinguished the fire and a fire report was filed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard where it was deemed totaled by the insurance company. A dealer was contacted and confirmed there were no recalls associated to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at their home, the engine of the vehicle caught on fire. The fire was extinguished by the Horry County Fire Rescue Station. A fire report was filed but not provided to the contact The contact stated that no injuries occurred, and no police report was filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V061000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to repair was unavailable. The vehicle was currently at the contact's residence. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but was unable to confirm when the part was to become available. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Premature brake failure due to rusted parts. In April 2022 the front brakes seized at 105,717 miles, ruining the rotors. I skidded to a stop at a busy intersection and had the car towed. The front brake pads had aprox 20,000 miles on them and had recently been checked for safety. The rear brakes failed at 109,540 miles after a rusty caliper seized. Calipers, rotors and pads were replaced. Undercoating and rustproofing had been applied to this car at 76,988 miles.
ABS HECU unit has failed, thus posing a safety risk. All brake lights (ABS and warming brake lights), in addition to Check Engine light are illuminated on dash. Faulty relay recall was taken care of in timely manner (recall 188), but now fires are starting in other vehicles due to failed HECU unit (which dealership and independent mechanic has confirmed that I have). More recalls for earlier Hyundai years need to be included in recall 218 or a new recall implemented to avoid cars catching fire due to failed HECU (my car has not caught fire as of the time of this report).
The contact owned a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked she was notified that there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that flames were coming from under the hood and the fire department was called to extinguish the fire. The fire department report was filed. The contact stated that prior to the failure the ABS and brake warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that he could not determine why the brake light was illuminated but advised that the failure could be related to a wire. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic who was unable to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the independent mechanic advised her that the vehicle was safe to drive. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The contact researched the failure online and related the failure NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V061000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated that she did not receive a recall notice. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the fire department. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
I WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL FOR THE ABS BREAKS STATING THAT THERE COULD BE A SHORT CIRCUIT ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CALLED HYUNDAI IN LATE JULY 2020, SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR A BROKEN WINDOW AND RECALL. UPON LEAVING THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. IT IS NOW OCTOBER 15, 2020 AND THE PART HAS STILL NOT ARRIVED. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THEY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 20 PEOPLE WAITING FOR THIS PART AND THEY HAVE ONLY RECEIVED 5 PARTS. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 3 MONTHS. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS DONE EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN BUT HYUNDAI IS LAGGING. I REALLY HOPE THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY CAR DOESN'T CATCH FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE REPORTED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V061000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER DUE TO THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.*DT *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS SON HAD THE VEHICLE PARKED IN A GARAGE, HE SMELT SMOKE AS FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS SON WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH NO INJURIES BEFORE IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED RECENTLY RECEIVED EMAIL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V061000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT SWERVED INTO THE SHOULDER LANE, TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY HANDBRAKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AND CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE, AND STOPPED IN AN EMBANKMENT IN A HEAVY BRUSH WOODED AREA. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DETERMINATION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA CASE #11488507. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,587. *TT UPDATED 01/31/18*JB
I WAS DRIVING DOWN HE ROAD ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR AND MY BAKES WENT OUT I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN SLOW MOVING AREA WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. IF I HAD BEEN IN THE FREEWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. DEALER SHOWED ME AND EXPLAINED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HYUNDAI HAD PUT A PLASTIC COVER OVER THE BRAKE LINE. AFTER YEARS OF SALT AND WINTER WEATHER THE ENCLOSURE OF THIS BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTING AWAY UNKNOWINGLY. MOISTURE, WET AND WINTER ELIMINATES WERE TRAPPED WITHIN THIS PLASTIC COVER CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO RUST. THE CAR IS NOW 8 YEARS OLD SO IT TOOK 8 YEARS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I FEAR THERE ARE MANY CARS IN THIS SITUATION AND THE DRIVERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THE BRAKE LINE BROKE AT THE RUSTED AREA AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE LOSS OF MY BRAKES. THE DEALER PERMANENTLY REMOVED THE PLASTIC COVER AND SEALED THE BRAKE LINE. THIS COVER SHOULD NOT BE COVERING THE BRAKE LINE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURERS INTENTIONS WERE GOOD, BUT THIS WAS NOT A GOOD WAY TO PROTECT THE BAKE LINE FOR THOSE WHO LIVE INCLEMENT WINTER WEATHER. NOT ONLY WAS I AT RISK AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE A FATAL SITUATION FOR OTHERS. THIS REPAIR ALSO COST ME $400.00. PLEASE DO SOMETHING THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY COST, BUT THIS WAS A TERRIFYING SITUATION. I WAS ALSO VERY FORTUNATE THAT THERE WERE NO CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND I WAS MOVING SLOWLY. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. I DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO UPLOAD THE INVOICE FROM THE DEALER, BUT WILL BE HAPPY TO MAIL THIS TO YOU.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN THE SNOW OR ICY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE A FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,416. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.
WINTER OF 2009 I NOTICED THAT BRAKES ON MY 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WOULD LOCK UP AND NOT WORK WHENEVER DRIVING ON LOOSE WET SNOW. THE CAR WOULD JUST SLIDE AS IF ON ICE AND THERE WOULD BE NO FEELING AS OF PADS ON STEEL FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. TOOK CAR INTO FAIRFAX HYUNDAI IN FAIRFAX, VA. THEY INSPECTED BRAKES AND DEEMED THAT NOTHING WAS BROKEN. HOWEVER THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE SAME SNOW CONDITIONS. VEHICLE'S BRAKES WORK FINE WHEN SNOW IS PLOWED AND COMPACTED. ON 16 DECEMBER 2010 WE HAD SIMILAR SNOWFALL AND VEHICLE BEHAVED THE SAME DANGEROUS WAY. THIS TIME HOWEVER I WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE BRAKES OF SNOW BY RAPIDLY STOMPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL I COULD FEEL PAD ON STEEL AND STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SLIDING. HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO TAKE VEHICLE IN TO FAIRFAX HYUNDAI SINCE THEY FOUND NOTHING LAST YEAR. HAVE SENT NOTIFICATION, HOWEVER, TO HYUNDAI USA AND TO CONSUMER REPORTS. I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE HURT BY THIS BRAKE FAILURE IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. AT THE LEAST DRIVERS SHOULD BE ALERTED THAT THEY CAN STOP THE VEHICLE BY RAPIDLY STOMPING ON THE BRAKES TO CLEAR THE SNOW THAT SEEMS TO BUILD UP BETWEEN THE PADS AND THE ROTORS. *TR
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
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the steering wheel was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the failure only occurred while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 23,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026