NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Hyundai Sonata. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TRANSMISSION ISSUE: EXPERIENCING A HARSH DOWN SHIFT WHEN BRAKING. THIS RECALL IS ALREADY KNOW FOR THE 2011 MODEL IN WHICH HYUNDAI SAYS IT IS A TIMING ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY HAVE TO RESET IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN ITS REAR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. MA 08/05/2015 UPDATED 9/24/2015 *JS
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE SUN VISOR THAT WAS UP BROKE AND SWUNG DOWN ALMOST HITTING ME IN THE FACE. IT NO LONGER WILL STAY UP AS IT'S INTENDED AND SWINGS DOWN BLOCKING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING. IT'S A HAZARD AND ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE MANY OTHERS HAVE AS WELL.
HELLO, 2009 SONATA: THE ESC OFF LIGHT COMES ON. IF I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RE START, THE DASH LIGHT GOES OUT SOMETIMES; MAY RETURN THE NEXT TIME I START THE CAR. I HEARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THANK YOU. *TR
WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN DRIVE THE GEAR SHIFT DISPLAY WILL SHOW RANDOM GEARS. IT WILL CYCLE THROUGH ALL THE GEARS UNTIL YOU SELECT TO USE THE MANUAL SHIFT (+/-) TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE IN THE PROPER GEAR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE ON OTHERS CAR IN THE SONATA LINE UP JUST NOT THIS YEAR. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED. I AM TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE CAR DEALER TODAY TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED.
!) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR..SHOP SAID IT WAS A GAS CAP PROBLEM..BOUGHT NEW CAP, NOT FIXED..STILL ON 2) FILLING CAR UP WITH GAS....VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL...KNOB KEEPS SHUTTING OFF GAS FLOW....ONCE AGAIN SHOP HAS NO GOOD ANSWER...... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD EXHIBITED SEVERE CRACKS NEAR THE AIR BAG HOUSING THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 11/23/15*LJ UPDATED 1/14/2016*JS UPDATED 02/03/17*LJ UPDATED 04/07/17*JS *TR
I HAVE NOTICED MY PAINT ON MY HYUNDAI SONATA FOR 2009 HAS BEEN CHIPPING AWAY AND FLAKING OFF WHEN EVER IT RAINS AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AND IT'S A NEWER CAR AND I ALSO NOTICE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON GOING THROUGH THIS . THIS CAR GONNA LOOK UGLY WHEN ALL THE PAINT THAT'S CHIPPING OFF AND FLAKING OFF WHEN NOTHING BEEN HITTING THE CAR TO CAUSE THE PAINT TO FLAKE OFF AND IT'S A NEWER MODEL . SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT AND IT SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AT ALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S DOING THIS I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR NOW THIS IS NOT RIGHT. ALSO MY BUTTON FOR THE GAS DOOR QUIT WORKING ON THE SECOND DAY I GOT IT AND I ALSO NOTICE OTHER PEOPLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND I ALSO KNOW I HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT ALSO BEEN ADDRESSED TOO MY DOOR UNLOCKS WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND IT SHOULDN'T UNLOCK CAUSE I'LL BE SITTING THERE AND SOMEONE CAN JUST OPEN THE DOOR IF I WAS BEING HIJACKED AND IT SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT EITHER AND UNLOCKING WHEN U PUT THE CAR IN PARK THIS NEEDS FIXED FOR SAFETY REASONS TOO
AFTER VEHICLE ENGINE WAS RUNNING THE STARTER MOTOR ENGAGED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE PARKED THE SHIFT POSITION LEVER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION.THE STARTER MOTOR WILL ENGAGE ON IT'S OWN IN THE PARK POSITION AND IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE STATER MOTOR WILL ALSO ENGAGE AND CRANK THE THE VEHICLE ENGINE IN THE DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITIONS THIS SYMPTOM DEVELOPED LATER. I HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND HE SAID THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I CHECK FOR RECALL INFORMATION ONLINE AND FOUND NO REFERENCE TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKES ON THIS CAR AND THE DEALER CHARGED ME $550 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY A RECALL AS WITH SOME OF THE OTHER SONATA BRAKE PROBLEMS. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILED TOTALLY ON 1/12/15--MANUAL HARD STEERING WORKED. IN SEPTEMBER I TOOK SONATA IN FOR STOP LIGHT RECALL AND ALSO HAD A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE. GOT 5 MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PROBLEM IN THE RECALL. I TOOK IT RIGHT BACK AND THEY SAID SOMETHING PROBABLY DIDN'T GET RESET AFTER THE ALIGNMENT. EVER SINCE THE POWER STEERING WAS VERY TIGHT AND SOMETIMES INTERMITTENT UNTIL THE CAR WAS WARMED UP. COMPUTER CHECK SHOWED NOTHING WRONG. WORKED WELL FOR ABOUT 4 WEEKS AND THEN POWER STEERING TOTALLY DISAPPEARED ON 1/12/15--CAR WAS TOWED TO HYUNDAI DEALER. DIAGNOSIS: COUPLER SEIZED UP--MAYBE CORROSION OR WEAR??? I HAD A TRULY PERFECT CAR WHEN I WENT FOR RECALL NOW I HAVE A HUGE REPAIR BILL. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS GARAGED CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE--SOMETHING DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT WITH THIS WHOLE SCENARIO. COULD THE ROT THAT IS REPORTED IN A SECOND RECALL OF THE REAR BE ALSO HAPPENING IN THE FRONT END? *TR
THE DRIVERS SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS MADE OF ARTIFICIAL "CHROME". A FEW DAYS AGO, I OPENED THE DOOR AND GOT A SEVERELY LACERATED FINGER WHICH BLED A LOT. I WROTE TO HYUNDAI ABOUT MY INJURY. THEY SYMPATHIZED, BUT SAID THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. AS MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 31,186 MILES ON IT AND IS HOUSED IN MY GARAGE, I DID NOT EXPECT TO BE INJURED BY A DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLE ON A PRISTINELY MAINTAINED VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AS I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF POSTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT INJURIES FROM THIS HANDLE. NHTSA HAS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL HYUNDAI'S WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. HERE IS ONE OF THE MANY QUOTES THAT I FOUND.... "HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 91,000 SONATAS BECAUSE THE CHROME PLATING ON THE UPPER EDGE OF THE INTERIOR HANDLE MAY WEAR, "CAUSING CRACKING OR SEPARATION BETWEEN THE CHROME PLATING ON THE INBOARD AND OUTBOARD SURFACES OF THE HANDLE." NHTSA SAYS THE SHARP EDGE CAN CAUSE "LACERATION INJURIES TO ANYONE USING THE DOOR HANDLE." PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED BY THIS DEFECT. THANKS SO MUCH! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY CAR JERKS DURING BRAKING OR DOWNSHIFTING AROUND 15-20 MILE PER HOUR. IT ONLY DOES THIS AFTER CAR HAS SAT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND STOPS AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. MY SONATA IS AUTOMATIC.
THE CAR WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WARMING UP AND CAUGHT FIRE IT BURNED UP THE STARTER AND STARTER ASSEMBLY, THE BATTERY WIRE HARNESS AND THE MANIFOLD. ALL OF THIS HAS TO BE REPLACED BEFORE WE CAN ASSESS ANY OTHER DAMAGES OR RUN A DIAGNOSTIC. *TR
WE CAME HOME FROM A SHORT TRIP AND NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF OUR CAR HAD PEELED OFF IN A FEW SPOTS. SOME SPOTS LARGER THAN OTHERS. THE GREY PRIMER IS SHOWING NOW AND WE HAVE A WHITE CAR. *TR WHY IS PAINT PEELING OFF OF AN 09 HYUNDAI? SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING!!! *TR
AS I WAS TURNING THE CORNER FROM A STOP SIGN, (I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN WET ON THE ROAD THAT MORNING) I WAS NOT TURNING FAST/SHARP OR HARD; KINDA SLOW BECAUSE OF THE WET GROUND AND HOW THAT ROAD IS, I SLOWLY TURNED CORNER AND THEN THE LIGHT FLASHED ON AND I LOOKED AT MY DASH AND THEN SAW THAT THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I DROVE ABOUT ANOTHER 20 MINS TO WORK AND THE LIGHT NEVER WENT OUT. AFTER I GOT TO WORK, I CUT THE CAR OFF AND THE LIGHT WENT OUT, BUT LATER THAT EVENING WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK, IT CAME BACK ON AND HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE AND TODAY IS JAN. 13, 2015. SO IT HAS BEEN ON A LITTLE LESS THAN A WEEK NOW. NEED SOME IDEA ON WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO COME ON AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR
THE PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING OFF MY CAR FOR OVER A YEAR EXPOSING THE BARE METAL. THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT USE ANY PRIMER ON THE CAR, SO WHEN I APPLY TOUCH UP PAINT, IT WON'T STICK. HOW ARE THEY ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS? IT'S A FINANCIAL DISASTER FOR CONSUMERS. I SAW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE ABOUT THE PEELING PAINT YET THE COMPANY STILL GETS AWAY WITH DOING NOTHING.
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT ILLUMINATES FOR NO REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, NORMAL SURFACE STREETS, AND HAS OCCURRED WHILE BRAKING. POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY DURING TURNS WHILE ON CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAYS. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO TESTED THE POWER STEERING AND FOUND NO ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE PUMP IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE STEERING, WITH A RECALL ISSUED, ON 2008 AND 2011 SONATA MODELS, HOWEVER THE 2009 MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH. ON THOSE RECALLS THE COMPUTER CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE POWER STEERING CONTROL UNIT HAD BECOME DAMAGED AND MADE THE VEHICLE MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN POSSIBLY CAUSING A WRECK. STEERING ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING OVER THE YEARS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED MULTIPLE CRACKS ALONG THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 07/12/16*LJ UPDATED 08/03/16.*JB
MY 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA WITH ABOUT 46K MILES HAD BRAKES BEGIN SCREECHING WITH A METAL-ON-METAL SOUND WHEN BRAKING. IN FACT, THE SOUND CONTINUED WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER COMPLETING A STOP. ON FRIDAY 12/26/14, THE CAR REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS. THE NEXT DAY, THE BRAKES WERE QUIET BUT OVERHEATED TO SUCH AN EXTREME THAT THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING SMELL AND THE WHEEL COULD NOT BE TOUCHED FOR FEAR OF BURNING YOUR HAND. RETURNING TO THE CAR REPAIR SHOP, ONE OF THE NEW ROTORS WAS COMPLETELY BLACK FROM THE EXTREME HEAT. THE PADS, ROTOR, AND CALIPERS REQUIRED COMPLETELY REPLACING - EVEN THE NEW ONES JUST PURCHASED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HYUNDAI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, ISSUE RECALLS, AND PAY FOR MY REPAIRS. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON THE DASH OF THE 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. CALLED AND REPORTED TO HYUNDAI (CASE # UPON NHTSA REQUEST) AND THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A HYUNDAI DEALER. VEHICLE HAS 26,456 MILES ON 12/23/2014. DEALER DESCRIPTION OF FAULT SCANNED FOR DTCS, B1322 AND B1324 PRESENT AND ACTIVE IN SRS SYSTEM. CLEARED CODES AND ATTEMPTED WCS RESET PROCEDURE VIA GDS, RESET FAILED AND DTCS RETURNED. PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM NEEDS REPLACED PER TSB 09-BD-007. CUSTOMER DECLINED REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. QUOTED $2,189, TAX INCLUDED. I PAID $127.43 TO DIAGNOSE THE SRS SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE NHTSA HAS A CAMPAIGN (RECALL # 08V161000) FOR THE FAILURE OF OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT FOR 2006-2008 HYUNDAI SONATAS. THIS 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS MANUFACTURED ON 01/8/2008. THESE EARLY MANUFACTURED 2009 HYUNDAI SONATAS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN (RECALL # 08V161000) SINCE THE SAME 2008 PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM PART WAS PROBABLY USED IN THESE VEHICLES. THE FAILURE OF OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE NHTSA NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ?ON? THE DASH OF THE 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. CALLED AND REPORTED TO HYUNDAI (CASE # UPON NHTSA REQUEST) AND THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A HYUNDAI DEALER. VEHICLE HAS 26,456 MILES ON 12/23/2014. DEALER DESCRIPTION OF FAULT ? SCANNED FOR DTCS, B1322 AND B1324 PRESENT AND ACTIVE IN SRS SYSTEM. CLEARED CODES AND ATTEMPTED WCS RESET PROCEDURE VIA GDS, RESET FAILED AND DTCS RETURNED. PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM NEEDS REPLACED PER TSB 09-BD-007. CUSTOMER DECLINED REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. QUOTED $2,189, TAX INCLUDED. I PAID $127.43 TO DIAGNOSE THE SRS SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE NHTSA HAS A CAMPAIGN (RECALL # 08V161000) FOR THE FAILURE OF OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT FOR 2006 ? 2008 HYUNDAI SONATAS. THIS 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS MANUFACTURED ON 01/8/2008. THESE EARLY MANUFACTURED 2009 HYUNDAI SONATAS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN (RECALL # 08V161000) SINCE THE SAME 2008 PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM PART WAS PROBABLY USED IN THESE VEHICLES. THE FAILURE OF OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE NHTSA NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR
ESC OFF LIGHT TURNS ON INTERMITTANTLY. THE ESC ON/OFF SWITCH DOES NOT PUT IT OUT. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RE START, THEN THE ESC OFF LIGHT GOES OUT SOMETIMES. ALSO, IT RETURNS WHEN I START THE ENGINE NEXT TIME. *TR
2009 HYUNDAI SONATA FUEL SENDING UNIT. *MW THE CONSUMER STATED IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTH AND THE SMELL OF GASOLINE/FUMES IS STILL PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, MOSTLY AT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THERE WAS A GASOLINE SPILL, AFTER THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING, WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. IT ALL STARTED, WHEN THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AND THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT REGISTERING. THE MECHANIC CLEARED THE ENGINE LIGHT AND STATED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME, BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE WAS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, THE GAS GAUGE STILL DIDN'T WORK. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONSUMER LEFT THE SHOP, SHE STOPPED FOR GAS AND WHILE PUMPING GAS STARTED POURING OUT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIME, FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED EVER SINCE THE DEALER RE-INSTALLED THE GASKET, THE SAME FUEL SENDING UNIT CONTINUED TO LEAK GAS. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, HE WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR THE PAST 50000 MILES AND HAVE REPLACED THE LEFT REAR CALIPER 4 TIMES, RIGHT REAR CALIPER 2 TIMES. THE REAR CALIPERS HAVE A PROBLEM OF STICKING CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE PADS TO PREMATURELY WEAR OUT. IT APPEARS THAT THE PROTECTIVE RUBBER BOOT WILL PINCH ON THE CALIPER AND PREVENT IT FROM RELEASING, HYUNDAI STATES THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE GONE THROUGH ALSO 4 SETS OF PADS IN THE REAR, AND NONE IN THE FRONT. AS USUAL THE CAR DEALER ADMITS TO NOTHING, AND WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP. *TR
1.ON THIS VEHICLE THE SERPENTINE BELT INSTALL IS A NIGHTMARE. IT IS A DEFECT IN DESIGN. IT IS A FIXED PULLEY FOR TENSION AND YOUR HAVING TO STRETCH WITH TOOLS AND WAIT UNTIL IT LOOSENS UP. 2. THE ORIGINAL PAN GASKET RTV SEAL WAS BLACK . IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TAKE OFF AND IT CAUSED SOME DAMAGE TO THE BLOCK AS FAR AS DENTS ON THE MATING SURFACES. THE OIL PAN WAS BENT TO REMOVE. 3. NOISES FROM THE POWER TRAIN THAT WERE LOOKED AT BY A HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER AND NEVER CORRECTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATE THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START AND ONCE IT DID, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
BOTH OF MY 2009 SONATA'S HAVE/HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I GOTTEN RID OF 1 OF THEM. POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNING. DEALER NEVER DOCUMENTED BUT DID PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN. 2011 SONATA'S DID HAVE A RECALL. HYUNDAI SAID OUT OF WARRANTY NOW AS IT HAS 117K MILES. BOTH MY 2009 SONATA'S HAD THE PROBLEM, I WIFE GOT RID OF HERS LAST YEAR. PLESE MAKE HYUNDAI DO THE RIGHT THING....DRIVING IS UNSAFE WITH FAULTY STEERING.
THE CAR WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE CAR FINALLY STARTED AFTER SITTING AWHILE. THIS TIME WHEN IT HAPPENED I COULD NOT HEAR THE FUEL PUMP RUN. I DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT WORKING. WHEN I WENT TO REMOVE THE FUEL PUMP I DISCOVERED THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THE PLASTIC TERMINAL PROTECTION INSIDE THE TANK WAS BURNED THROUGH AND THE TERMINAL MELTED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONDITION AS IT WAS INSIDE THE TANK EXPOSED TO THE FUEL, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DISPLAY HAS COME UP AND IT WON'T GO AWAY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WORTH $450 NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO REPLACE PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY COSTING MORE THAN $350, TO CORRECT THE AIRBAG LIGHT. I READ THAT AN INVESTIGATION IS GOING ON FOR 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR THE MENTIONED SEAT BELT BUCKLE. PLEASE CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MENTIONED AIR BAG ISSUE TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THE MODEL AND GET THE MANUFACTURER TO BEAR THE COST. *TR
MY STEERING AND BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. I HAD MY KIDS IN THE CAR AND LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED RIGHT BY MY HOUSE. NO TRAFFIC. EVEN THE SUSPENSION WAS AFFECTED.I IMMEDIATELY GOT KIDS OUT OF THE CAR AND CONTACTED MY INSURANCE TO TOW THE CAR. *TR
THE ESC HAS TURNED OFF (DASH LIGHT COMES ON) AT VARIOUS TIMES. PREVIOUSLY MY BRAKE SWITCH WAS AN ISSUE AND MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISCONNECT BY TAPPING THE BRAKE. I HAD THAT REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO. NOW, THE ESC TURNS OFF AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF, IT IS FINE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. ALSO, PERIODICALLY, I PRESS THE VOLUME ADJUSTMENT ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT DOES THE OPPOSITE ... IN OTHER WORDS, I PRESS VOLUME DOWN AND THE VOLUME ACTUALLY GOES UP. THE ELECTRONICS SEEM TO BE VERY MESSED UP... *TR
DEPRESSED CLUTCH STAYED ON THE FLOOR. PRIED IT UP WITH MY FOOT, IT THEN WORKED. OTHER TIMES THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT RETURN FULLY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT GEARS. PUMPING THE CLUTCH SEEMED TO HELP. *TR
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THIS CAR WHEN IT STARTED POURING HEAVILY. AFTER REACHING HOME, HE NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE ROOF AND TWO PLACES ON THE HOOD HAD PEELED OFF, LEAVING THE METAL EXPOSED. THE CAR BODY STARTED TO RUST WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF THIS INCIDENT. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY EVALUATED THE ISSUE AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES (CLOSE TO $1100). UPON CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, I FOUND THAT THEY DO NOT COVER PAINT FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. I AM LEFT WITH A HUGE OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE, AND BEING A STUDENT, THAT CAUSED A HUGE DENT ON MY FINANCES. *TR
THE STEERING GOES IN AND OUT OF POWER STEERING AT SLOW TO MEDIUM SPEEDS FROM AUG 2014 TO TODAY.
THE ESC LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN MY VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS, CAUSING THE SHIFTER TO DOWNSHIFT INSTEAD OF KEEP MOVING THE CAR WHEN I PRESS THE GAS, AND THE GAS PEDAL BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE. THIS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE (I-78) TODAY, AND I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT IN THE MIDDLE LANE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM, AND IT SEEMS THERE WAS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS HYUNDAI MODELS, YET HYUNDAI HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE 2009 SONATA. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND COULD BE RELATED TO THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR OR A NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT BOTTOM LINE, IT CAUSES THE CAR TO BECOME UNRESPONSIVE WHILE IN MOTION, AND THE DRIVER NEEDS TO PULL OVER, SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND TURN IT ON AGAIN FOR IT TO MAYBE WORK, MAYBE NOT. THIS IS A HORRIBLE HEADACHE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND I AM SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY SONATA OWNER WITH THIS ISSUE. HERE IS EVIDENCE: HTTP://WWW.SONATAFORUMS.COM/FORUM/HYUNDAI-SONATA-ENGINE-TECHNICAL-DISCUSSION/1906-ESC-OFF-LIGHT-COMES-INTERMITTANTLY.HTML SO PLEASE GET IT DONE AND ISSUE A MUCH NEEDED RECALL FOR THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *JS
DRIVING ALONG AND DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FELL TO DOWN POSITION. IT WILL NOT STAY UP. *TR
ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON AFTER STARTING ENGINE WHEN PARKED. I SHUT CAR OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART ENGINE. THE ENGINE SHUDDERED AND WOULD NOT START. I TURNED OFF IGNITION AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. I AGAIN STARTED THE CAR , THIS TIME WITH NO PROBLEM AND THE ESC OFF LIGHT DID NOT STAY ON. THE ESC OFF LIGHT HAS COME ON PREVIOUSLY(ONCE) AND SUBSEQUENTLY (ONCE) AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO APPARENT ACCOMPANYING ISSUES. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE HYUNDAI DEALER TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH THE FIRST TIME BUT THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN (65MPH). THE SECOND TIME IN, THE DEALER CHECKED OUT THE CAR BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AS THE ESC OFF LIGHT WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. MY RESEARCH ON THE WEB LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE . I AM NOT DRIVING THE CAR OUT OF TOWN UNTIL I CAN RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS TWO LARGE CRACKS IN IT. IT IS VERY UNSIGHTLY AND SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. THE CRACKS ARE BECOMING LARGER WITH TIME. *TR
ON JULY 1, 2014 THE REAR CALIPER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAR HAD SEIZED, STRIPPING THE BRAKES TO METAL ON METAL. ON AUGUST 30, 2014, THE REAR CALIPER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR FOLLOWED SUIT. LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER I HAVE REPLACED EACH OF THE REAR CALIPERS ONCE AGAIN. I HAD THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE REPAIRED ON MAY 15, 2015, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE ON JUNE 9, 2015. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH JUST OVER 53,000 MILES ON IT IN 2013. TODAY, IT HAS 101,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE REPLACED FOUR CALIPERS, THREE ROTORS AND FIVE SETS OF BRAKE PADS. EACH TIME MY CALIPERS FAILED I WAS PLACED IN DANGER OF TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AND FIRE, UNKNOWINGLY. THE MECHANICS WHO WORKED ON MY CAR HAVE INDIVIDUALLY THEORIZED THAT AN ENGINEERING FAILURE IS THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. LAST WEEK I CONTACTED HYUNDAI FOR FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS. THE COMPANY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REIMBURSE ME SINCE THE PARTS WERE NOT REPLACED WITH HYUNDAI FACTORY PARTS, OR REPAIRED BY A HYUNDAI CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP. I AM AWARE THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST HYUNDAI BASED ON THIS ISSUE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. I HAVE ALSO READ, AND HEARD ABOUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS EXACT PROBLEM (REAR CALIPER PROBLEM) IN THEIR HYUNDAI SONATAS, BUILT BETWEEN THE YEARS 2006-2010.
FRONT ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO ALTERNATOR CAUSING IT TO BECOME DAMAGED, WHICH LED TO POOR TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND THEN COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER.
I HAD A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR AND FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY REAR PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED.. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2012.. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR AND THIS IS EXCESSIVE. I HAVE READ 51 OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD 5 HYUNDAIS AND NOT PUT REAR BRAKES ON THEM UNTIL OVER 100,000 MILES.. *TR
THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL DOWN TO MY ALTERNATOR, CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION AND MAKING MY TRANSMISSION SHIFT AWKWARDLY.
THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT WAS ON THE DASH AND REMAINED UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. IT WAS GONE FOR A WHILE THEN CAME BACK AGAIN OFTEN LIKE EVERY SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES. *TR
THE INCIDENT IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA ID# 10508953 WHICH STATED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE AFTER STARTING THE CAR. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME MALFUNCTION BUT SOMETIMES THE GRINDING DOESN'T STOP UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYTIME THE ENGINE IS STARTED BUT I ALSO HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. A FEW TIMES THE ENGINE STARTED WHILE THE KEY WAS JUST TURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION. AFTER HEARING OF ALL THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS WITH GM VEHICLES, I THOUGHT THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED BY HYUNDAI AS A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS DEFINITELY AN UNSAFE SITUATION. I HOPE THE NHTSA WILL TAKE ACTION ON THIS MATTER. THE VEHICLE OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVELY MANUFACTURED COMPONENTS NO MATTER HOW OLD THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DECK STOP LIGHT WIRING AND FRAME DETACHED FROM THE SOCKET. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AND REMOVING THE BULB FROM THE SOCKET, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BULB AND WIRING FELL INTO THE TRUNK AND BURNED ITEMS WITHIN THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE CAR BUCKS OR JERKS THE DRIVER FORWARD UNDER 20MPH. I BROUGHT IT INTO HYUNDAI TO CHECK OUT IN JUNE. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD RESET THE COMPUTER AND THAT SHOULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. AFTER THAT, IT MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. *TR
PASSENGER REAR UPPER SHOCK TOWER WAS FILLED WITH(VERY RUSTY) WATER FROM HOLE IN A THE WHEEL WELL. *TR
ON APRIL 13TH, THE WEATHER WAS WARM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON. I OPENED UP MY SUNROOF WITH INTENT TO OPEN IT ONLY PARTIALLY. I HAVE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO CLOSE MY SUNROOF NOW. THE MECHANISM THAT SLIDES SHUT, DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ANYMORE. WHEN THE ROOF GETS TO THE POINT OF CLOSING, IT AUTOMATICALLY GOES BACK. I HAD TO INCH THE SUNROOF CLOSED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. I HAD TO PLACE PLASTIC IN THE CONNECTION AREA TO KEEP AS MUCH RAIN AND WIND OUT. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026