2009 Hyundai Azera Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Hyundai Azera has a Complaint Index of 58, ranking 6th worst of 13 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 26 complaints, 5 recalls, 2 crashes, 2 fires and 1 death, with Engine problems the top concern at 42% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 58/100
- #6 of 13 Azera years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 26
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 17.5 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 1
Top 2009 Hyundai Azera problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine11 (42%)
- Electrical System7 (27%)
- Brakes5 (19%)
- Other3 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (12%)
- Airbags1 (4%)
- Steering1 (4%)
- Structure & Body1 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report sudden loss of acceleration on the highway, in one case dropping from 55 mph down to about 20 mph before a throttle position sensor was replaced.
- Some drivers describe the engine cutting out or the throttle sensor failing, causing the ECS-off and check-engine warnings to appear during an emergency slow-down.
- Braking complaints include a vehicle that behaved abnormally while slowing from low speed and required abrupt braking to stop, and one fatal crash after the car failed to stop at an intersection.
- Steering complaints mention the vehicle pulling to the right at highway speed, with dealers unable to realign it to factory settings.
- Tire and suspension owners report shaking and vibration around 40-45 mph traced to defective tires needing repeated rotation and balancing.
- A parked vehicle reportedly smoldered for hours and caught fire, burning through the firewall into the cabin at high mileage.
2009 Hyundai Azera recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V026000Jan 9, 2018Brakes87,854 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2006-2011 Hyundai Azera and 2006 Hyundai Sonata vehicles. Water may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short .
Risk: 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 on February 19, 2018. Owners may call Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 172.
- NHTSA 13V354000Aug 12, 2013Suspension, Wheels & Tires364,502 vehicles
Suspension:rear
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 1, 2005, through January 21, 2010; and model year 2006-2011 Azera vehicles manufactured September 27, 2005, through November 22, 2010 originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Road salt and water can enter portions of the rear crossmember, leading to corrosion of the crossmember steel. This may lead to detachment of one of the rear control arms.
Risk: Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the crossmember assembly. The recall began on October 8, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 113.
- NHTSA 13V113000Apr 1, 2013Electrical System1,712,336 vehicles
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
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.
Risk: 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.
2009 Hyundai Azera fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 20.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,175
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other Azera years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Hyundai Azera reliable?
- Compared with other Azera years, 2009 ranks 6th worst out of 13 with a Complaint Index of 58 and a Caution verdict. It has fewer complaints than the 2006-2008 and 2013 Avoid years, but more reported issues than 2010, 2011, 2016, or 2017.
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Hyundai Azera?
- Engine problems are the top concern, making up 42% of complaints, followed by electrical system issues at 27% and brake issues at 19%. The median mileage at failure for engine complaints was 39,000.
- Does the 2009 Hyundai Azera have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2009 Azera covering brakes, a suspension crossmember, an electrical stop lamp switch, and two seat belt wiring harness campaigns. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
- What year Hyundai Azera should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA data, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2013 carry Avoid verdicts with Complaint Index scores of 100, 83, 75, and 92. The 2009 model is rated Caution, a step below those years.
- Which Hyundai Azera years are the safest to buy?
- NHTSA complaint data rates 2010 and 2017 as Best, with Complaint Index scores of 8 and 17, and 2011 and 2016 as Good, with scores of 42 and 33.