YearToAvoid

2009 Hyundai Elantra Steering Problems

NHTSA has 133 owner complaints about steering problems in the 2009 Hyundai Elantra, 53% of all 253 complaints for this model year. That is #3 highest steering complaint count among 21 Elantra model years. These complaints report 5 crashes and 3 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 78,000 miles.

Steering complaints
133
53% of 253
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
78,000 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2009 Hyundai Elantra steering complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 21, 2010, latest Sep 22, 2026.

2009 Hyundai Elantra steering complaints: complaints filed per quarter82010 Q22012 Q42014 Q32016 Q22018 Q32020 Q22022 Q22024 Q1
133 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q2 (8).

Steering recalls for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra

  1. NHTSA 15V100000Feb 23, 2015Steering204,768 vehicles

    Steering:electric power assist system

    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.

    Risk: 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.

Steering complaints by Elantra model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20056 (4%)
  2. 20063 (2%)
  3. 200734 (13%)
  4. 200855 (18%)
  5. 2009133 (53%)
  6. 2010195 (51%)
  7. 201174 (17%)
  8. 201288 (13%)
  9. 2013271 (21%)
  10. 201428 (7%)
  11. 201526 (10%)
  12. 201619 (7%)
  13. 201771 (9%)
  14. 201816 (6%)
  15. 20199 (4%)
  16. 202020 (8%)
  17. 20215 (4%)
  18. 20222 (2%)
  19. 20233 (3%)
  20. 20247 (13%)
  21. 20251 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Hyundai Elantra have steering problems?
NHTSA has 133 owner complaints about the steering in the 2009 Hyundai Elantra, 53% of all complaints for this model year, including 5 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 78,000 miles.
Which Hyundai Elantra year has the most steering complaints?
The 2013 Hyundai Elantra has the most steering complaints (271), compared with 133 for the 2009.
Is there a steering recall for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra concerns the steering: 15V100000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.