2009 Hyundai Sonata Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Hyundai Sonata has 460 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 60, and ranks 9th worst of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 30% of complaints, with two recalls on file.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 60/100
- #9 of 21 Sonata years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 460
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 21
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 11
- Injuries
- 26
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 25
- 21 city / 32 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 26 / 0
Top 2009 Hyundai Sonata problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes140 (30%)
- Engine92 (20%)
- Electrical System71 (15%)
- Other54 (12%)
- Structure & Body47 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain41 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires36 (8%)
- Airbags30 (7%)
- Steering26 (6%)
- Fuel System23 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during front-end and rear-end collisions, even in crashes that caused total-loss damage.
- Owners describe the seat belt failing to tighten or retain occupants during crashes, contributing to head injuries and whiplash.
- A manual transmission clutch reportedly stuck down and would not return, causing the car to stall in a highway lane.
- Some owners report unintended or abnormal acceleration after shifting out of park, leading to crashes into walls or poles.
- One owner noted a blind spot caused by the head rest design that contributed to a low-speed parking lot collision.
2009 Hyundai Sonata recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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 Sonata fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 32 MPG
- Combined
- 25 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,600
- 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 Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 460 complaints for the 2009 Sonata and a complaint index of 60, giving it a Caution verdict. It ranks 9th worst out of 21 Sonata model years covered by the data.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2009 Hyundai Sonata?
- Brakes are the top problem area, making up 30% of complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 61,500 miles. Engine issues follow at 20% of complaints.
- Does the 2009 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2009 Sonata: one for a suspension crossmember assembly and one for a stop lamp switch in the electrical system. Neither is classified as a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2009 Sonata compare to other Sonata years?
- The 2009 model's complaint index of 60 is worse than the 2008 (40) and 2010 (45) model years, which both carry a Good verdict, but better than years like 2011 through 2016, which carry Avoid verdicts with complaint indexes of 70 or higher.
- Did airbags fail to deploy in the 2009 Hyundai Sonata?
- Multiple sample complaints describe airbags not deploying during crashes, including rear-end and front-end collisions. The Airbags category accounts for 7% of all complaints and 10 of the reported crashes.