Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Hyundai Sonata problems

Owners filed 460 complaints about the 2009 Hyundai Sonata with NHTSA between Aug 2008 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is service brakes (64).

Complaints
460
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
21
Reported by owners
Fires
11
Reported by owners
Injuries
26
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes64
  2. Electrical system61
  3. Engine56
  4. Electronic stability control (esc)51
  5. Power train41
  6. Structure40
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic34
  8. Vehicle speed control31
  9. Air bags30
  10. Steering26
  11. Suspension25
  12. Exterior lighting14
  13. Fuel/propulsion system14
  14. Visibility/wiper11

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20085
200912
201024
201138
201228
201365
201449
201545
201655
201733
201823
201927
202020
202112
20227
20235
20244
20254
20264

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes

64 reports
“Brakes seize up while driving and then cannot move the vehicle. This causes a dangerous situation while driving and then breaks lock up and cannot move car even though vehicle is on and then stopped for a stop light. Car must then be turned off and sit for about 30 minutes so it can unseize and when that happens, you can then resume driving and then check engine light comes on. Brake lights were staying on even when vehicle is shut completely off. ABS and ESC lights stay on consistently and never turn off. Vehicle brake switch was replaced at Carolina Hyundai of high point, NC. So break lights have been repaired. They had to order the stop switch lamp replacement for recall as it was never done and will be fixed in next week. 3 door handles fell off and cannot open the rear driver side door at all. Window electric system won’t let windows go up and down and had to make a latch pull string to open driver door. Passenger door will not open at all and no handle and is a dangerous situation. Break switch not being replaced would have cause an electrical fire and is a complete dangerous vehicle even after being inspected less than a week ago”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or other, Service brakesODI 11709161

Electrical system

61 reports3 fires
“Engine leaking oil from the front cylinder bank’s valve cover or leaking from the valve cover’s gasket onto the alternator. A sufficient amount of oil could damage the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven with a disabled charging system, the engine can shut off, increasing the risk of a crash.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2025Electrical system, EngineODI 11684675

Engine

56 reports2 crashes3 fires
“Oil Leak on Alternator Engine leaking oil from the front cylinder bank’s valve cover or from the valve cover’s gasket onto the alternator. An unknown amount of oil damaged the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven with a disabled charging system, the engine can shut off, increasing the risk of a crash.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2025Electrical system, EngineODI 11684677

Electronic stability control (esc)

51 reports
“WAS DRIVING ON ACCESS ROAD AND THE ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO STALL- UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. HAD TO PULL TO SIDE OF THE ROAD ON WURZBACH PARKWAY. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND HAD CAM SHAFT, CRANKSHAFT SENSORS REMOVED AND REPLACED. HAD $700 OF OTHER WORK DONE AND CAR WORKED GREAT FOR 2 WEEKS. UNFORTUNATELY TODAY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. LUCKILY I GOT TO SAFETY BUT COULD'VE BEEN KILLED IF I WASN'T SO LUCKY... PRETTY RIDICULOUS PROBLEM TO HAVE ESPECIALLY AS SO MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM...”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2020Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11364712

Power train

41 reports3 crashes
“We purchased this vehicle used 9/2022. A week later it began to jump upon accelerating and slowing down. We took it in and they said it was the power train control module and our warranty would not cover it. So it would cost us around $1600. We can’t afford that. We have only driven it a few times since. We were parked in front of a curb and the car accelerated us into a curb. Now, the ESC OFF, ABS, and engine light are illuminated. This is not a. It also wear and tear issues, as I’ve seen many others posting similar experiences. Our car is an ‘09 with almost 90,000 miles on it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 3, 2022Power train, Electrical systemODI 11472208

Structure

40 reports1 crash1 fire
“Vehicle sat in driveway for one week while on cruise. The day of return the sonata caught on fire without any person touching the car for one week. Brother who’s house it was at was woken by neighbors at 7sm. Home had minor damage, but it could of been bad if it was in someone’s garage. Fire started in engine and console. Fire department could not find out a reason. Car was totaled. Had to rent a car to get home that was 2 hours away. Never had an issue with this vehicle in the 12 years I owned it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 21, 2024Air bags, Structure, EngineFire reportedODI 11573193
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.