Problems · by component

2009 Hyundai Sonata power train problems

41 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Hyundai Sonata cite power train, 9% of all 460 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
41
9% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TAKATA RECALL ON JULY 27, 28 2019 THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL DRIVING SOUTH ON I 75 AND LATER ON THE STREETS. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING THE CAR IT DROVE ALONG OK. DURING OUR RETURN TRIP, THE CAR STALLED AGAIN DRIVING NORTH ON I 75 , AND WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONLY SECONDS BEFORE A 18 WHEELER PASSED US WITHIN LESS THAN A FOOT BETWEEN US. ALL FIVE US COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE WERE LUCKY TO FIND A NATIONAL REPAIR SHOP OPENED ON A SUNDAY WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR( THE CAR HAS 54,000 MILES ) . THE PART WAS REPLACED AND AFTER 4 HOURS WE WERE ON OUR WAY, MINUS $400 PLUS DOLLARS. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM -THAT THIS SENSOR MUST BE RECALLED- AND THE PUBLIC MADE AWARE OF THE DANGER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2019Power train, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11241318
“AS I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING EXTREMELY LOUD NOISES AND IT WOULD NO LONGER RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. THIS WAS ON A NARROW TWO WAY STREET. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER WHO SAID IT NEEDS A USED MOTOR PUT IN IT FOR $4600 AS IT HAS "AN INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM" WITHOUT GOING IN TO SPECIFICS. ENGINE HAD 97,000 MILES AND CAR WAS WELL-MAINTAINED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2019Power train, EngineODI 11210441
“JERKING WHEN BRAKEING TO STOP OR WHEN SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN. TAKENSEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE BUT UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, NO EGINE LIGT HAS COME ON THEREFORE THEY CAN NOT REPAIR. PLEASE WE NEED YOUR HELP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2019Power train, Service brakesODI 11205422
“I BOUGHT THE USED CAR IN THE SPRING, IT CURRENTLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN THE WEATHER GOT COLD, IT BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY AT 20 MPH WHEN I DECELERATE. WHEN I SLOW THE VEHICLE IT FEELS AS IF SOMEONE HAS HIT ME FROM BEHIND. WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WILL SWITCH GEARS AND LURCH ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ITEMS ON MY SEAT THAT ARE NOT SECURE ARE PROPELLED TO THE FLOOR. I WILL NOT LET ANYONE ELSE OPERATE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DURING THE DECELERATION. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CORPORATION- MISTAKENLY TOLD ME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEN RECANTED WHEN THEY REALIZED I WAS A SECOND OWNER WHICH ONLY COVERS 5 YEARS OR 60,000. HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, THAT THERE ARE NO TECHNICAL BULLETINS APPLYING TO MY AUTOMOBILE. REFUSES TO FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE DESPITE THERE BEING COUNTLESS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE ON THE NHTSA SITE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2019Power train, Unknown or otherODI 11165591
“MY CAR GEAR SHIFT LOCKS UP. I CANNOT CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO GO IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. I HAVE TO UTILIZE THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFT OVERRIDE EVERY TIME I NEED TO CHANGE GEARS. THE CAR WILL BE STATIONARY AND I MUST KEEP MY FEET ON THE BRAKES AT ALL TIMES AS I FEAR IT MAY SHIFT ON ITS OWN. IT IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM THAT BEGAN 3 WEEKS AGO.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2018Power trainODI 11073582

Showing 6 of 41 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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