Problems · by component

2009 Hyundai Sonata service brakes problems

64 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Hyundai Sonata cite service brakes, 14% of all 460 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
64
14% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“Brake Calipers are getting stuck often damaging the rotors and pads. This happens even for new calipers and rotors that won't last more than one year after replacement. The parts were original from manufacturer. The rear and front brakes were randomly getting stuck on one wheel after a period of using brakes. This put the vehicle in danger of getting fire from overheating rotors or increasing the risk of a crash because of an unusable brake system. This incident has repeated over time from 2017 till 2025 inducing big spendings for fixing brakes”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2025Service brakesODI 11684682
“The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud grinding noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be inspected. The contact later discovered that the dealer only did a visual inspection of the brake pads and rotors. The mechanic stated that there were metal shavings from the brake pads and that the contact should wash the wheels to clear the metal shavings. The wheels were washed as instructed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 181,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2021Service brakes, hydraulic, Service brakesODI 11438569
“The problem as reported by so many others that the rear brake system has an inherent failure in the caliper/rotor/brake pads. I have vested nearly $2500.00 on the three for mentioned parts and labor over last 4 years. Between Midas and now a private mechanic have tried better lube on slide pins but the problem still persists. A little research states that the caliper piston doesn't retract from the rotors and in turn heating up the brake components to the point of failure. Some Law firms have stated the problem is a production flaw my problem with a system with this failure rate isn't recognized by the Hyundia. Calipers should simply last 80 to a 100 thousand miles under most driving conditions. Looking forward to your response. Kerry yakel”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2021Service brakesODI 11425266
“COMPLETE BREAK SYSTEM AS BEEN DONE AS WELL AS TIRES WITH ROTATIONS, HAVING TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTARS OFTEN. CONTINUES TO PULL HARD TO RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AND IS FAR FROM A SMOOTH RIDE. WHEN BREAKING THE CAR FEELS TO PULL FORWARD. THE EMERGENCY BREAK DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THIS FEELS LIKE A NEVER ENDING ISSUE. THE CAR SEEMS TO SIT LOW ON ONE SIDE, HAVE TO TAKE IT TO GET LOOKED AT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2020Suspension, Service brakesODI 11361574
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. HECU INTERNAL FAILURE. ACTIVE DTC PRESENT: C1237 PRIMARY PRESSURE SENSOR SIGNAL. SENSOR FAILURE INSIDE THE ABS CONTROL CYCLE. VALUES AT PRESSURE SENSOR CHANGED FROM 0.3 BAR TO 78.0 BAR; NO CHANGE IN SUPPLY VOLTAGE. SUPPLY VOLTAGE CONSTANTLY AT 14V. HYUNDAI HAS MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS AND THAT THIS PART IS LIFE THREATENING IF IT FAILS - BUT SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THEY ARE SHYING AWAY. ONLINE THERE ARE SEVERAL KNOWN ISSUES WITH HYNDAI AND HECU. SPECIALLY FOR MODELS BEFORE 2009. ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT HYUNDAI IS NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE AVOIDING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND PLAYING WITH HUMAN LIFE. WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO SOMETHING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2020Electrical system, Unknown or other, Service brakesODI 11301374

Showing 6 of 64 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.