Problems · by component

2009 Hyundai Sonata structure problems

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

Complaints
40
9% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“Passenger outside door handle fell off a couple years ago. Today the internal mechanism for the driver's side door broke so door will not open from the inside.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2022StructureODI 11480841
“The sunroof detached from the vehicle at highway speed. The sunroof was not open or otherwise in operation when it detached. A mechanic concluded that the adhesive holding the glass to the sun roof assembly failed. The sunroof assembly was completely intact after the incident and did not appear to be damaged.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 15, 2022StructureODI 11469299
“The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while attempting to open the front driver’s side door, the outside door handle detached from the vehicle. The contact also stated that all four door handles had detached from the vehicle. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2021StructureODI 11432871
“AS I TRIED TO OPEN MY PASSENGER FRONT SIDE DOOR THIS MORNING I PULLED THE HANDLE OFF. THE PORTION OF THE HANDLE THAT CONNECTS INTO THE LATCH MECHANISM HAD SNAPPED OFF IN THE DOOR. I WOULD JUST TAKE IT IN AND GET IT FIXED, BUT THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM, HAVING LOST THE PASSENGER REAR HANDLE EARLIER THIS SUMMER AND THE DRIVER'S FRONT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THERE MUST BE A DISTINCT DEFECT WITH THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE DOORS OF THIS MODEL, AND SEARCHING AROUND THE INTERNET I'VE FOUND A HANDFUL OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR SONATAS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2020StructureODI 11352250
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACTED ROLLED THE WINDOW DOWN AND UNLOCKED THE DOOR USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEY HYUNDAI LOCATED AT (4660-100 SOUTHSIDE BOULEVARD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32216 (904) 642-6060) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE DOOR AND DETERMINED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE CLIP FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 163,881.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2020Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 11317540

Showing 6 of 40 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.