Problems · by component

2009 Hyundai Sonata suspension problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Hyundai Sonata cite suspension, 5% of all 460 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
25
5% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“My 2009 Hyundai Sonata was taken to the Hyundai of Lincolnwood dealership on May 19th. The certified technician formally diagnosed severe structural corrosion on both front and rear subframes (engine cradles), declaring the vehicle completely unsafe to drive. The dealership is withholding the vehicle under safety custody but refuses to provide a loaner or rental car. Hyundai Motor America states the replacement parts are on indefinite backorder with no ETA, leaving me stranded with no safe alternative transportation since May 19th. This severe structural corrosion poses an imminent risk of suspension failure while driving”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2026Steering, SuspensionODI 11742084
“The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, there was a loud popping sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact pulled over and inspected the vehicle. The contact became aware that the driver’s side front ball joint had detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an autobody shop to be repaired but the contact thought that there was a recall for the lower control arm ball joint that might have caused the failure. The vehicle was instead towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the driver’s side front ball joint needed to be replaced out of pocket. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2021SuspensionODI 11440650
“I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR ALIGNMENT. THEY SAID BOLTS RELATED TO REAR TIE RODS WERE RUSTED AND THEY COULD NOT DO IT. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND POSSIBLE REPAIR. HE SAID THE SAME. IN ADDITION HE ALSO SAID THAT THE STRUTS ARE LEAKING. I LOOKED INTO THE HISTORY OF MY VEHICLE, AS I BOUGHT IT USED 2 YEARS AGO. I FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED IN 2013 FOR SUSPENSION RELATED ISSUES. AND SOME 239000 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. I BELIEVE ITS THE SAME ISSUE WHICH HAS RESURFACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS PERFECTLY FINE OTHERWISE. BY THE WAY I HAVE A SALVAGE TITLE OF THE VEHICLE ON MY NAME IF THAT IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2021SuspensionODI 11396823
“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
“TAKATA RECALL. ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR. A DEER CAME OUT OF THE DITCH, MISSED THE DEER. MY DAUGHTER SWERVED INTO THE DITCH AND LAUNCHED OVER A GRAVEL ROAD AND DID A NOSE DIVE INTO A BEAN FIELD. CRASHING THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS TOTALED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2019Suspension, Structure, EngineCrash reportedODI 11246698
“REAR END OF VEHICLE SWAYS AROUND AS IF DRIVING ON ICE. FEELS EXACTLY LIKE DESCRIPTIONS OF ISSUE WITH RECALL 13V354000. HYUNDAI SAYS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. EXCESSIVE PLAY IN REAR END, AND VERY NOTICEABLE BURNING SMELL COMING FROM REAR END AFTER DRIVING. CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF REAR BRAKES AND TIRES. HAS CAUSED REAR BRAKE HOSES TO FAIL. OCCASIONALLY BRAKE PEDAL SINKS TO FLOOR WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE FEELS AS IF A GUST OF WIND COULD SEND IT OFF THE ROAD. NEED TO DO A TON OF STEERING TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. FRONT END WAS ALIGNED 25,000 MILES AGO.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2019Steering, Suspension, Service brakesODI 11228886

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Suspension: rear

Free remedy

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.

SuspensionReported Aug 12, 2013NHTSA 13V354000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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