2009 Hyundai Elantra problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (127) · Air Bags (26) · Vehicle Speed Control (17)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Elantra model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
186 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2020-02-04 · campaign 20V061000 · 476,111 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
Risk: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2015-02-23 · campaign 15V100000 · 204,768 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. The electronic power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.
Risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2013-04-01 · campaign 13V113000 · 1,712,336 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, m
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2011-03-15 · campaign 11V143000 · 188,697 vehicles
Defect: HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2008. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS IN THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A WEIGHT SENSOR DESIGNED TO DEACTIVATE THE RIGHT FRONTAL AIRBAG WHEN OCCUPANTS OF CERTAIN WEIGHTS OCCUPY THE SEAT. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE, BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE CONNECTOR COULD BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MALFUNCTION SUCH THAT THE
Risk: THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY IN CRASHES IN WHICH IT SHOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONNECTOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTING TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Service bulletins (47)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2026-10-15 · 26-GI-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (pdw) sensor(s) that may trigger various dtcs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the pdw sensor(s) failing to detect nearby objects or triggering multiple false alarms. this condition may be a res
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DCS · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn), that have been identified in u.s. vehicles following prior
Exterior Lighting 2025-11-06 · 25-BD-012H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (drl), or fog lamp. this tsb illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. lamp assembly replacement is not necessary
Showing the 6 most recent of 47 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-30 · Unknown Or Other“the anti-lock braking system (abs) module has failed due to moisture intrusion that caused an internal electrical short circuit, destroying the abs primary pressure sensor. a few days after the vehicle was parked outside during heavy rain, i was driving on a busy highway when it suddenly lost engine power. during this emergency, i had to perform h…”
2026-09-22 · Steering · 46,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 hyundai elantra. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph on the highway, the vehicle lost power steering assist. the power steering assist warning light was illuminated during the failure. the contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. the contact w…”
2026-09-03 · Steering“i am reporting hyundai’s failure to complete open campaign 127/nhtsa recall 15v-100 on my 2009 hyundai elantra. i acquired the vehicle from a family member in late july 2026 after the previous owner died and the vehicle was delayed in probate. i sought recall service immediately after legal transfer. component/system: the electronic power steering …”
2026-08-29 · Steering“power steering assist motor stopped working, leaving the car with hard manual steering. dealer inspection confirms the issue across several year models, inclding my 2009. there were 2 other year models with the same issue in their shop with mine that day. one was 2018. one was a 2023. car is very difficult to steer around curves at any speed. warni…”
2026-08-04 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 168,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 hyundai elantra. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v061000 (service brakes, hydraulic). the contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the tpms and powertrain warning lights illuminated, but the vehicle drove normally. the contact stated that a month later, while the vehicle was parke…”
2026-08-04 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking · 🔥 fire“my abs system started smoking while the vehicle was in the off position. police and fire department showed up. police report number is 2026151090. i was called outside from the establishment and the emergency services were waiting on me. corporate is now trying to get me to pay the tow out of pocket. i called the ntsha holiness but was unable to me…”
2026-07-28 · Steering · 118,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 hyundai elantra. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. the eps warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. in addition, the contact stated that an unknown recall with a simi…”
2026-03-31 · Steering“vehicle has a major problem steering down the road as i am traveling, its also makes loud clicks while turning left or right, also if freezing up and getting stiff along the way, the item that's causing this problem is call eps , my light will not go out on its own, my local dealership will not honor the warranty or the recall stated it was repa…”
2026-03-19 · Service Brakes“nhtsa 20v-061 (hyundai 188): abs/hecu module nhtsa 15v-100 (hyundai 127): electric power steering (eps) nhtsa 13v-113 (hyundai 110): brake light switch…”
2025-10-22 · Unknown Or Other“taylor hyundai of findlay failed too complete these recalls. x3 times !…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.