2009 Hyundai Elantra Problems
What owners have reported about the 2009 Hyundai Elantra, which problems come up most, at what mileage, and which recalls to check.
From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.
Is the 2009 Hyundai Elantra a good year?
It's about average for this model. Owners have filed 254 complaints with NHTSA, the 11th most of 17 Elantra model years. The most reported problems involve the steering, airbags and brakes.
254 complaints 4 recalls, 1 fire risk 11th worst of 17 Elantra years
Top 2009 Hyundai Elantra problems
Steering problems
133 complaints (52%) name the steering, most often the hydraulic power assist system and column.
Airbag problems
42 complaints (17%) name the airbags, most often the side / window and frontal.
Brake problems
27 complaints (11%) name the brakes, most often the caliper.
Electrical problems
24 complaints (9%) name the electrical system, most often the horn.
Which parts fail most
Share of complaints that name each system. One complaint can name several.
Mileage when it failed
Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (186 of 254). The amber line is the middle value, about 78,000 miles.
When problems were reported
Complaints by the year the problem happened.
2009 Hyundai Elantra recalls
Control unit / module
Fire riskOn 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. 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.
Recall 20V061000 · Feb 2020Electric power assist system
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. 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.
Recall 15V100000 · Feb 2015Switch
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, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate. 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. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Recall 13V113000 · Apr 2013Sensor / control module-inactive
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 front passenger airbag will deploy regardless of the weight of the occupant. 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.
Recall 11V143000 · Mar 2011Get an email when your 2009 Hyundai Elantra gets a new recall
We check NHTSA every month. If a new recall or safety investigation covers the 2009 Hyundai Elantra, you'll hear about it the same week.
One email per new recall. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Elantra years to avoid
Total NHTSA complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so their totals will keep climbing. See the full comparison.
2009 Hyundai Elantra problems by system
Common questions
Is the 2009 Hyundai Elantra a reliable year?
It's about average for this model. Owners have filed 254 complaints with NHTSA, the 11th most of 17 Elantra model years. The most reported problems involve the steering, airbags and brakes.
What are the most common 2009 Hyundai Elantra problems?
Owners most often report problems with the steering, airbags, brakes and electrical system. 133 complaints (52%) name the steering, most often the hydraulic power assist system and column.
At what mileage do 2009 Hyundai Elantra steering problems start?
Reported mileage ranged widely, but most complaints fell between about 52,000–99,000 miles, with a middle value near 78,000 miles.
How many recalls does the 2009 Hyundai Elantra have?
4. Control unit / module (20V061000); Electric power assist system (15V100000); Switch (13V113000). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.
Should I buy a used 2009 Hyundai Elantra?
Ask for service records covering the steering, confirm the recall work was done, and compare with the 2024, 2023 and 2022 models, which have the fewest complaints.
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Counts include each complaint once per model year.