2009 Hyundai Sonata Problems
What owners have reported about the 2009 Hyundai Sonata, 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 Sonata a good year?
It's about average for this model. Owners have filed 460 complaints with NHTSA, the 8th most of 17 Sonata model years. The most reported problems involve the brakes, engine and electrical system.
460 complaints 2 recalls 8th worst of 17 Sonata years
Top 2009 Hyundai Sonata problems
Brake problems
98 complaints (21%) name the brakes, most often the rotor and pads.
Engine problems
62 complaints (14%) name the engine, most often the cooling system and engine.
Electrical problems
61 complaints (13%) name the electrical system, most often the ignition and wiring.
Stability control problems
51 complaints (11%) name the stability control.
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 (366 of 460). The amber line is the middle value, about 69,000 miles.
When problems were reported
Complaints by the year the problem happened.
2009 Hyundai Sonata recalls
Rear
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. Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the crossmember assembly. Hyundai's recall number is 113.
Recall 13V354000 · Aug 2013Switch
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 2013Get an email when your 2009 Hyundai Sonata gets a new recall
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Sonata 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.
Common questions
Is the 2009 Hyundai Sonata a reliable year?
It's about average for this model. Owners have filed 460 complaints with NHTSA, the 8th most of 17 Sonata model years. The most reported problems involve the brakes, engine and electrical system.
What are the most common 2009 Hyundai Sonata problems?
Owners most often report problems with the brakes, engine, electrical system and stability control. 98 complaints (21%) name the brakes, most often the rotor and pads.
At what mileage do 2009 Hyundai Sonata brakes problems start?
Reported mileage ranged widely, but most complaints fell between about 28,000–71,000 miles, with a middle value near 51,000 miles.
How many recalls does the 2009 Hyundai Sonata have?
2. Rear (13V354000); Switch (13V113000). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.
Should I buy a used 2009 Hyundai Sonata?
Ask for service records covering the brakes, 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.