NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE COMING TOWARD HIM; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,200.
MY DAUGHTER RECEIVED A SHOCK UPON PLACING HER HAND TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THINKING NOTHING OF THIS SHE STARTED THE CAR AND STARTED TO BACK OUT OF THE CAR PORT. WHEN SHE NEEDED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO EXIT THE DRIVEWAY THE STEERING DID NOT MOVE OR RESPOND. LOOKING AT THE DASH, A WARNING LIGHT WAS ON "EPS". THE OWNER'S MANUAL HAD LITTLE TO NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE EPS WARNING. I DECIDED TO LOOK AT ALL THE FUSES, FIRST INSIDE THE CAR AND THEN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NONE OF THE FUSES WERE BLOWN. I REPLACED THE FUSE COMPARTMENT COVERS AND STARTED THE CAR. THE EPS WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT THIS TIME AND NORMAL STEERING ABILITIES ARE OKAY. WHAT IF THIS "SHOCK" HAD HAPPENED WHEN TRAVELLING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED? IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN POWER STEERING FAILED THE DRIVER COULD STILL TURN THE WHEEL WITH GREAT EFFORT, HOWEVER I COULD NOT EVEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL 1/2 INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN THE SNOW OR ICY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE A FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,416. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.
FRONT END MAKING A NOISE UPON A SLOW TO MEDIUM FRONT OR BACK-UP TURN. ALSO, AT VARIOUS TIMES THE ESP LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING(VERY DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE ROAD AT SPEED). ALSO, THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING VERY UNEVENLY(REAR TIRES FINE). THEY REPLACED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY ON 24DEC 2010 WITH MILEAGE AT 35,791. THEY OFFERED TO SELL ME TWO FRONT TIRES, ALIGNMENT AND BALANCE AT A STEEP PRICE, I DECLINED AND HAD MY MECHANIC DO IT FOR LESS. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE DEFECT CAUSED MY TIRES TO WEAR OUT TOO SOON. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENS WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED YOU WILL SUFFER INJURIES. THIS IS MY THIRD HYUNDAI, THE TWO WERE FINE. *TR
ESC SWITCH FAILURE CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OFF. *TR
WINTER OF 2009 I NOTICED THAT BRAKES ON MY 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WOULD LOCK UP AND NOT WORK WHENEVER DRIVING ON LOOSE WET SNOW. THE CAR WOULD JUST SLIDE AS IF ON ICE AND THERE WOULD BE NO FEELING AS OF PADS ON STEEL FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. TOOK CAR INTO FAIRFAX HYUNDAI IN FAIRFAX, VA. THEY INSPECTED BRAKES AND DEEMED THAT NOTHING WAS BROKEN. HOWEVER THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE SAME SNOW CONDITIONS. VEHICLE'S BRAKES WORK FINE WHEN SNOW IS PLOWED AND COMPACTED. ON 16 DECEMBER 2010 WE HAD SIMILAR SNOWFALL AND VEHICLE BEHAVED THE SAME DANGEROUS WAY. THIS TIME HOWEVER I WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE BRAKES OF SNOW BY RAPIDLY STOMPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL I COULD FEEL PAD ON STEEL AND STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SLIDING. HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO TAKE VEHICLE IN TO FAIRFAX HYUNDAI SINCE THEY FOUND NOTHING LAST YEAR. HAVE SENT NOTIFICATION, HOWEVER, TO HYUNDAI USA AND TO CONSUMER REPORTS. I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE HURT BY THIS BRAKE FAILURE IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. AT THE LEAST DRIVERS SHOULD BE ALERTED THAT THEY CAN STOP THE VEHICLE BY RAPIDLY STOMPING ON THE BRAKES TO CLEAR THE SNOW THAT SEEMS TO BUILD UP BETWEEN THE PADS AND THE ROTORS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING. THE CONTACT WAS REFUELING THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD FLATTENED AS A RESULT OF A BROKEN TIRE VALVE STEM .THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED TO ALERT THE CONTACT OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AND THE ORIGINAL FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS MOUNTED BACK ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000. UPDATED 05/20/11
I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION ON 7/30/10. THE CAR OF THE DRIVER WHO HIT ME HAD HER AIRBAGS DEPLOY, WHILE MINE DID NOT. THE IMPACT TO MY CAR WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE RADIATOR SUPPORT HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BUMPER HEADLIGHT AND HOOD. I WAS GOING 20 - 25 MPH AND THE OTHER DIVER WAS DOING APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SPEED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW RATTLES AND SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD FALL OUT; THE FAILURE WAS WORSE IN COLD WEATHER. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHT HAD MATERIAL COVERING IT THAT CREATED FIRE HAZARD. THE MANFACTURER, WHEN CALLED, STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY INSTALLED THE DOME LIGHT AND THEY SHOULD BE CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND DESTROYED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES IN THE NECK, BACK, AND CONCUSSIONS IN THE WAIST. THE CONTACT NOW SUFFERED FROM TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDER AND MIGRAINES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE RESULTS. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO HYUNDAI. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,560. ..UPDATED 08-07-13 *BF
LOST POWER STEERING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY AND IN AN UNEVEN MANNER. THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES EXHIBITED MORE WEAR THAN THE OUTSIDE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT TIRES WERE ALSO REPLACED. WITHIN 5,000 MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ
I WAS DRIVING A NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER BACK AND FORTH. I WAS WAITING FOR THE ABS TO DO WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO , IT THEN PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER TWICE. MY HEAD HIT THE ROOF TWICE MY NECK AND BACK WERE TWISTED, MY LEFT ARM AND SHOULDER WERE TWISTED AND KNEES HIT THE DASH I BELIEVE. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP THERE WAS GLASS EVERYWHERE INCLUDING ALL OVER ME. THIS CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS AND SIDE AIR BAG CURTAINS. NONE OF THESE SAFETY DEVICES WERE ACTIVATED. MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND GREAT GRANDSON WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THIS CAR TWENTY MINUTES LATER, MY GRANDDAUGHTER WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THIS ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS COMPLETELY GONE, SHATTERED INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE ASKED HYUNDAI OF AMERICA TO RETRIEVE THIS VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHY NONE OF THESE DEVICES ACTIVATED. THIS CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD JUST PURCHASED IT ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER TRAFFIC, I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED, MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR STARTED TO SLOWLY MOVE INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE. THE ROAD I WAS ON WAS FLAT SO IT WAS NOT SLIDING. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT A COMPLETE STANDSTILL. THIS CAR HAS VERY DANGEROUS DEFECTS. IT MUST BE RECALLED AND ANALYZED, OR MANY PEOPLE WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BY THESE CARS. THANK YOU *TR
WHEN THERE IS SNOWFALL AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED,THERE IS A HORRENDOUS GRINDING SOUND-BRAKES LOCK UP,WILL NOT WORK AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL INTERSECTIONS,AND ALMOST INTO PARKED CARS,ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STREET POLES. THANKFULLY NO PEDESTRIANS. *TR
COULDN'T STOP IN TIME TO AVOID REAREND COLLISION MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA 09 AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ,THE FRONT CLIP WAS TOTALED. HYUNDI SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR MY INJURIES WHICH IS SEVERE NECK AND BACK PAIN. I NEED SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO PROCEED. *TR
HYUNDAI IS EQUIPPING THESE ELANTRAS WITH SOLUS TIRES WHICH ARE VERY SUBSTANDARD ALL WEATHER TIRES FOR TRACTION. TIRES CONSTANTLY SLIDE AND LOOSE CONTACT WITH ROAD SURFACE ON WET, DRY SANDY AND SNOW COVERED PAVEMENT, CONSTANTLY CAUSING THE ABS BRAKES TO ENGAGE, AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER ACROSS ROAD SURFACE. IT IS AT IT'S WORST IN ANY KIND OF SNOW EVEN AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH. CAR ALMOST WENT OFF ROADWAY SEVERAL TIMES DURING SNOW WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 5 & 15 MPH. COMPLAINED TO DEALER WHERE CAR PURCHASED AND THEY COULD NOT CARE LESS! *TR
2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA BRAND NEW BOUGHT. 1. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT ON 'PARKING' ON A HILL, IT SLIPS BACK ABOUT COUPLE OF FEET. IT SEEM LIKE GEARS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY (NOT IN POSITION) BECAUSE I FELT AND HEARD CLICKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE GEARS SLIPPING BY NOT BEING IN CORRECT POSITION. 2. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT QUITE OFTEN WHEN IT'S PARKED ON A HILL. ABOUT 1-2 TIMES A WEEK. WHEN IT HAPPENS AND I TRY TO SEE IF IT REPEATS, BY GOING BACK AND FORTH THE CAR AND PUT ON PARKING AGAIN, IT DOES NOT SEEM TO REPEAT. 3. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WORKS AFTER THE SLIPPAGE. BUT I AM THINKING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AS IN WORRY OF FURTHER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ONLY CONCERN IS THAT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, NOT SURE IF DEALER WILL BE ABLE TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY USUALLY DON'T CARE UNLESS THEY SEE THEM WITH THEIR OWN EYES. *TR
2009 ELANTRA GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK UNDER FLOOR MAT. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT INVOLVED FIVE VEHICLES. HER VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT WHICH CAUSED HER VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT AS WELL. SHE STATED THAT THE CRASH WAS NOT A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THAT IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM WHEN HER CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT COULD NOT RECALL IF OTHER DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER OBTAINED HER INFORMATION AND WILL MAIL HER FORMS TO COMPLETE SO THAT THEY CAN CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 4,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE STEERING FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000 . UPDATED 12/16/11*LJ UPDATED 01/20/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING PULLED TOWARD THE RIGHT ON ITS OWN. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES TO BE ALIGNED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 23,000. UPDATED 7/18/12 *CN UPDATED 07/25/12
FUEL INJECTION AND COMPUTER FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 5,600 MILES. CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
GAS TANK OVERFLOWS AT CAP DURING REFUELING.
TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I MADE AN APPT WITH FUCCILLO HYUNDAI OF SCHENECTADY NY, THE LOCATION WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, FOR ONE WEEK LATER. LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER 3 DAYS AND I CONTACTED FUCILLO AND THEY TOLD ME TO MAKE ANOTHER APPT IF THE LIGHT CAME ON A AGAIN. IT DID MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, I MADE APPTS, THE LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER A FEW DAYS, AND FUCILLO HYUNDAI KEPT TELLING ME TO MAKE ANOTHER APPT IF THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT DID THIS FOR MONTHS AND IN EARLY 2010 WHILE IN COCOA FLORIDA THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND I VISITED COCOA HYUNDAI AND THEY TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IF THE LIGHT CAME ON, THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT WORK IN AN ACCIDENT, THEY OFFERED ME A LOANER TO DRIVE AND THEY BEGAN WORK ON THE VEHICLE WITHIN THE HOUR. LIGHT CAME ON AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, HAD IT IN TO COCOA HYUNDAI A SECOND AND THEN YET AGAIN A THIRD TIME OVER 2 MONTHS. THE LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST 3 1/2 YEARS AND IT HAS NOW BEEN ON FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS, I CAN`T AFFORD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS MAKE AND MODEL FOR AIR BAG DEFECTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPS LIGHT AND THE ETS LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24454.
GAS SERVICING DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WHEN FUEL DOOR RELEASE IS PULLED UNDER DRIVERS SEAT. WORKED GOOD FOR ABOUT 6 TO 7 MONTHS THEN STOPPED WORKING. TOOK IN TO DEALER HE WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX IT. DID NOT. THIS COULD BE A REAL PROBLEM IF YOU CANNOT PRY OPEN THE FUEL DOOR TO SERVICE THE DOOR. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FROM WHAT IS ON THE WEB. 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING. *TR
I SEE HYUNDAI SONATA ARE BEING RECALLED FOR A STEERING PROBLEM. I SUGGEST SOMEONE CHECK 2009 ELANTRAS. I FIND THE STEERING OVER RESPONDS WHEN I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT CUT ME OFF, ETC. IF I NEED TO QUICKLY STEER HARD, I FEEL THE VEHICLE FISHTALES OR TURNS IN UNEXPECTED WAYS. I HAVE DRIVEN FOR OVER 35 YEARS, IN MANY DIFFERENT CARS. THIS IS THE ONLY CAR THAT DOES THIS. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WITH MY NEW CAR WAS THE TIRE/WHEEL BALANCE. IT IS BETTER, BUT STILL SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE INVESTIGATED BY KNOWLEDGEABLE, INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONALS. MUCH THANKS *TR
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the steering wheel was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the failure only occurred while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 23,000.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026