2009 Hyundai Elantra

Above average

Owners filed 254 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the steering. It has been recalled 4 times.

Not among the Hyundai Elantra years to avoid. Which Hyundai Elantra years to avoid →

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
78,000 milesMedian miles at failure

186 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,000–90,000 miles.

Most common 2009 Hyundai Elantra problems

124 of the 254 complaints (49%) are about the steering.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Steering120
403
Air Bags · airbags39
11014
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration13
601
Electrical System12
020
Service Brakes · brakes10
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · brakes7
030
Engine7
030
Electronic Stability Control (esc) · stability control7
100
Unknown or Other6
102
Structure › Body · body and frame4
020

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module20V061000
Filed Feb 4, 2020476,111 vehiclesHyundai Motor America

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.

Remedy. 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 System15V100000
Filed Feb 23, 2015204,768 vehiclesHyundai Motor America

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.

Remedy. 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 › Switch13V113000
Filed Apr 1, 20131,712,336 vehiclesHyundai Motor Company

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, 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.

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.

Remedy. 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-inactive11V143000
Filed Mar 15, 2011188,697 vehiclesHyundai Motor Company

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 FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT.

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.

Remedy. 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.

All 4 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Sep 30, 2026CA

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 heavy braking and maneuver to the shoulder without engine assist. At the same time, the ABS and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems suddenly disabled completely. This failure is consistent with the safety defect described in NHTSA Campaign 20V-061 (Recall 188), which acknowledges that these ABS modules can permit moisture intrusion. However, Hyundai's remedy, installing a fuse relay, only cuts battery power while the vehicle is parked to reduce fire risk; it does not seal or repair the ABS module. Moisture from the heavy rain entered the module while the vehicle was parked and ultimately shorted the internal pressure sensor while driving, disabling critical braking and stability systems. Two independent third-party sources (an ASE-certified mechanic and a commercial automotive diagnostic scanner) identified codes C1237 (ABS Primary Pressure Sensor Signal), C1513, and C1260. Both confirmed an internal electrical failure of the ABS module. At Hyundai Corporate Consumer Affairs’ direction, the vehicle was inspected by an authorized Hyundai dealership. The dealership did not perform the required dynamic road test needed to reproduc

Steering
Filed Sep 22, 202646,000 milesOH

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 was able to continue driving, although the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined; however, the mechanic associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V100000 (Steering) and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

Steering
Filed Sep 3, 2026MA

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 (EPS) failed. Power steering assist is completely unavailable. The EPS warning lamp is illuminated and the EPS module reports DTC C1604. The vehicle and EPS system remain at [XXX] Hyundai in [XXX] and are available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: The vehicle was driven from [XXX] to [XXX] during transportation during its transfer to me, and the power steering failed en route. Loss of steering assist substantially increased steering effort suddenly& created a safety risk to the driver, passengers and other motorists. Dealer confirmation: Yes. The condition is recognized by [XXX] Hyundai. I presented the vehicle on XXX specifically for the open EPS recall, and it has remained there since. This is the second area Hyundai dealer that attempted to decline recall service. [XXX] states it cannot perform the prescribed software update because the required Hyundai tablet/programming equipment is no longer available. The dealer has also pressured me to retrieve the unrepaired vehicle and attempted to charge for diagnostics. Other inspections: Hyundai Consumer Affairs is involved under case #XXX. No police or insurance representative

Steering
Filed Aug 29, 2026WV

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. Warning lamp on dash says "EPS".

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Aug 4, 2026168,000 milesKY

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 parked and turned off, a pedestrian saw smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact arrived at the scene, and the Police and Fire Department were already on scene. The contact stated that a fireman entered the vehicle and opened the hood, and disconnected the battery. A Police report was filed. The contact inspected the vehicle, reconnected the battery, and there was smoke coming from the ABS module inside the engine compartment. The contact then disconnected the battery. The battery was later reconnected, and the vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact arrived at the residence and removed the ABS fuse, and the smoke ceased. The vehicle was taken to an auto shop where a handheld diagnostic machine retrieved DTC: P0441 (EVAP system incorrect purge flow). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 168,000.

Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency BrakingFire
Filed Aug 4, 2026KY

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 mention this issue about the towing. Also corporate has stated they will likely not service the vehicle.

Steering
Filed Jul 28, 2026118,000 milesIL

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 similar description of the failure was completed in 2023. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Steering
Filed Mar 31, 2026AL

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 repair ed I am the 2 or 3 owner of said vehicle, I can see where it show data update March 30 2026 , , It was never fix and Bentley Hyundai in Huntsville Alabama, will not honor this recall for my vehicle,

Power Train
Filed Mar 19, 2026NJ

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

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 22, 2025OH

Taylor Hyundai of Findlay FAILED too complete these recalls. X3 times !

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Aug 25, 2025NC

Got in the car to come home put the key in ignition turned it and battery was dead went to turn off and something popped and cloud of smoke started rolling out from underneath the hood once hood was up the smoke got stronger from behind the motor the battery we had to get the battery unplugged and pulled out to get the electricity out the vehicle because of the battery being dead but sill plugged up at the time it would continue smoking more and more and thicker thicker so My husband pulled the battery out immediately as doing so we both inhaled some smoke but we was more concerned about it catching on fire so we pulled through it . We are confused on how or why this happened nothing has broke or went wrong with my vehicle but serpentine belt brake and tire ware my mother had car inspected and service back in May nothing was said that there is or will be wrong with my car. We had no idea that there was anything wrong no warning lights no signs of any problems up to this incident.

Seat BeltsCrash
Filed May 15, 2025FL

During a car accident yesterday. Upon impact at about 30 mph the seatbelt ripped and provided no deceleration during a head on collision. If it wasn’t for the airbag I would have been very seriously injured. It has not yet been inspected by insurance but I have a few videos of the failure for the seatbelt to work.

Steering
Filed Nov 9, 2024NH

About 3 years ago the EPS light came on. Brought it to the dealer who said it needed 3500.00 dollars worth of work to replace the steering column. Refused the work and they reset the light. Now after checking i see this was part of a recall 127 . My car was checked and stamped fine so out of luck. Car works good for 3 years now it is doing it again. Just driving straight down the road and power steering stops working, then starts working. Right now steering is fine and the PS light is on all the time. Any help would be appreciated. Car only has 120,000 miles and is in great shape except forthe steering.

Steering
Filed Oct 30, 2024NY

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY EPS LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THAT IT INDICATES A PLROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING SYSTEM. I HAVE SHARCHED AND READ THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. ON MY 209 HYUNDIA ELANTRA BUT WHEN I VIN IT SAYS NO OPEN RECALLS. DOES THIS MEAN IT HAS BEEN FIXED BEFORE OR IS MINE NOT COVERED UNDER ECALL. MY VIN IS [XXX] ANY HELP WOULD BE HELPFUL. I AM A DISABLED MAN. THAT THIS IS MY ONLY CAR TO TAKE CARE OF MINE AND MY DISABLED SON NEEDS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 12, 2024NJ

I previously brought my car in for a recall in 2014 for underbody corrosion and it was repaired; however, now there has been severe corrosion of the underbody, not just the components listed in the recall but nearly the whole underbody is severly rusted and corroded (see pictures below). My mother was driving my car in July 2024 when the rear subframe completely snapped near the control arm while she was driving. Luckily she did not get injured or hurt, but it could have been potentially fatal especially with this happening. I reported this to Hyundai Motor America and towed my car to the dealership. The dealership has submitted a goodwill request to cover the repairs of the recall not the other ones; however, I raised a potential oversight for the previous recall whereby the corrosion of other components not explicitly named in the campaign such as the sway bars and backing plates which could also directly impact the vehicle’s structural integrity and safety if corroded. The omission of ALL of the components that would be subject to corrosion in the recall campaign could have been an oversight and the recall should have covered all critical underbody components prone to corrosion, not just the ones explicitly listed in the recall. Other parts corrosion are a direct consequence of the same environmental factors that led to the corrosion of the subframe and control arms. Since these components are interconnected, and since Hyundai has acknowledged the issue with the crossmembe

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Oct 1, 2024UT

I backed into my driveway, placed the vehicle in park and as I was setting the parking break the drivers side airbag deployed. The vehicle was still running.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 29, 2024FL

The radio turns on and off in its own heat blows threw the vent when heater is off abs lock showed not working when inspection then showed as it was working air bag light always on none of the dash board lights work lock buttons work when it wants to

Steering
Filed Sep 25, 2024WI

This vehicle is part of RECALL CAMPAIGN 127. This vehicle had a software update to "Fix" problem but is now recurring. The dealership says they will not fix it.

Steering
Filed Aug 12, 2024PA

On several occasions, starting in the Fall of 2023 and occurring most recently on 8/9/24, I observed my Elantra's red EPS warning light turn on, and the steering wheel became very "stiff" while driving. Power steering was instantly disabled, resulting in momentary loss of control of the rate of turning in the vehicle. These symptoms are in accordance with Hyundai Recall Campaign 127, but a VIN search revealed the vehicle has been serviced for the recall. I have reached out to Hyundai customer service and a dealership, neither of which attempted to fix the issue.

Service Brakes, HydraulicFire
Filed Jul 30, 2024100,000 milesNC

The contact owned a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that on one occasion when the vehicle was turned on, the brake and ABS warning lights illuminated. On another occasion, while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied for approximately 5 days, there was smoke coming from the front of the hood of the vehicle. The department extinguished the fire and a fire report was filed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard where it was deemed totaled by the insurance company. A dealer was contacted and confirmed there were no recalls associated to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Air Bags
Filed May 25, 2024IL

Air bag light is on as soon as car power on until it turns off passenger airbag is off I dont know if my airbags will deploy if I get in an accident . While driving steady speed of 50-60 mph while pressing gas sometimes it doesn’t increase speed but instead jerks until I let go of the gas and then depress it again it happenes maybe 2-3 times during a drive .

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 24, 2024TX

February, 2024 - brakes "soft" at times, seems not catching unless stepped on almost to the floor. I brought it to the dealership same day. Since I did not have an appointment, a test drive was done and was told it was working fine and let them know if the brake warning lights will turn on. No record of this was noted. March, 2024 - I had to bring it back because the brakes feel like it will quit as I have to really step on the pedal to the floor before the car will slow down. The master cylinder was changed. Multi-point inspection was done. I got the car back March 14, 2024. April 12, 2024 - I had to bring it back because of the brake and ABS lights on the instrument panel lighted up. I was told it's the HECU that's the problem. I had to drive back the car to home because of the quoted cost of $3,266.58 estimate that I have to make a decision of. This was on April 23, 2024. I was told that the ABS module may not work in event of inclement weather or quick stops. A multi-point inspection was done prior to release of vehicle. I never received a recall on the Hyundai HECU. It was only when I researched it after I got the car back. I made it known that I want to be sure I will not get in an accident due to the brakes not working. I was informed that I can drive it but be mindful of the ABS module not working in cases as noted, that the lights were alerts but could be a problem later on. What is my recourse since I did not receive any recall notice? I was trying to fill up the co

Service Brakes, HydraulicFire
Filed Apr 19, 2024SC

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at their home, the engine of the vehicle caught on fire. The fire was extinguished by the Horry County Fire Rescue Station. A fire report was filed but not provided to the contact The contact stated that no injuries occurred, and no police report was filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V061000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to repair was unavailable. The vehicle was currently at the contact's residence. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but was unable to confirm when the part was to become available. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 10, 2024ND

March 26, 2024 Hello; Re: 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring VIN# [XXX] On [XXX], I while driving on a very icy slippery road to do low temperatures and the city not salting the roads like they should have! I was going approximately 22 mph & somehow I lost control of my car & slammed into a light pole & the whole entire front end of my car was destroyed! Meanwhile, none of the airbags deployed & I slammed into the steering wheel! I had my seatbelt on & it immediately locked up on me & someone had to cut me out of the seatbelt! I was transported to the hospital emergency, while my car was towed to "E. End Auto" @ 64 10th Ave. Dickinson, ND I suffered severe injuries such as back & neck injuries, 4 bruised ribs & horribly severe bruises to my left eye & scars! As soon as I possibly could I contacted "E End Auto" to find out what to do next & they informed me that the tow charges were approximately $700 & that was less than a 2-mile tow! Additionally each day the car sat in their storage lot it was $75 per day! It took me a few days to get a ride to get to my car due to pain and suffering, which I'm still experiencing terribly!! So, by the time I got to my car it had been there approximately 3 to 4 days & my bill was over $1,000! I spoke with the owner & pleaded & begged him if he could possibly offer me something for my car since it was obviously totaled out! He said absolutely no & that if I gave him the title to my car he would zero out the bill! So unfortunately hesitantly I had n

Steering
Filed Mar 1, 2024311,500 milesVA

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the electric power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact attempted to turn the steering wheel but was unable to do so. The contact stated there were other unknown warning lights illuminated, that were unrelated to the failure. The vehicle was at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V100000 (Steering) as a possible solution however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 311,500.

Steering
Filed Feb 21, 2024TX

I purchased this vehicle in December of last year and the steering was fine. The next day I took it to the Waco Hyundai dealership and was told they didn't have the software to do the EPS recall. A few days later, the power steering went out. I called Killeen Hyundai and made an appointment two weeks out to have them look at it. Long story short, after almost 2 months of them having my vehicle they were unable to update the recall. I was told I had 24 hours to pick it up. Where do I go from here?

Electrical System
Filed Dec 20, 2023FL

For the past month I have broke down multiple times. Used all my aaa tows. Everything turns off while driving 60mph with kids in the vehicle. Absolutely no power steering. I haven’t had interior lights, radio etc in 6 months. 8 belts since March. I’m a single mother stranded again freezing

Steering
Filed Oct 30, 2023154,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the power steering failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the red "EPS" and "EST" warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the electric power steering assist had failed, and that the EPS module needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the mechanic about NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V100000 (Steering) which was associated with the VIN, and to take the vehicle to a dealer for the recall repaired. The contact had driven the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the EPS module needed to be updated; however, the recall was only for an update to the EPS not a replacement. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

Steering
Filed Oct 27, 2023OH

When driving my eps has gone out over two dozen times. It is random. I could be driving for 2 hours or it could happen when I start the car. Issue is resolved temporarily when I turn off my car for a few minutes and restart. I brought it to my normal shop and at first they had no idea what it was and realigned the column. This worked for a couple weeks and the issue started again. They believe it may be the motor now and I have to go to a dealership. This started completely random, my car drives fine until it comes on. The eps light clicks and comes on, making it hard to steer. I can't drive in the highway for my safety and the safety of others. I've had my power steering go out mid turn, in the rain. It's unpredictable. This initially started on 08/20 and is ongoing despite an attempt to fix it.

Steering
Filed Oct 20, 2023110,000 milesID

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the steering wheel seized and became inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V100000 (Steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

Steering
Filed Sep 12, 2023KY

The EPS light is staying on flashing sometimes and now I can't steer to the left with assisted power steering..the steering is now locking up at times ..there was a recall I saw but now it's not showing up on my car..it's a 2009 hyundai elantra .I have pictures to show that it said my car is effected with this recall but now it's coming up on all systems as no recall open to it..I just bought this cat from someone in the month of July 2023 and this is now happening to me..I have put all I have into purchasing this car and contacted dealership in florence ky..they claim there's no open recall n I have provided the proof needed to show them that this was on recall..

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 3, 2023OH

Drove about 1 hour using cruise control part of the time. Don't usually use it, but used it 2 months ago with no problem. After 1.5 hour visit, drove home. Did not use cruise control, but at last 10 minutes acceleration issue started where car would "rev" even though I was not accelerating. Able to manage it with brake and normal driving. Tried to reset cruise (turn on/off), but car still had episodes of "revving". Did not accelerate to dangerous level and controllable. After car sat in garage for 2 hours, I drove out of neighborhood to empty stretch of road and accelerated to 50 with no problems and no revving of engine. Service check scheduled.

Steering
Filed Jul 31, 202324,500 milesNY

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that upon servicing the vehicle at the dealer, he was informed that the vehicle had experienced the failure related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V100000 (Steering). The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,500.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 28, 2023WI

The original car jack supplied with the vehicle failed. The jack is intended to be used in an emergency where the tire needs to be removed and replaced by the driver. The jack almost folded in half. The jack was installed correctly under the car. I had removed the damaged tire, and suddenly that end of the car had fallen. If I had been in the act of installing the spare tire I could have been severely injured by the falling car. I have the car jack and it can be inspected if you need it to be.

Steering
Filed Jul 23, 2023OH

The power assisted steering quit. You cant hardly steer it

Steering
Filed Apr 17, 2023135,000 milesNJ

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel became firm, and the ESP warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over on the side of the road and turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic stated that the power steering assist module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 135,000.

Steering
Filed Feb 24, 2023MD

On two separate occasions the electronic power steering turned off while driving the car. The red EPS dashboard indicator turned on and the steering felt very heavy. The power steering came back on after the car was turned off and on again. The car's software was already up to date and Hyundai's recall "fix" did not prevent the problem. This problem is intermittent and has only happened twice. It occurs while driving, leading to a potentially unsafe situation. There are no warnings or symptoms before the problem occurs.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 9, 2023146,000 milesMA

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light intermittently illuminated. Additionally, the passenger's side air bag light failed to illuminate while a passenger was seated in the passenger's side front seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic, where the air bags software was reset; however, the failure recurred. The dealer confirmed that the air bags were Takata brand air bags. The independent mechanic determined that the air bag sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 23, 2023CO

My car is having the same problem that the 2009 Elantra Sedan is having. My air bag warning light recently came on while I was driving and does not go off. I am concerned that my air bags will not go off in an accident.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
Filed Dec 1, 2022IN

Premature brake failure due to rusted parts. In April 2022 the front brakes seized at 105,717 miles, ruining the rotors. I skidded to a stop at a busy intersection and had the car towed. The front brake pads had aprox 20,000 miles on them and had recently been checked for safety. The rear brakes failed at 109,540 miles after a rusty caliper seized. Calipers, rotors and pads were replaced. Undercoating and rustproofing had been applied to this car at 76,988 miles.

Steering
Filed Nov 10, 202287,123 milesPA

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering with the EPS warning light illuminated. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer replaced the tie rods, spark plugs, wiper blades, cabin air filter, driveline belt, transmission coolant, throttle, oil plug, struts, and control arms, and performed an alignment; however, the failure recurred with the EPS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who ordered the EPS sensor and was awaiting the replacement part. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V100000 (Steering) associated with the VIN; however, the contact had not yet received the recall notification. The failure mileage was 87,123.

Steering
Filed Sep 19, 2022139,000 milesCT

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while attempting to make a right turn, the power steering assist failed as the EPS (Electric Power Steering) warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the vehicle was initially towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a power steering assist failure which was linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V100000 (Steering). The vehicle was then towed to dealer where she was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 139,000.

Steering
Filed Sep 9, 2022TX

EPS (Electronic Power Steering) light comes on on the dashboard . This prevents steering the vehicle from a dead stop or turning the vehicle is extremely hard. Vehicle has to be shut down and restarted, sometimes 1 to 2 times to eliminate the EPS light . Problem is repeatable every morning. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127. However at initial recall appointment only SW was updated. Per recall EPS unit may need to be replaced.

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Sep 8, 2022PA

On June 20th, 2022 my daughter was pulling into a parking space in the King of Prussia mall in Pennsylvania. Just before she turned the ignition off, both the driver's and passenger's side airbags deployed. THERE WAS NO COLLISION INVOLVED. Attached photos were taken immediately after to prove this. The vehicle was inspected by an independent inspector hired by Hyundai approximately 3 weeks later. According to Hyundai, there was front frame damage (this may have been from a February 2018 collision). Hyundai is covering up a serious potential safety issue by taking this position. Why frame damage from a 2018 collision be a material factor to this mishap? If this uncommanded airbag deployment happened while my daughter was driving at speed, she could have been in a serious accident. This vehicle is untouched and it is available for inspection. I encourage a NHTSA inspector to come look at the vehicle. Hyundai's refusal to take responsibility to find the root cause of this mechanical failure is reprehensible.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 19, 2022NJ

Just bought this used 2009 Hydunai Elantra. Dealer asking for 1400 to replace Airbag module. Car was never in an accident. Is there any compensation for this or can it be reset Also brought car over to Lester Glenn Toms River nj for recall on antilock brakes. They didn’t have part which means tying up car again. Why don’t they have recall parts readily available. Can u make an suggestion can’t afford that air bag module

Steering
Filed Aug 13, 2022AL

I bought the car for my mom about a year and a half it drove fine to just recently the eps light came after She turn on to the road and the steering got real tight and was hard to merge to the side road luckily She was going at a low speed to get over. So I done some searching to find that there was a recall 127 for that problem in 2015 so I called the dealership and they requested to have the car scan and said it was a software update . So I got the update and the angle sensor calibration it drove fine for 2 months now it’s getting worst. So they said the electric motor andsteering colmun has failed but they can’t replace because the recall is not active anymore .so I’m not sure what to do

Steering
Filed Jul 28, 2022WV

Steering column has alot of play. Pops as you turn the steering.

Suspension
Filed Jul 9, 2022NJ

The front sub frame of my 2009 Hyundai Elantra is completed rusted and rotted. It looks like the control arm is about to drop out of the frame. After an inspection by my mechanic he insisted the car is no longer safe to drive and suggested I do not put any money into the other problems we were having with it ( the reason it was at the shop).

Steering
Filed Jun 14, 2022107,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The vehicle had previously been serviced at the dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V100000 (Steering) however, the failure recurred. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering assist, with the EPS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

Service Brakes
Filed May 22, 2022FL

ABS HECU unit has failed, thus posing a safety risk. All brake lights (ABS and warming brake lights), in addition to Check Engine light are illuminated on dash. Faulty relay recall was taken care of in timely manner (recall 188), but now fires are starting in other vehicles due to failed HECU unit (which dealership and independent mechanic has confirmed that I have). More recalls for earlier Hyundai years need to be included in recall 218 or a new recall implemented to avoid cars catching fire due to failed HECU (my car has not caught fire as of the time of this report).

Complaints 1-50 of 254, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20263300Routine
202522000Routine
202456100Routine
2023101200Routine
2022102510Routine
2021132611Fatalities reported
2020254362Fatalities reported
2019252131Fatalities reported
2018284071Fatalities reported
2017770460Above average
2016293250Above average
2015262380Above average
20143862162Fatalities reported
20131,3144310High concern
20126544120Above average
2011433580Above average
2010380391Fatalities reported
2009 — this page2544110Above average
20083157240High concern
20072676130Above average
2006155100Routine
2005137430Routine
2004182520Routine
2003234510Above average
2002342642Fatalities reported
2001315641Fatalities reported
2000197120Routine
1999128220Routine
199855000Routine
1997115301Fatalities reported
1996100332Fatalities reported
1995112150Routine
199476220Routine
199324010Routine
199229040Routine

Compare every Elantra year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 4, 2020. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.