repaired · 2022 Q1
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
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.
2009 Hyundai ElantraProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 255 owner complaints about the 2009 Hyundai Elantra, most often about the steering. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-061 the manufacturer reports only 31% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 30, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Hyundai Elantra has problems
255 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
134Steering6 crash/fire/injury
42Air bags16 crash/fire/injury
24Electrical system5 crash/fire/injury
18Service brakes
18Vehicle speed control
13Engine
11Structure
10Electronic stability control (ESC)
9Service brakes, hydraulic
3313 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 134 | 6 |
| Air bags | 42 | 16 |
| Electrical system | 24 | 5 |
| Service brakes | 18 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 7 |
| Engine | 13 | 7 |
| Structure | 11 | 7 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 10 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 9 | 4 |
| 13 other systems | 33 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2009 Hyundai Elantra recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q3
Steering: electric power assist system
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.
no report yet
Brake lights: switch
Risk. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
79kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 107 steering complaints. 75% were reported before 100,000 miles.
11under 30k miles80under 100k miles27100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
17 owners mentioned a cost$2,244median
Middle half: $2,000 – $2,400
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other Elantra year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Elantra median. How we score
'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 Hyundai Elantra safety ratings
2009 Hyundai Elantra 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2009 Hyundai Elantra, and the recalls they led to.
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
In owners' words
What Elantra owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and stationary, the vehicle was started and the steering wheel was very stiff. The contact originally thought that the issue was battery related; however, replacing the battery failed to resolve the issue.…
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…
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…
Own a 2009 Elantra?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.