IllustrationFor 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
2009 Hyundai Elantra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Elantra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
230–25K
3125–50K
3550–75K
4675–100K
40100–150K
11150K+
186 reports with mileage · 66 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
28 crash reports11 fire reports20 injury reports
Steering complaints
132 reportsThe 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 powe…
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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.
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 w…
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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.
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 manufa…
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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.
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'…
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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..
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 man…
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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.
the power assisted steering quit. You cant hardly steer it
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…
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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.
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 …
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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.
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…
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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.
Official recalls
420V061000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Feb 4, 2020
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
15V100000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Feb 23, 2015
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
13V113000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Apr 1, 2013
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
11V143000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Mar 15, 2011
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.