Illustration*Power steering. Yes. *Very difficult to turn the steering wheel causing delay in timing. *No. There is a significant amount of reports, etc. regarding this recall on the internet. However, it does not appear to be associated with my VIN #. *No *No
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
What owners actually said
252 reportsAt random times while driving (operating vehicle while in motion on public roads) the EPS light turned on and power steering stopped working. I pulled over on the side of the road and would shut off the engine and restart the vehicle and the power steering would restart. Sometime it would take several times to stop and start the…
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At random times while driving (operating vehicle while in motion on public roads) the EPS light turned on and power steering stopped working. I pulled over on the side of the road and would shut off the engine and restart the vehicle and the power steering would restart. Sometime it would take several times to stop and start the vehicle for the power steering to start working again. The power steering shutting off has occurred four times within the past 18months while driving on public roads. The car has only 78,613 miles and the electronic power steering is malfunctioning.
While driving smoothly, suddenly the dash airbag warning light came on and has stayed on now for some time. That apparently signals that airbag will not deploy in an accident and is a clear safety issue. This should be a recall issue. RG
The contact owned a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked she was notified that there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that flames were coming from under the hood and the fire department was called to extinguish the fire. The fire department report was filed. The co…
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The contact owned a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked she was notified that there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that flames were coming from under the hood and the fire department was called to extinguish the fire. The fire department report was filed. The contact stated that prior to the failure the ABS and brake warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that he could not determine why the brake light was illuminated but advised that the failure could be related to a wire. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic who was unable to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the independent mechanic advised her that the vehicle was safe to drive. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The contact researched the failure online and related the failure NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V061000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated that she did not receive a recall notice. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the fire department. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
UNKNOWN; My car moved from pavement to dirt rode. I pressed the break and attempted to turn left. The car did not slow down or turn. I went straight off the curve and hit a tree. Upon impact broke 4 bones(hip, ribs, arm, shoulder shoved into my chest) , lacerated 2 organs, and major concussion. I go for a secondary hip surgery t…
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UNKNOWN; My car moved from pavement to dirt rode. I pressed the break and attempted to turn left. The car did not slow down or turn. I went straight off the curve and hit a tree. Upon impact broke 4 bones(hip, ribs, arm, shoulder shoved into my chest) , lacerated 2 organs, and major concussion. I go for a secondary hip surgery to correct the failed device inside my body now.
in a recent drive i realized that i had suddenly lost control of my steering wheel. the steering wheel was moving and responding much more quick than normal, but without any of the normal tension.
today my steering wheel was very "loose" to the touch. in other words it was far easier to turn the steering wheel than usual. it seemed that i was required to turn the steering wheel much more than usual to even make the simpliest of turns. i recently had air conditioning work done by a local auto shop. it seems very coinciden…
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today my steering wheel was very "loose" to the touch. in other words it was far easier to turn the steering wheel than usual. it seemed that i was required to turn the steering wheel much more than usual to even make the simpliest of turns. i recently had air conditioning work done by a local auto shop. it seems very coincidental that all of a sudden my steering mechanism is working so poorly that my life may be in danger.
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer to have her A/C unit serviced; but upon return of the vehicle, the contact stated that her EPS(Electronic Power Steering) warning light had illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that her steering wheel would jerk upon turning…
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The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer to have her A/C unit serviced; but upon return of the vehicle, the contact stated that her EPS(Electronic Power Steering) warning light had illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that her steering wheel would jerk upon turning the steering wheel in either direction. The dealer was notified of the matter and informed her that the warning light was illuminated prior to service. The contact contested that claim and stated that she would have brought the warning light to their attention if the light had illuminated prior to service. The manufacturer was notified of the matter and gave the contact a case number. The contact was also notified that her vehicle was placed under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V100000(Steering) back in 2015; however, the recall was serviced that same year. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the vehicle lost power steering assist and it became difficult to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that the EPS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with the power steering needing to …
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The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the vehicle lost power steering assist and it became difficult to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that the EPS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with the power steering needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and declined to offer any additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 34,900.
THE ABS MODULE JUST STARTED SMOKING TODAY. SMELL OF BURNING BREAKS. WE WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY AND STOPPED AT A MALL AND NOTICED THE SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL.
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.