2009 Hyundai Elantra Reliability
The 2009 Hyundai Elantra has 287 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and air bags. Compared with other Elantra model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Elantra's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
287
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
28
Complaints citing a crash
11
Complaints citing a fire
2009 Hyundai Elantra complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 model year, filed between 2009 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 145 | 51% |
| Air bags | 50 | 17% |
| Service brakes | 30 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 28 | 10% |
| Speed control / throttle | 21 | 7% |
| Engine | 14 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 13 | 5% |
| Body structure | 13 | 5% |
2009 Hyundai Elantra recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2009 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V143000 | Mar 15, 2011 | Air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive | 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… |
| 13V113000 | Apr 1, 2013 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | 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,… |
| 15V100000 | Feb 23, 2015 | Steering — electric power assist system | 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… |
| 20V061000 | Feb 5, 2020 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | 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… |
How the 2009 compares with nearby Elantra years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Elantra analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 267 | 6 | Visibility / wipers | Caution |
| 2008 | 316 | 7 | Steering | Caution |
| 2009 (this page) | 287 | 4 | Steering | Caution |
| 2010 | 455 | 3 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2011 | 461 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2009 Hyundai Elantra
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2009 Hyundai Elantra can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2009 Hyundai Elantra reliability FAQ
Is the 2009 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
The 2009 Hyundai Elantra has 287 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and air bags. Compared with other Elantra model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Elantra's typical year.
What are the most common 2009 Hyundai Elantra problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra are steering (145), air bags (50), service brakes (30), electrical system (28). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2009 Hyundai Elantra have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra, including 11V143000 (air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive) and 13V113000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2009 Hyundai Elantra compare with the 2008 and 2010 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2008 has 316 complaints and 7 recalls (caution); the 2010 has 455 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid). The 2009 has 287 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2009 Hyundai Elantra?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Hyundai Elantra research
Other Hyundai Elantra model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2009 Elantra, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.