AI Damage2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring filed 32 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 32
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 34% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 25% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 5 Tires 9% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- Steering: 11 complaints (34% of all).
- Air bags: 8 complaints (25% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (13% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (9% of all).
- Tires: 3 complaints (9% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 32 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contactâs residence. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
I first noticed a problem on 7/25/21 when my Power Steering stopped working all of a sudden. So I Googled the info & discovered that it was a recall: #127 - EPS And, then discovered the other recall: #188 - ABS I contacted Hyundai on Mon 7/26/21 & spoke w/ Tiffany & she started a claim: #18490296.
No power steering present. Recall # 127 performed in 2016, however problem has returned. Vehicle has 51500 miles, 2009 hyundai touring. Hyundai usa did not authorize dealer to repair this recall as a campaign code 02/11/2021.
I was notified of a recall for the abs breaks stating that there could be a short circuit issue and could cause a fire in the engine compartment. I called hyundai in late july 2020, scheduled an appointment for a broken window and recall.
I was driving on the highway with cruise control on. When I turned the cruise control off, the car would not slow down. In fact, the car increased in speed even with the cruise control completely off.
My electronic power steering went out, thankfully as I was backing out my garage. The hyundai dealer said the motor needs to be replaced but the motor is inside the steering column, so I need a whole new column. This runs around $1,600 including labor.
Srs warning light on dash came on 6 months ago. I got prices of $400-2000 to repair. Dealer was $120 just to do diagnostic. I've googled problem and this is common for elantra. This is a safety issue. Why is there a recall?
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 hyundai elantra touring. While driving 45 mph, a loud abnormal noise was detected from the vehicle. The contact noticed that the driver's side control arm was dragging on the ground.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 6,635 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 18% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Elantra Touring has 29 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 32, about average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, air bags, electrical system. Total complaints: 32. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (25%), steering or power steering problems (22%), airbag warning light (19%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.