2009 Hyundai Elantra reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 316
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 127 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 39 reported crashes · 29 injuries · 16 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#1,680
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Hyundai median
+48
median 268 across 168 Hyundai records
Vs 2007-2011
+57
median 260 complaints in 736 records
Top component share
40%
Steering: 127 complaints
What owners report fails — 2009 Hyundai Elantra
- STEERING 127
- AIR BAGS 40
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 17
- SERVICE BRAKES 17
4 recalls on record for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra
- NHTSA 20V061000 · 2020 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACT An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increas
- NHTSA 15V100000 · 2015 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing
- NHTSA 13V113000 · 2013 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk
- NHTSA 11V143000 · 2011 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-I THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY IN CRASHES IN WHICH IT SHOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2009 Hyundai Elantra
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2009 Hyundai Elantra units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
NHTSA has 316 consumer complaints on record for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is steering (127 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2009 Hyundai Elantra units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Hyundai Elantra?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (127), air bags (40), electrical system (23), vehicle speed control (17). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2009 Hyundai Elantra?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.