Most common 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring problems
Share of the 32 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Elantra Touring complaints by model year
Best Elantra Touring years: 2013, 2009. Years to avoid: 2010. Compare all years →
2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic › 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 Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
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.
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.
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.
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, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring:
Headliner Bracket Detachment
Hyundai is conducting a safety recall to reinforce the attachment of the metal support bracket to the headliner assembly in approximately 35,000 model year (MY) 2010-2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring vehicles built from December 15, 2009 through May 7, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-310 for more information).These Elantra Touring vehicles have a common headliner bracket design while the earlier MY 2009-2010 Elantra Touring…
What 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring owners say
Steering
I have a 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring with 2 recalls. 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. I was told my car would be picked up within 2-3 days & taken to the Hyundai Dealership & all repairs would be done FREE OF CHARGE. As of 8/11/21 it has been a total of 16 days since starting the claim & I have made phone calls every day & documented who I have spoken to. I am getting the runaround & no one can tell me when my car will be picked up & taken to be fixed. (Cust Svc Reps agreed that it shouldn't be taking this long!) I am fed up, frustrated & I don't know what to do from here. …
There were no issues with the car until EPS (red) and ESC off (yellow) lights came on when the car was started one evening, and in turn the power steering was lost. Vehicle was driven earlier in the day without any problems. It was parked for about 30 minutes or so, and when it was turned on again the lights came on and the steering wheel felt like it was locked. It is very difficult to turn the steering wheel at low speeds. Vehicle was taken to a local Hyundai dealer where error codes c1260, c1604, and c1513 were diagnosed. The dealer performed the steering angle re-calibration and the ECU software update, but the errors persisted. The dealership stated that electronic power steering column and the stop lamp switch needed to be replaced. …
Air bags
Driving on highway 65 MPH, power steering went out. When I reached my destination which was another 20 miles away I researched and a bit and when I turned car back on a few hours later it was working again. I received a recall letter about it almost a year later. Why did I just receive that? Took to dealership for that and three other recalls (two I was not aware of. The stop light I did get a letter about, however the airbag light has been on for months and I see by reading these other complaints that there shuld be a recall about that. Dealership tells me the whole sterring mechanism is bad and are replacing this week. The high profile tires have been a nightmare since I bought the vehicle, expensive for that sized car and don't last more than 30K miles. I don't think the tire issue has anything to do with the branding. …
Airbag warning light is illuminated in instrument cluster. Brought it to the dealer for routine maintenance and had them look into it at that time. They said the weight sensor in the front passenger seat is malfunctioning. This sensor tells the airbag system if someone is sitting in the front seat and whether it should be on or not. The on/off light by the controls appears to be working properly. Meaning if someone is sitting in the seat, the airbag off light is not illuminated. The dealer stated that the sensor is measuring a negative 100+kg. The only way to repair the problem is to replace the sensor which entails replacing the seat bottom. They quoted $1500 to do the job. The airbag system is still working but it takes over 100 kg to turn on the passenger airbag.
Electrical system
I purchased the car in feb 2012 at 34,214 mi and in 1 yr time, I kept blowing lights...headlights, fog, brake and tail. I put a lot of miles on my car so by the time I became annoyed by it, I just missed my warranty so I let it go. Ffwd to sept 2014, I couldn't keep my tail and brake lights functioning at the same time. After several bulb replacements, it was discovered that it wasn't the bulbs that kept blowing, but rather the fuse. As soon as I turned the lights on, it would pop. Nov 2014 at 118,470 mi, I brought it to a dealership to have them research...after 3 days it was discovered that the wires that go around the license plate frame were being pinched by the screws creating a diag short so it was adjusted and I moved on. Jan 2015, same problem!! …
There were no issues with the car until EPS (red) and ESC off (yellow) lights came on when the car was started one evening, and in turn the power steering was lost. Vehicle was driven earlier in the day without any problems. It was parked for about 30 minutes or so, and when it was turned on again the lights came on and the steering wheel felt like it was locked. It is very difficult to turn the steering wheel at low speeds. Vehicle was taken to a local Hyundai dealer where error codes c1260, c1604, and c1513 were diagnosed. The dealer performed the steering angle re-calibration and the ECU software update, but the errors persisted. The dealership stated that electronic power steering column and the stop lamp switch needed to be replaced. …
2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 31 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring a good car?
Based on 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Elantra Touring rates average: 16% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Elantra Touring at the same age. It is one of the best Elantra Touring years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring?
The steering — 11 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (8) and electrical system (4).
How many recalls does the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring, the most recent from February 4, 2020 (control unit/module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Elantra Touring?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010. See the full Hyundai Elantra Touring years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 41% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.