2009 Hyundai Sonata Body & Structure Problems
31 owner-reported body & structure complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (31)
Your sunroof glass separated from the sunroof frame while driving on the highway, even though the sunroof wasn't open or in use. A mechanic determined the adhesive bonding the glass to the sunroof assembly failed. The sunroof frame itself remained undamaged and intact after the incident. The repair will likely involve replacing the sunroof glass and re-bonding it with new adhesive, or replacing the entire sunroof assembly.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your passenger-side door handle fell off a few years ago, and now the internal mechanism on your driver's-side door has broken, preventing the door from opening from the inside. This could make it difficult or impossible to exit the vehicle from the driver's seat. The repair will likely involve replacing the internal door latch mechanism and possibly the exterior door handle.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while attempting to open the front driver’s side door, the outside door handle detached from the vehicle. The contact also stated that all four door handles had detached from the vehicle. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
AS I TRIED TO OPEN MY PASSENGER FRONT SIDE DOOR THIS MORNING I PULLED THE HANDLE OFF. THE PORTION OF THE HANDLE THAT CONNECTS INTO THE LATCH MECHANISM HAD SNAPPED OFF IN THE DOOR. I WOULD JUST TAKE IT IN AND GET IT FIXED, BUT THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM, HAVING LOST THE PASSENGER REAR HANDLE EARLIER THIS SUMMER AND THE DRIVER'S FRONT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THERE MUST BE A DISTINCT DEFECT WITH THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE DOORS OF THIS MODEL, AND SEARCHING AROUND THE INTERNET I'VE FOUND A HANDFUL OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR SONATAS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACTED ROLLED THE WINDOW DOWN AND UNLOCKED THE DOOR USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEY HYUNDAI LOCATED AT (4660-100 SOUTHSIDE BOULEVARD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32216 (904) 642-6060) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE DOOR AND DETERMINED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE CLIP FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 163,881.
PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF OR BROKE OFF WHILE OPENING DOOR STRONG SMELL OF GAS ONLY AFTER FILLING CAR UP WITH GAS AND SMALL PUDDLE UNDER REAR GAS TANK AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT ONLY HAPPENS IF TANK IS MORE THEN 3/4 FILLED
EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BREAK WHEN OPENING THE DOOR TO ENTER THE CAR WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. CURRENTLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR HANDLE AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE HANDLE HAS BROKEN.
PASSENGER EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF. VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN WENT TO OPEN DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. HAD TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE. CHECKED GOOGLE UNDERSTAND THIS IS ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI MODELS. MANY COMPLAINTS .
THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN MANY PLACES. THESE ARE DEEP CRACKS AND MORE ARE OCCURRING. HYUNDAI SHOULD REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG. WALLACE AUTOMOTIVE IN STUART, FLORIDA 34997 WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE DASHBOARD. AT THE REQUEST OF HYUNDAI, THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM A REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
THE PAINT BEGAN TO COME OFF ON THE FRONT OF MY CAR 3-4 YEARS AGO. FINALLY TOOK IT TO HYUNDAI COMPLAINING THAT IT MUST BE A DEFECT SINCE: 1) NO ACCIDENTS, 2) DO NOT PARK UNDER PECAN TREES, 3) NO HAIL DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE PAINT TO COME OFF TO THE POINT THAT THE HOOD HAD ALMOST STARTED TO RUST THROUGH. COST ME $597.80 TO HAVE IT STRIPPED, REPAINTED, ETC.
THE DOOR HANDLE CAME OF THE BACK DOOR, I HAVE NEVER KNOWN THE DOOR HANDLE TO JUST COME OFF THE DOOR OF A CAR.
THE 2009 SONATA HAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRONT FRAME THAT HOLDS UP THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. I DO NOT LIVE AT THE BEACH, AND IS ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS FOUND BY A MECHANIC DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. CHUNKS OF FRAME WERE FALLING OFF AS WE WERE INSPECTING THE RUST. IT IS BEING REPLACED DUE TO EMINENT, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ONLY TIME HE HAS EVER SEEN THIS IS ON 20-25 YEAR OLD BEACH CARS.
PAINT IS BLISTERED & PEELING OFF IN BIG CHUNKS. PRIMARILY THE HOOD, ROOF & TRUCK. VEHICLE IS PEARL WHITE IN COLOR
THE PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING OFF MY CAR FOR OVER A YEAR EXPOSING THE BARE METAL. THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT USE ANY PRIMER ON THE CAR, SO WHEN I APPLY TOUCH UP PAINT, IT WON'T STICK. HOW ARE THEY ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS? IT'S A FINANCIAL DISASTER FOR CONSUMERS. I SAW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE ABOUT THE PEELING PAINT YET THE COMPANY STILL GETS AWAY WITH DOING NOTHING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TO THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HANDLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED MULTIPLE CRACKS ALONG THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 07/12/16*LJ UPDATED 08/03/16.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD EXHIBITED SEVERE CRACKS NEAR THE AIR BAG HOUSING THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 11/23/15*LJ UPDATED 1/14/2016*JS UPDATED 02/03/17*LJ UPDATED 04/07/17*JS *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS TWO LARGE CRACKS IN IT. IT IS VERY UNSIGHTLY AND SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. THE CRACKS ARE BECOMING LARGER WITH TIME. *TR
WE CAME HOME FROM A SHORT TRIP AND NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF OUR CAR HAD PEELED OFF IN A FEW SPOTS. SOME SPOTS LARGER THAN OTHERS. THE GREY PRIMER IS SHOWING NOW AND WE HAVE A WHITE CAR. *TR WHY IS PAINT PEELING OFF OF AN 09 HYUNDAI? SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING!!! *TR
THE DRIVERS SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS MADE OF ARTIFICIAL "CHROME". A FEW DAYS AGO, I OPENED THE DOOR AND GOT A SEVERELY LACERATED FINGER WHICH BLED A LOT. I WROTE TO HYUNDAI ABOUT MY INJURY. THEY SYMPATHIZED, BUT SAID THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. AS MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 31,186 MILES ON IT AND IS HOUSED IN MY GARAGE, I DID NOT EXPECT TO BE INJURED BY A DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLE ON A PRISTINELY MAINTAINED VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AS I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF POSTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT INJURIES FROM THIS HANDLE. NHTSA HAS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL HYUNDAI'S WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. HERE IS ONE OF THE MANY QUOTES THAT I FOUND.... "HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 91,000 SONATAS BECAUSE THE CHROME PLATING ON THE UPPER EDGE OF THE INTERIOR HANDLE MAY WEAR, "CAUSING CRACKING OR SEPARATION BETWEEN THE CHROME PLATING ON THE INBOARD AND OUTBOARD SURFACES OF THE HANDLE." NHTSA SAYS THE SHARP EDGE CAN CAUSE "LACERATION INJURIES TO ANYONE USING THE DOOR HANDLE." PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED BY THIS DEFECT. THANKS SO MUCH! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE PAINT JUST PEELS OFF THE CAR WHEN DRIVING. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO 3 DIFFERENT AUTO BODY SHOPS AND ALL 3 SAID THE PRIMER IS BAD. THIS IS CAUSING THE PAINT TO PEEL OFF TO THE METAL. HYUNDAI WILL NOT EVER LOOK AT THE CAR TO INSPECT IT FOR BAD PRIMER. *TR
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THIS CAR WHEN IT STARTED POURING HEAVILY. AFTER REACHING HOME, HE NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE ROOF AND TWO PLACES ON THE HOOD HAD PEELED OFF, LEAVING THE METAL EXPOSED. THE CAR BODY STARTED TO RUST WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF THIS INCIDENT. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY EVALUATED THE ISSUE AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES (CLOSE TO $1100). UPON CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, I FOUND THAT THEY DO NOT COVER PAINT FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. I AM LEFT WITH A HUGE OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE, AND BEING A STUDENT, THAT CAUSED A HUGE DENT ON MY FINANCES. *TR
THE CHROME "WRAP", WHICH IS A CHROME COLORED COVERING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE BECAME DETACHED LEAVING A RAZOR SHARP EDGE, WHICH CUT MY HAND WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE DOOR HANDLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO USE A GLOVE OR EXERCISE CARE TO OPEN THE DOOR. ACCORDING TO REPORTS POSTED ON THE WEB, HYUNDAI HAD ISSUED RECALLS FOR EARLIER YEAR MODELS BUT HAS REFUSED TO FOR NEWER MODELS EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS IN THE NEWER MODELS AND ISN'T JUST MANIFEST IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE BUT OCCURS IN OTHER HANDLES AS WELL. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE DEFECT IS NOT COVERED BY HUNDAI'S WARRANTY BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS "WAY OUT OF WARRANTY." *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION WHEN SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE DOORS ERRONEOUSLY LOCKED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CHROME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR HANDLE WAS PEELING AND TORE THROUGH THE CONTACT'S HAND. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO LOCK AND THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY WHEN SHIFTING DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK AND JERKING FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED AND THE STARTER LEVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
THE HOOD PAINT STARTED TO DISCOLOR AND APPEAR SPLOTCHY. SINCE THE PAINT WARRANTY WAS ONLY GOOD TO 36,000 MILES, I FIGURED I WOULD BITE THE BULLET AND GET IT PAINTED AT MY COST. BEFORE I GOT THAT DONE THE DAMAGE HAS NOW APPEARED ON THE LEFT FRONT FENDER (BEYOND THE HOOD) AT 62,000 MILES. THIS IS JUST A LOUSY FACTORY PAINT JOB AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WORTH GETTING THE WHOLE CAR REPAINTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME ON THE DOOR LATCH HAD PEELED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,400.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 12/24/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ON OCTOBER 1, 2013, BOTH REAR SIDE(PASSENGER AND DRIVER) EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THEM. THE DEALER QUOTED THE CONSUMER A PRICE OF $500.00 THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, DUE TO THE COST. UPDATED 12/26/13
PAINT STARTED TO FLAK OFF ON FRONT OF ROOF TOP, AND FRONT OF HOOD AT 39,000 MILES. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO INDICATED THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY GOOD THRU 36,000 MILES ON PAINT, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. PAINT SHOULD NOT FLAK OFF AND IS DEFECTIVE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *TR
THE "CHROME" PLATING IS PEELING OFF OF THE INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE USED TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE PEELED PLATING HAS SHARP EDGE AND I CUT MY FINGER ON IT. I CERTAINLY HOPE THIS WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE 5 YR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. *TR
I BELIEVE THAT THE HYUNDAI SONATA 2009 A HAS A PAINT DEFECT PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE 12 PAINT CHIPS ON THE HOOD WHICH I BELIEVE ARE THE RESULT OF PAINT FLAKING OFF. I DO NOT RECALL ONCE HEARING A ROCK HIT THE HOOD AND YET I HAVE 12 CHIPS AND NOW ONE SIMILAR CHIP NEAR THE TRUNK. THERE ARE NO DENTS THAT WOULD INDICATE ROCKS OR OTHER OBJECTS HITTING THE HOOD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND SPOKE TO THE MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR. I DO NOT AGREE AND A QUICK LOOK THROUGH THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM. *TR