2009 Hyundai Sonata Brakes
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
PREMATURE WEAR AND REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED DUE TO A DEFECT INVOLVING THE BRAKES AND CALIPERS WHICH MAY INVOLVE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND/OR PREMATURE CORROSION. BRAKES AND CALIPERS REPLACED TWICE IN TWO YEAR PERIOD. REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WOULD PERIODICALLY STICK AND GRIND CAUSING BRAKES TO SMOKE AND GIVE OFF BURNING SMELL. CAR AT TIMES WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RUSTED BRAKE CALIPER PIN HAD SEIZED. THE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND THE BRAKE PIN WAS LUBRICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
IN APRIL 2013 MY REAR BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR INSPECTION. THE RIGHT REAR SIDE WAS DOWN TO NOTHING, IT WAS RUBBING BARE METAL TO BARE METAL, BRAKES AGAIN ROTORS. THE LEFT SIDE WAS ALSO MORE WORN THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, BUT NOT AS BAD AS THE RIGHT SIDE. IN JULY 2013 THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. THE RIGHT REAR SIDE WAS RUBBING METAL TO METAL, BRAKES AGAINST ROTOR. THE LEFT SIDE WAS FINE. THE BRAKES PARTS (CALIPER) WERE WORKING APPROPRIATELY. IN OCTOBER 2013 THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES BEGAN SQUEALING AND APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AFTER THE SQUEALING BEGAN IT STARTED MAKING THE SAME GRINDING NOISE AS IT DID THE PREVIOUS TIMES AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS TIME, THE CALIPER ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. MY REAR BRAKES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES IN 8 MONTHS. *TR
HEARD NOISE FROM BRAKES AND THOUGHT IT WAS FRONT PADS.CHANGED FRONT PADS BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. TOOK BACK TIRES OFF TO CHECK BRAKES AND MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS HARDLY ANY PADS LEFT. CHANGED PADS AND THAT STOPPED THE NOISE ONLY TO HAVE TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE DO TO THE FACT THAT THE CALIPERS WERE NOT RELEASING. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND SAID THAT CALIPERS WERE BAD. THEY HAD TO PUT NEW BRAKES ON(MINE WERE ONLY ON A WEEK) TURN THE ROTORS AND SAID MY BRAKE FLUID WAS CONTAMINATED. 10 YR 100000 MILE WARRANTY PLUS BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I STILL HAD TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THEY CALL NORMAL WEAR. NOTHING NORMAL ABOUT THAT!ALSO WANTED TO DRAIN OLD BRAKE FLUID AND CHARGE 129.99 FOR SOMETHING THEY HAD TO DO WHEN THEY PUT NEW CALIPERS ON ANY WAY BY BLEEDING THE LINES. THEN TO CHARGE 110.00 TO TURN THE ROTORS. I ARGUED AND EVERYONE I TALKED TO SAID THIS IS GUIDE LINES WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. I CANT BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS .I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT BACK BRAKES CAUSING PROBLEMS ON SONATAS. THEY DO NOT COVER PARTS FROM NORMAL WEAR IF CALIPERS DIDN'T MALFUNCTION I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO HAVE ANYTHING DONE TO MY CAR. THEY DENY,DENY,DENY UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED. COULD BE ANOTHER TOYOTA ORDEAL! *TR
THE REAR CALIPERS MOUNTING BRACKET IS HOLDING THE BRAKES WAY TO TIGHTLY TO THE ROTORS SO THEY ARE CONSTANTLY BEING APPLIED. THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IS TO MANUALLY GRIND DOWN THE SIDES OF THE BRAKES TO MAKE THEM FIT PROPERLY. I FOUND THIS OUT WHEN I CHANGED MY BRAKES BEFORE A LONG CAR RIDE (APPROX 4 HOURS). THE BRAKES WERE HOLDING THE CAR BACK AND THROWING OFF MY ALIGNMENT. BOUGHT VEHICLE WITH 49000 MILES WITH NEW BRAKES. REPLACED THEM AT 68200. CURRENTLY HAS 69200 AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AGAIN BECAUSE THE HOT FRICTION COMPLETELY RUINED THE BRAKES. MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE KNOWING MY BRAKES MIGHT BURN OUT AT SOME POINT AND FAIL. *TR
REAR BRAKE CALIPERS ARE LOCKING UP CAUSING PREMATURE EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE REAR BRAKES. THIS IS UNDETECTABLE IN THE DRIVABILITY OF THE CAR UNTIL THE BRAKE PADS ARE WORN SO LOW THAT THEY MAKE NOISE. *TR
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE BRAKES START STICKING, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO TELL ME THEY COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING THAT WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKES WERE DOING THE SAME THING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I PURCHASED MY 2009 SONATA IN MARCH OF 2012 AT THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP, WITH ABOUT 44K ON IT. EVERYTHING WAS CHECKED OFF AND CONFIRMED AS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. A HISTORY REPORT SHOWED THE BRAKES BEING REPLACED LAST AT 41K MILES. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ITS 60K CHECKUP AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE REAR BRAKES ARE SHOT, AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED...PADS, CALIPERS, ROTORS, ETC. IT HADN'T MADE A GRINDING NOISE OR ANYTHING AT THAT POINT, SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC I USUALLY GO TO. HE CONFIRMED EVERYTHING AND SAID ALL TOLD THE REPAIR IS GOING TO COST ME ROUGHLY $800!!! HE ALSO TOLD ME IT WAS A BIG ISSUE THEY SEE ONLY ON HYUNDAI'S, AND THAT THERE IS NO WAY THE REAR BRAKES SHOULD EVER GO BEFORE THE FRONT BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH FORCE THAT IS NEEDED TO BRAKE THE FRONT OF THE CAR COMPARED TO THE REAR. SO DID RESEARCH AND FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO REPLACING MY ENTIRE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM EVERY 15-20K MILES. I WILL BE FILING A FORMAL COMPLAIN WITH HYUNDAI AS WELL...MY HOPE IS IF THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS, THEY WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ALL TOO COMMON ISSUE! *TR
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, SEVERAL PEOPLE PASSED ME AND MADE VARIOUS HAND SIGNALS AND GESTURES (PROFANE, SPECIFICALLY), AS I APPARENTLY HAD LOST FUNCTIONALITY OF MY BRAKE LIGHTS DURING MY JOURNEY HOME FROM WORK. WITH NO INDICATION ON THE OPERATOR CONSOLE TO ALERT THE OPERATOR THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING UNTIL I HAD ARRIVED TO MY HOME (BARELY AVERTING 2-3 REAR END COLLISIONS ALONG THE WAY). WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVE WAY AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE CAR FROM DRIVE (D) TO PARK (P), I WAS UNABLE TO ADVANCE THE SHIFTER PASSED REVERSE (R). I HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL (N) AND ENGAGE THE HANDBRAKE. I RETRIEVED A FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER TO ENGAGE THE SHIFT LOCK ON THE SHIFT CONSOLE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK (P). AFTER LEARNING OF THIS ISSUE, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, WHO ADVISED ME THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED. A SHORT TIME LATER, I SAW THE PRESS RELEASE FROM HYUNDAI THAT SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE BEING RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS EXACT ISSUE, THOUGH, AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI DIRECT, I LEARNED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THEIR CAMPAIGN. AS A DEGREED MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I MAINTAIN THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL AND CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DESIGN FAULT OF THE VEHICLE. IF I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED, I COULD HAVE BEEN MET BY A LAWSUIT (NOT TO MENTIONED SUSTAINED AN INJURY) BECAUSE OF NOT FUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHTS. I'VE MADE SEVERAL CONTACTS WITH HYUNDAI AND THEY WILL NOT BUDGE ON THEIR STANCE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE. THERE MUST EITHER BE A FAIL SAFE TO ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE FUNCTIONAL OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, AN ALARM ON THE OPERATOR CONSOLE ALERTING THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I AM VERY APPALLED WITH HYUNDAI'S BEHAVIOR AND RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE. *TR
HEARD SQUEALING AND GRINDING COMING FROM REAR BRAKES.REPLACED PADS AND LUBRICATED PINS, NOW 6/2013 HEAR THE SAME NOISE AGAIN AND THIS TIME PREMATURE WEAR OF THE PADS AND ROTORS ARE WARPED AND FALLING APART. ALSO LUG NUTS ARE RUSTED AND SWOLLEN (THIS AT 45000) JUST UNDER 14000 AFTER LAST REPLACEMENT. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC SO THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT TRIPLE CHARGE FOR WORK AND TELL ME IT IS MY FAULT. WE'LL SEE HOW LONG THIS REPAIR LASTS. ALSO HAD THE CAR IN FOR BOUNCING IN THE FRONT...HAD TIRES ROTATED AND REBALANCED AND STILL DOES IT PERIODICALLY THE DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END. *TR
THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE PAD WAS WORN DOWN PAPER THIN AND CAUSED THE ROTOR TO BE SCORED. AFTER THE ROTOR AND PADS WHERE REPLACED THE SAME PASSENGER READ WHEEL BEGAN TO BURN AND CAUSED A VERY PUNGENT ORDER. LARGE AMOUNTS OF BRAKE DUST ALSO BEGAN TO COLLECT ON THE WHEEL. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS. *TR
I HAD MY REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACES IN FEBRUARY 2012 AT AROUND 60K MILES. IN OCTOBER 2012 AGAIN MY CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS DRAGGING AND I HEARD THE TELL TALE SQUEALING OF THE BRAKES SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO BE TOLD MY REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS AGAIN WERE WORN OUT AND CHEWED THROUGH, AND NO THAT MY CALIPERS HAD SEIZED AND I WOULD NEED TO PAY YET AGAIN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC MADE A COMMENT THAT THE ONLY TIME HE'D EVER SEEN THIS BEFORE WAS FROM YOUNG PEOPLE DOING "POWER SLIDES" ON THEIR CARS, SOMETHING I WOULD NEVER DO (I AM 28 YEARS OLD). UPON RESEARCH I FIND THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WHEN SEARCHING ONLINE FOR BREAK PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR MODEL YEARS 2006-2010, ENOUGH THAT THERE IS EVEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN NEW YORK. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO RECALL AND REPAIR THESE VEHICLES AS WELL AS REIMBURSE FOR THE EXPENSE OF FIXING THESE UP UNTIL THEY ISSUE THE RECALL. *TR
WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR. STOPPED AND COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SO WE DROVE HOME, AT MAYBE 15 MILES FROM HOME WE NOTICED A SCRAPING SOUND. AND COULD NOT DRIVE ANY FURTHER, BEING LATE AT NIGHT WE CALLED A FRIEND WHO HAS A TOW TRUCK AND IS MECHANIC. TOLD US THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN AND WAS SCRAPING METAL TO METAL.HE TOWED US HOME FOR $25.00 WHEN WE GOT HOME WE CALLED ROADSIDE SERVICE THEY TOWED IT NAPLETON HYUNDAI IN CALUMET CITY ILL WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM, FAMILY HYNUDAI 8101 W 159TH ST TINLEY PARK ILL THE VEHICLE WAS A USED TRADE IN WITH 39,736 MILES PURCHASE DATE WAS 2/18/2012. UPON INSPECTION AT NAPLETON HYUNDAI WE WERE TOLD THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKE PAD HAD HUNG UP IN HOLDER AND THAT WE NEEDED TO REPLACE IT AND ROTOR. THE RIGHT PADS WERE FINE AND HARDLY ANY WEAR AT ALL WE WERE TOLD THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THAT. WHY SHOULD ONE SIDE GO BAD AND NOT THE OTHER. UNLESS THERE IS A DEFECT SOME WHERE. *TR
IN REGARDS TO MY VEHICLES REAR DISC BRAKES. FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION IT IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR YOUR REAR BRAKE PADS TO WEAR OUT BEFORE THE FRONT DO. DO TO WEIGHT AND INERTIAL PUSHING HARDER ON THE FRONT BRAKES ( THIS VEHICLE IS MUCH MORE HEAVIER IN THE FRONT THAN THE BACK). MY REAR PADS WORE OUT BEFORE AND FROM SOME RESEARCH IN FORUMS ON MY MODEL CAR OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME EXPERIENCE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT HERE AND IT MIGHT INVOLVE THE PROPORTIONING VALVE SENDING TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO THE REAR CALIPERS IN COMPARISON TO THE FRONT CALIPERS. MIGHT OF BE AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE VALVE THAT IS CAUSING ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION INTO ISSUE . I CAN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IF NEEDED IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AS SUBJECT FOR TESTING. 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS 4-CYL AUTOMATIC TRANS ,DISC PADS FRONT AND BACK. *TR
I PURCHASED MY 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA IN AUGUST 2009. IN DECEMBER 2011 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND ASKED THAT THE BRAKES BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE THEY WERE SQUEAKING AND THE PEDAL FELT SOFT. I WAS NOT SURE WHAT THE MILEAGE WAS BUT I THINK IT WAS AT 34K. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED REAR AND FRONT BRAKES. I WAS TOLD MY REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY GONE AND MY FRONT BRAKES WERE AT 30 TO 40%. DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS, I HAD THEM FIX THE REAR BRAKES THAT DAY AND TOOK THE CAR BACK TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES FIXED IN MARCH 2012. SINCE THAT TIME THE PEDAL IS STILL SOFT AND WHEN I AM DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC THE CAR STOPS LIKE I NEED BRAKE, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PAID $400 IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS FOR NEW BRAKES. I HAVE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD FOR FEAR THAT I WOULD HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER AN EXHAUSTIVE FIGHT WITH THE DEALER I WAS BASICALLY TOLD THIS WAS THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. I CONSIDER THIS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND I GUESS IT WILL BE LIKE THE TOYOTA AND/OR FIRESTONE INCIDENT. WHEN SOMEONE DIES BECAUSE THEIR CAR WILL NOT STOP, THEN SOMEONE WILL TAKE NOTICE. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2009 Hyundai Sonata has 41 Brakes complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.