2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring problems & reliability
32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring, alongside 3 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering → | 11 | 34% |
| Air Bags | 8 | 25% |
| Electrical System | 4 | 13% |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 9% |
| Tires | 3 | 9% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 9% |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 6% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 6% |
| Power Train | 2 | 6% |
| Structure | 2 | 6% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 15 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 27 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 75,000 miles (middle 50% between 29,500 and 115,250 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the rear frame had disconnected from the body and landed on the ground. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The…”
Structure · filed Jan 14, 2022
“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…”
Steering · filed Aug 11, 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 hyundai elantra touring. The contact stated while driving 20 mph and attempting to make a right turn, an eps message appeared on the instrument panel and the vehicle was not able to make the turn. The contact stopped and restarted the vehicle and drove back to the residence however, the…”
Steering · filed Apr 14, 2021
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Headliner Bracket Detachment
Recall Query RQ13004 · opened Dec 4, 2013 · closed Jun 24, 2014 · led to recall 14V310000
Technical service bulletins
39 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring. The 10 most recent:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co.…
DTN DL · Other · issued Apr 10, 2026
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety…
DTN DCS · Other · issued Apr 10, 2026
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of…
25-BD-012H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 6, 2025
This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and…
24-BD-001H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 14, 2024
This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
23-EM-005H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 13, 2023
Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare…
23-BD-007H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 24, 2023
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of…
23-BD-002H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 30, 2023
Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain components of the engine intake system accordingly during engine short block or sub-assembly replacement.
22-EM-010H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 28, 2022
Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for correcting load carrying capacity information indicated on tire placards when vehicle weight has been increased…
22-GI-006H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 14, 2022
Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicleâ  s ownerâ  s manual. ï · Use of other ATF may result in improper shift quality or other drivability conditions. ï · Use…
21-AT-006H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 21, 2021
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 75,000 miles — worth a pre-purchase inspection if the car is near that mileage.