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2009 Hyundai Elantra Electrical Problems

20 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

20
Complaints
4
Fires
Jan 2019Dec 2010
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (20)

criticalELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Aug 2025

When you tried to start your car, the battery was completely dead. As you turned the key off, something popped under the hood and thick smoke began pouring out from behind the engine. Even after disconnecting the battery, the smoke continued to get thicker, creating a fire hazard. The issue happened suddenly with no warning lights or previous signs of trouble.

NHTSA #: 11682757
criticalELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Apr 2024

Your brake pedal feels soft and requires pushing almost to the floor to slow the car down. After a master cylinder replacement didn't fully resolve the issue, your brake and ABS warning lights came on, and the dealership identified a faulty HECU (ABS control module) that may not work properly during bad weather or sudden stops. The repair estimate was over $3,200, and you weren't notified of any available recall for this known issue.

NHTSA #: 11584866
highELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2024

Your car's electrical system is having multiple issues: the radio turns on and off by itself, heat blows through the vents even when the heater is off, the ABS warning light appeared during inspection but then worked normally, the airbag warning light stays on constantly, most of your dashboard lights don't work, and your door lock buttons only function intermittently.

NHTSA #: 11617075
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: May 2021

THE ABS MODULE JUST STARTED SMOKING TODAY. SMELL OF BURNING BREAKS. WE WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY AND STOPPED AT A MALL AND NOTICED THE SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL.

NHTSA #: 11416595
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Feb 2021

THE SENSITIVITY ON THE ALARM SYSTEM IS WAY OFF. I CAN'T EVEN SET THE ALARM BECAUSE IF A SEMI DRIVES PASSED IT, THE ALARM GOES OFF. IF A CAT JUMPS ON IT, THE ALARM GOES OFF. IF A STRONG BREEZE GOES BY AND A TWIG DROPS, IT GOES OFF. EVEN THOUGH THE LOCAL HYUNDAI REPAIR PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, THEY STILL WANT TO CHARGE AN ARM AND A LEG. FOR SOMETHING THAT ISN'T MY FAULT. JUST RECALIBRATE YOUR EQUIPMENT. YOU HAVE THE COMPUTERS TO DO SO BECAUSE YOUR EQUIPMENT HAS DONE IT BEFORE. MAYBE FIX IT?

NHTSA #: 11397068
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Feb 2020

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHY MY VIN WAS NOT PUT IN WITH THE RECENT RECALL OF THE ABS AND ESC AND HAS BEEN SHORTED OR DRAINED BATTERY AND MY VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF AND THE ELECTRICAL HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH MY BREAK LIGHTS AT ONE POINT. I HAVE REPLACED MY ABS SENSORY 2 TIMES ALREADY AND THE LIGHT STILL APEARS.

NHTSA #: 11308683
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
Filed: Jan 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED LIT AFTER STARTING CAR, BEGINING IN OCTOBER 2018. PROBLEM SEEMED INTERMITTENT; STAYED OFF AFTER START UP WHEN THERE WAS WEIGHT IN PASSENGER SEAT. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND A DIAGNOSIS WAS RAN. CODES SHOWED EITHER THE BATTERY OR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR. HAD THE 3 1/2 YEAR OLD BATTERY REPLACED TO RULE THAT OUT. NO AIR BAG LIGHT ISSUE FOR ABOUT TEN DAYS, BUT PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN. A FEW MORE WEEKS PASS AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AT ALL TIMES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THAT LIGHT IS ON. I WAS TOLD BY HYUNDI THAT AIR BAG PROBLEMS WOULD BE PAID BY THEM, BUT NOT FOR RELATED SENSOR ISSUES. SEEMS THE SENSOR IS EQUALLY AS DANGEROUS. NO AIR BAGS, ARE NO AIR BAGS. I BOUGHT THE CAR (USED) BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH SAFETY RATINGS FOR MY TWO TEENS TO DRIVE. I THINK ANY ITEM EFFECTING THE AIR BAGS SHOULD BE RECALLED ASAP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 11165660
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE
FireFiled: Dec 2018

STARTED THE CAR AND MOTOR/ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS THE MORNING OF 12/18/18. IT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY MOMS HOUSE (ON THE STREET).

NHTSA #: 11162908
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE
FireFiled: Oct 2018

ON 09/17/2018 I WOKE UP AROUND 5 AM TO FIND THE ELANTRA FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN THE FRONT END. IT WASN'T RUNNING, NOTHING LEFT ON, IT HAD NOT BEEN RUN FOR 4 HOURS SO THE ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COLD. NO DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS BEFORE. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, PUT THE FIRE OUT AND STATED THAT THEY SAW NOTHING SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THE FIRE AND THAT I SHOULD CHECK ON PROBLEMS WITH HYUNDAI. THIS CAR ONLY HAD 70000 MILES ON IT WITH A 10 YEAR 100000 MILE WARRANTEE .I WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT. THIS CAR WAS COLD, PARKED, NOTHING ON, NO KEYS IN IT, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON IT SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THANK YOU.

NHTSA #: 11140848
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2016

MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING 2009 EPS LIGHT COMING ON.

NHTSA #: 10819930
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
Filed: Jul 2015

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD TURN ON WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD. WE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE ISSUE AND IT "APPEARED" TO FIX THE ISSUE ONCE COMPLETED, BUT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE PAST FOUR YEARS. TODAY, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES AS OF JULY 5, 2015.

NHTSA #: 10733106
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Apr 2015

THE PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE CAR SHUT DOWN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND AS SUCH NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WILL FUNCTION. THE DEALER QUOTED ME AT NEARLY $2,000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND MENTIONED REPLACING THE ENTIRE SEAT BOTTOM. REQUIRING A COMPLETE SEAT REPLACEMENT FOR A SIMPLE SENSOR SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW. MEANWHILE, THIS REALLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AS THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. *TR

NHTSA #: 10712599
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Apr 2015

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!! I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND AFTER THEY TORE APART THE CAR AGAIN, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGED WIRING TO THE R/S PLATE LAMP TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY WERE MELTED TOGETHER AND EVERY TIME THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, IT WOULD SMOKE. THIS IS A SEPARATE ISSUE THAT WAS NOT SEEN IN NOV. IT WAS REPAIRED SO IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT THAT WAS 3 YEARS OF ELECTRICAL DRAMA THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. I STILL HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES INSIDE THE CAR, BUT AT LEAST MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORK. *TR

NHTSA #: 10704919
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Mar 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRUNK LID OPENED INDEPENDENTLY, THE ALARM ACTIVATED, AND ALL THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHICH FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DIAGNOSED THE FIRE AS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA #: 10692433
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
Filed: Oct 2014

AIRBAG SENSOR PASSENGER SEAT ASSEMBLY READS THAT THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT WHEN NO ONE IS IN SEAT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10649697
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
Filed: Apr 2014

I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME AND APPROACHING A STOP WHEN MY SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING MALFUNCTION OF AIRBAG. NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED, BUT LIGHT WOULD NOT GO AWAY. BROUGHT IT INTO AUTHORIZED HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY STATED RIGHT FRONT SEAT TRACK SENSORS HAVE FAILED. THE COST FOR REPLACING THIS PART IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, AND DRIVING WITH THIS LIGHT ON I THINK WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEM. CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA #: 10577621
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2013

CAR ALARM ACTIVATES AT RANDOM WHEN PARKED, INCESSANT NOISE AND WORK PROBLEM. CAR GEAR STUCK-STOP LAMP SWITCH REPAIRED-LATER RECALL, CD MALFUNCTION-ATE DISC, DOOR SENSOR INDICATOR LIGHTS STUCK ON, BATTERY DIES DESPITE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REVEALING NO PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10507155
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2011

BRAKE LIGHTS(ALL THREE) STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. DESPITE CHANGING FUSES AND BULBS, THEY STILL WILL NOT WORK. WIRES APPEAR TO CONNECT PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10424186
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2011

PANIC ALARM ENGAGES ON ITS OWN (WHILE PARKED) IN DRIVEWAY OR WORK PARKING LOT. CHECKED ALL DOORS, HOOD, TRUNK TO ENSURE THEY WERE CLOSED. HAS NOT HAPPENED WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. WHEN USING KEY FOB(MANUF SUPPLIED) PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. PRESS LOCK DR BUTTON(30-40 MIN LATER) ALARM SOUNDS,PRESS UNLOCK BUTTON(40-60 MIN LATER) ALARM SOUNDS OR DOES NOT COME ON AGAIN. PRESS LOCK BUTTON TO SECURE CAR, DOORS CLICK TWICE BUT ALARM ENGAGEMENT SOUND OR LIGHT VERIFICATION DOES NOT HAPPEN. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM SO I AM SURE IF TAKEN TO DEALER IT WILL NOT HAPPEN OR THEY WILL NOT CONFIRM IT IS HAPPENING. I CAN NOT SEE ANY LOOSE WIRES, BLOCKED CONTACTS OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT CAUSE PROBLEM. DON'T THINK IT IS THE BATTERY. ITS HAS TO BE A SHORT OR A COMPUTER PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 10406398
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Dec 2010

ESC SWITCH FAILURE CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OFF. *TR

NHTSA #: 10373388

Other 2009 Hyundai Elantra Issues