2009 Hyundai Sonata Cruise Control Problems

When your car slows down to around 20 mph—whether you're braking or just coasting—it suddenly jerks and causes the speed to drop abruptly. This jerk happens repeatedly when the car reaches that speed range, creating an unsmooth deceleration.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SON WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT THE CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP THE PARKING BARRIER HITTING THE VACUUM MACHINE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED HOWEVER THE VACUUM MACHINE WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH THE FRONT BUMPER WAS CRACKED AND SCRATCHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT RICK CASE (180 SATELLITE BLVD DULUTH GA, 30096) WHERE NO FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A LIGHT POLE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TIRES WERE SPINNING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DROVE NORMALLY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

STALLS RANDOMLY AND INTERMITTENTLY ANYTIME AND AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAPPENS WHILE CRUISING ON A FREEWAY OR STOPPED ON A LIGHT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 50-60 MPH. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED TWO BROKEN LEGS, A BROKEN ANKLE, AND SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE VEHICLE USING THE JAWS OF LIFE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 15535396. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

UPON ACCELERATING UP AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY, CAR ACCELERATED AT AN UNREASONABLE RATE OF SPEED TRIED USING BRAKES, BUT THEY WERE GONE. CAR HIT SPEEDS OF 60/65 MPH FOR MORE THAN 3 MILES ON A TURNPIKE. PARKING BRAKE DID NOT WORK, BRAKE PEDAL WAS DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE AUTO. AFTER TRAVELING MORE THAN 3 MILES, IN THE SHOULDER, I PUT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND FINALLY STOP. TOWED FROM TURNPIKE TO DEALERSHIP. KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE 2006 MODEL, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING SIMILAR TO MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE SONATA 2009.

I WAS AT THE GAS PUMP TRYING TO EASE UP TO GET CLOSER SO THE NOZZLE COULD REACH MY TANK. IN THE PROCESS OF EASING UP THE CAR TOOK OFF FORWARD, CAUSING THE DOOR TO CLOSE MY LEG IN THE DOOR ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOOSE MY LEG. THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE PULLING INTO A FUEL STATION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN ITS REAR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. MA 08/05/2015 UPDATED 9/24/2015 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTER BECAME STUCK IN PARK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE THEN ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL DEFECT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

ESC OFF LIGHT COMES ON A FEW MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. RESETS AFTER VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF ONLY TO COME BACK ON A FEW MINUTES LATER. ADDITIONAL SOMETIMES CRUISE CANNOT BE TURNED ON AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ENGAGE WITH ESC OFF LIGHT ON. *TR

BASICALLY IT APPEARS THAT I'M HAVING THE SAME BRAKE SWITCH ISSUE COMMON WITH MANY HYUNDAIS. HOWEVER, CURRENTLY THE '09 SONATA IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AT LEAST A YEAR AGO WHEN THE ESC OFF LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AT RANDOM TIMES. IT WOULD NORMALLY CLEAR UPON TURNING THE CAR OFF. A FEW DAYS AGO THE ESC OFF LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. TODAY I COULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK FROM DRIVE. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I QUICKLY FOUND THE BRAKE SWITCH ISSUE. I CONFIRMED THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONAL. THIS IS SOMETHING OCCURS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING WHICH IS A BIT SCARY SINCE I DRIVE HOME ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD BEEN OUT. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHEN THE ESC OFF LIGHT BECAME PERMANENT. HOWEVER, FOR SOME REASON IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN WHEN THE SHIFT LOCK PROBLEM OCCURRED. ODD. NOT SURE WHY AN ADDITIONAL ISSUE WOULD MAKE THE SPEED CONTROL FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME, I BRAKED TO TURN INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. MY FRIEND WHOM WAS FOLLOWING ME STATED THAT MY REAR BRAKES DID NOT COME ON WHEN I BRAKE. I ATTEMPTED TO PARK MY VEHICLE AND I COULD NOT PUT THE CAR INTO PARK BUT ONLY NEUTRAL, NOR COULD I SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. I HAD DRIVE THE CAR TO A FRIENDS GARAGE, PLACE THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, DETACH THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE SONATA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOST ITS FORCE AND WOULDN'T MOVE. WHILE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET I WAS PUSHING THE GAS PEDDLE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO. THE ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AS WELL. I POWERED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON BUT THE CAR STILL DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF FORCE, BUT ENOUGH TO GET TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. I LEFT THE CAR OFF IN A PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 5 MIN AND TURNED IT BACK ON. THE ESC LIGHT TURNED OFF, BUT NOT THE CHECK ENGINE. THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHERE ITS A SWITCH IN THE BRAKE PEDDLE BUT THAT SHOULD NOT MAKE THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT OFF. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP SINCE I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 2 WEEKS AGO AND NOW I'M WAITING FOR DIAGNOSTICS TO COME BACK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD IN ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, SHE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IT RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,200.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO INCREASE SPEED UP TO 50 MPH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT DID NOT BRAKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STOPPED AND PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, THEN TO DRIVE GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,956.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE STARTED HIS VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, HE SHIFTED TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. HE THEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WITH THE BRAKES STILL DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AGAIN AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH TO THE NECK. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE REAR AND FRONT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ACCELERATION ISSUE AND A REPRESENTATIVE WAS SENT TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE. AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL AND NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,782.

MY 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA WILL SPEED UP WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. IT WILL INCREASE THE RPM'S BY 1000 WHICH INCREASES THE SPEED OF THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES NOW TO THE POINT OF RETURNING MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. BUT, WITH 52,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT ALL. *TR

I HAVE HAD 2 INSTANCES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. 1ST INCIDENT I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AND THE CAR SHOT BACKWARD NARROWLY MISSING MY HOUSE. 2ND INCIDENT ABOUT A MONTH LATER I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR SHOT FORWARD & I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING A FENCE. BOTH INCIDENTS THE VEHICLE WAS GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE VEHICLE JERKING OCCASIONALLY IN TRAFFIC WHEN YOU EASE UP ON THE GAS PEDAL.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO PERFORMED SEVERAL TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO WAS AWARE OF HER VISIT TO THE DEALER AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 03/11/11*LJ UPDATED 12/19/11 *CN

JUNE 3, 2009 CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN UP TO APPROX 65 MPH WHEN DRIVER WAS PRESSING ACCELERATOR AT 30 MPH, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP - DRIVER STOOD ON BRAKES, SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, PULLED UP PARKING BRAKE, GOT OFF ROAD AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. DEALER MADE NO REPAIR-SAID THEIR COMPUTER SHOWED NOTHING WRONG. AUGUST 12, 2009 CAR LOST ALL POWER AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON - STEERED CAR OFF ROAD. NO REPAIR MADE - DEALER TIGHTENED GAS CAP- SAID COMPUTER SHOWED NOTHING ELSE WRONG. AUGUST 17, 2009 CAR LOST POWER AGAIN - STEERED OFF ROAD. DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY. JUNE 24, 2010 CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN UP TO 65 MPH WHEN DRIVER PRESSED ACCELERATOR WHILE GOING 40 MPH, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP - DRIVER STOOD ON BRAKES, SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, PULLED UP PARKING BRAKE, GOT OFF ROAD AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. DRIVER CALLED 911 AND SPOKE TO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER - NO REPAIR MADE, THEIR COMPUTER SHOWED NOTHING WRONG. DEALER DELIVERED CAR TO MY HOUSE, I HAVE KEPT IT OFF THE ROAD. CAN'T DRIVE IT, TRADE IT, OR SELL IT BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR

2009 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED 4 CYL. WHILE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, WHEN RESUMING SPEED AFTER SLOWING DOWN FOR TRAFFIC, CAR CONTINUED ON THRU SET RESUME SPEED (70) TO 80+. CONTROL REESTABLISHED BY SHUTTING OFF CRUISE CONTROL. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIMES BUT IT DID HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES, MAR. 12 - 14, 2010. IT HAD NOT OCCURRED BEFORE. WE HAVE NOT USED CRUISE CONTROL SINCE. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE. UNRESOLVED. *TR

1. DRIVING FROM HARRISBURG TO POTTSTOWN PA 2. NON-RESPONDING THROTTLE AT 60 MPH. PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. WORKED OK FOR A FEW MILES; AGAIN, THE THROTTLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. 3. FOUND INTERNAL FAILURE WITH THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, HE SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN AND BEGAN APPROACHING A CURB WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THE DRIVER TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKES THEN HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AGAIN IN ORDER TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 765 MILES.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DOWNHILL WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THE FAILURE, BUT STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND THEY ALSO COULD NOT ASSIST. HE BELIEVES THAT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD BE A SAFETY RISK DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. HE ALSO BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AS WELL AS A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED OTHER CONSUMERS THAT WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 10/06/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/08/09.