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2009 Hyundai Elantra SE 5MT

The 2009 Hyundai Elantra SE 5MT is a 138-hp 2.0-liter inline-4 with a manual 5-speed and front-wheel drive. It starts at $17,020 MSRP and is rated at 27 mpg combined.

It makes 138 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 136 lb-ft of torque at 4600 rpm. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway (27 mpg combined).

The Elantra measures 177.4 inches long on a 104.3-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 2,723 lb.

Spec Value
Vehicle
Body TypeSedan
PowertrainGas
Price
MSRP$17,020 ($25,788 *)
MSRP with Destination$17,715 ($26,841 *)
Destination Charge$695
Engine
Engine Type2.0L DOHC 16-valve inline-4 with CVVT, aluminum head
Displacement2 L
Horsepower138 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque136 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm
Injection TypeMulti-point fuel injection (MPFI)
Drivetrain
Drive TypeFWD
Transmission
TransmissionManual 5-speed
Fuel Economy
City24 MPG
Highway33 MPG
Combined27 MPG
Recommended FuelRegular Gasoline
Tank Capacity14 gal
Brakes
Front Brake Disc4-wheel disc
Rear Brake Disc4-wheel disc
Tires & Wheels
Wheels Front16-in.
Wheels Rear16-in.
Tires FrontP205/55R16
Tires RearP205/55R16
Dimensions & Weight
Length177.4 in
Width69.9 in
Height58.3 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Front Track60.2 in
Rear Track60.1 in
Ground Clearance5.9 in
Cargo Volume14.2 ft³
Curb Weight2,723 lbs
Interior
Headroom Front40 in
Headroom Rear37.6 in
Legroom Front43.5 in
Legroom Rear35 in
Shoulder Room Front55.6 in
Shoulder Room Rear55.1 in
Hip Room Front54.2 in
Hip Room Rear54 in
* Amount adjusted for inflation to 2026 dollars

Safety & Recalls

NCAP safety ratings

Overall Not rated
Frontal crash Not rated
Frontal – driver ★★★★★
Frontal – passenger ★★★★★
Side crash Not rated
Rollover Not rated
Tested variant: 2009 Hyundai Elantra 4-DR. w/SAB

Recalls

4 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2009 Hyundai ELANTRA. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Feb 4, 2020 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.

Consequence: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.

NHTSA campaign 20V061000

Feb 23, 2015 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. The electronic power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127.

NHTSA campaign 15V100000

Apr 1, 2013 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

NHTSA campaign 13V113000

Mar 15, 2011 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2008. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS IN THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A WEIGHT SENSOR DESIGNED TO DEACTIVATE THE RIGHT FRONTAL AIRBAG WHEN OCCUPANTS OF CERTAIN WEIGHTS OCCUPY THE SEAT. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE, BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE CONNECTOR COULD BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MALFUNCTION SUCH THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT.

Consequence: THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY IN CRASHES IN WHICH IT SHOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONNECTOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTING TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

NHTSA campaign 11V143000

286 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 2009 Hyundai ELANTRA

Owner Complaints

286 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Hyundai ELANTRA (28 mention a crash, 11 a fire, 20 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov

Most-cited areas
Steering144
Air Bags50
Service Brakes30
Electrical System28
Vehicle Speed Control21
Engine14
A complaint can cite more than one area.
Most recent complaints
Sep 30, 2026 · Unknown Or Other, Service Brakes
“The Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) module has failed due to moisture intrusion that caused an internal electrical short circuit, destroying the ABS Primary Pressure Sensor. A few days after the…”
Sep 22, 2026 · Steering
“The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle lost power steering assist. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated…”
Sep 3, 2026 · Steering
“I am reporting Hyundai’s failure to complete open Campaign 127/NHTSA Recall 15V-100 on my 2009 Hyundai Elantra. I acquired the vehicle from a family member in late July 2026 after the previous owner…”
Aug 29, 2026 · Steering
“Power steering assist motor stopped working, leaving the car with hard manual steering. Dealer inspection confirms the issue across several year models, inclding my 2009. There were 2 other year…”
Aug 4, 2026 · Forward Collision Avoidance Fire
“My ABS system started smoking while the vehicle was in the off position. Police and fire department showed up. Police report number is 2026151090. I was called outside from the establishment and the…”

Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.

Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.

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