Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 1% | 10,000 miles |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2022 | 5 | 2% | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% | 60,000 miles |
| 2020 | 7 | 3% | — |
| 2019 | 7 | 3% | 8,000 miles |
| 2018 | 6 | 6% | 60,000 miles |
| 2017 | 20 | 2% | 35,000 miles |
| 2016 | 9 | 4% | 73,000 miles |
| 2015 | 9 | 4% | 75,000 miles |
| 2014 | 13 | 3% | 70,000 miles |
| 2013 | 5 | 1% | 24,000 miles |
| 2012 | 6 | 2% | 107,000 miles |
| 2011 | 7 | 4% | 31,000 miles |
| 2010 | 9 | 3% | 55,000 miles |
| 2009 | 29 | 8% | 80,000 miles |
| 2008 | 70 | 13% | 13,000 miles |
| 2007 | 102 | 15% | 46,000 miles |
| 2006 | 28 | 26% | 80,000 miles |
| 2005 | 74 | 34% | 94,000 miles |
| 2004 | 43 | 14% | 90,000 miles |
| 2003 | 42 | 14% | 68,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 3% | 96,000 miles |
| 2001 | 3 | 1% | 154,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Front air bag did not deploy in accident. I was rearended in stopped position at 55+MPH by a SUV that pushed me forward causing front end collision with the stopped car in front of me. Front, rear and back passenger damage with intrusion. Towed to dealer. Bought new from Watermark Ford, Marion, IL ~3 months ago, no recalls, no other accidents. I sustained neck, head and arm injuries requiring immediate medical attention. Crash report with Illinois State Police. Auto insurance has full details and adjuster inspecting. I have pics of my vehicle and the ones causing damage.
This email serves as a formal dispute of the warranty denial issued by [Lester Glenn Hyundai Toms River NJ] regarding the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) passenger airbag sensor in my 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe.The dealership has refused coverage, attributing the failure to "water damage." I strongly dispute this finding and am formally requesting a Corporate Goodwill Repair Exception or a tier-two engineering review of my vehicle due to the safety-critical nature of this component.
We were driving on interstate 49 going south near Chester Arkansas when traffic came to a stop. I was rear ended by a vehicle driving 75 mph. My car hit the car in front of me where there was damage to both the passenger and driver side front area of the car. No airbags deployed in spite of the severity of the front and rear impact of the vehicle. I sustained three compression fractures to my back with several abrasions and bruises. Both my vehicle and the vehicle in front of me were declared total losses.
Air bags didn't deploy on a front crash. Safety of my entire family in car was put at risk without airbags deploying. The problem has not been confirmed. The vehicle has not been inspected, a first responder on scene of crash said we should check into why our air bags didn't deploy. No warnings signs
At 1641, I was driving 55mph on tonganoxie rd with the right of way & no stop signed. The other driver did have a stop sign but did not yield and entered the intersection causing my vehicle to strike the middle of the passenger side and spinning my vehicle and stopped 90' to my right facing the direction she was traveling. All of my air back opened and inflated properly, except the driver side airbag. Because of this, my head slammed into the glass window, which then threw up upper body towards the passenger side. Had I not had a seatbelt on I would have ended up there. Due to the kinetic impact to the window (airbag only inflated about 1/4 of the way) I suffered a TBI severe concussion, tore my upper ribs from the breast bone, whiplash to my neck and back. There was a recall for this EXACT vehicle and driver airbag issue but mine was not listed as being on it. …
Front side airbags only came down maybe sun visor length. Broadsided a car that pulled out in front of me, I was going 55mph when I hit her and no time to brake. I am 5'4" and when I hit her my head hit below the bag and into the glass getting a concussion. This is a major safety factor. Progressive Insurance claim #[redacted], vin [redacted]. I have not received police incident report yet.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while his fiancee was driving at 45 mph, a deer impacted the driver's side of the vehicle. No air bags deployed. The contact stated the air bag warning light was illuminated after the impact. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medication attention. No police report was filed. The driver continued driving to their residence. The contact took the vehicle to the repair facility, where it was being serviced at the moment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 30-35 MPH, the contact was rear-ended by another vehicle, hit on the driver's side by a truck, and rear-ended again; however, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not deemed totaled. The vehicle was towed to the tow yard. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000. The VIN was not available.
Related recalls (8)
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
Remedy: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Air bags
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Santa Fe and Santa Fe HEV vehicles. The main floor wiring harness may chafe against the passenger-side second-row bench seat assembly and become damaged, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally or prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the wiring harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 22, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles. The Occupant Detection System (ODS) module may not deactivate the air bag upon detection of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ODS module, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied as of May 12, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Air bags › Side/window
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. The Side Curtain Air Bag (SCAB) mounting bolts may interfere with and damage the air bags during deployment.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the SCAB installation bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from April 19, 2006, through July 7, 2008. The occupant classification system (OCS) may need recalibration to accurately detect small statured adults.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the classification software free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Show 3 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Hyundai veracruz vehicles manufactured from December 26, 2006, through March 21, 2008, and model year 2007-2008 Hyundai santa fe vehicles manufactured from April 19, 2006 through March 20, 2008.
Remedy: Hyundai dealers will replace the vehicle's driver's air bag clock spring contact assembly free of charge. The safety recall began in November 2011. Owners May contact Hyundai customer connect center at 1-800-633-5151.
Air bags › Frontal
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an occupant classification system (ocs) the right front seat of the vehicle May misclassify certain small children seated on the front edge of the seat as an adult.
Remedy: Dealers will ensure that the vehicle's ocs will properly classify certain small children when seated on the front edge of the seat and will disable the right front airbags.
Air bags
On certain vehicles equipped with an occupant classification system (ocs) the right front seat of the vehicle May misclassify certain small children seated on the front edge of the seat as an adult.
Remedy: Dealers will ensure that the vehicle's ocs will properly classify certain small children when seated on the front edge of the seat and will disable the right front airbags.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Santa Fe years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (102), 2005 (74), 2008 (70), 2004 (43) and 2003 (42) model years. Airbag complaints make up 15% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Santa Fe airbag problems?
Yes — 8 recalls, including 25V-809 (curtain, Nov 20, 2025); 24V-561 (air bags, Jul 26, 2024); 21V-185 (front passenger, Mar 17, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Santa Fe airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles; 39% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (58 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (19).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.