Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Rt passenger side wheel clunks when turning, loud noise when moving took to dealer they found nothing wrong. I returned to dealer again a couple weeks later to confirm my a arm needs repairs, safety issues airbag's light remaining lit told repairs not available for year and make iwas told to deal with it by dealer even if it was a safety issue, driving car doesn't matter what speed my back end sounds like it is falling apart and my car will slam out or into gear I have reviewed recalls and safety issues and I have been told that they have been closed even if my car is currently having issues with the vehicle recalls ie..slamming in and out of gear, arm issues and clunky noises on turns and driving,rear end clunk sounds like no shocks or struts
I purchased a new 2000 Hyundai Sonata gls from schaumburg Hyundai (il) in November 2000, and had existing damage or traffic crashes with the vehicle until on 10/07/2002, when I was forced off the roadway by a truck and struck the side of a rocky mountain head-on. The force was enough to bend the middle of the car's frame and total the car. I was thrust violently forward at impact, and suffered minor neck and back injuries, and had been properly using the seatbelt. However, none of the car's front or side air bags deflated at time of impact. This concerns me greatly since I am a police officer and aware of product defects, and recalls which effect public safety. I brought this to the attention of the schaumburg Hyundai dealer and also Hyundai motor finance, neither of which responded favorably to this concern. I guess it must actually take a death to get their proper attention! …
Dt: the contact's daughter was involved in an accident. The accident occurred during rainy conditions. The contact's daughter hydro planed and hit another vehicle. Upon impact the front air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle received damage to both front doors and the front end. Injuries were sustained by both the contact and a passenger in the rear of the vehicle. The air bag light illuminated after the impact. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance company and deemed a total loss.
Dt: the air bag light was on . The dealer said there was going to be a recall on the air bag . Took vehicle to the dealer, and they replaced sensor in the back of passenger's seat. Then, took again vehicle to the dealer because the light came back on. Vehicle was nvovled in a car accident, and vehicle was totaled. However, upon impact, the air bags never deployed. This happened on July 22, 2005.
I was heading eastbound going about 40 MPH. An SUV was heading westbound and about to make a left turn. The SUV struck my vehicle and totaled the entire front of the vehicle. My airbags did not deploy. I am supposed to have side and front airbags. I am lucky I was wearing a seat belt because other than that, I had no other protection. This could have been fatal.
"takada recall " transmission don't shift check engine light is on it is suck in 3rd gear next time start car no check engine light car shifts but bangs hard in and out of next gear then check engine light comes on and car is stuck in third gear.also air bag light is on all time.
While traveling 55 to 60 MPH, the consumer hit an animal that had stopped in the road and none of the airbags deployed. All five passengers were injured in the accident. It was a horse, which died upon impact.
On May 21, 2005 after a trip to austin, tx to funeral with daughter-in-law from ky. Next morning, I started engine in sons yard for trip home to il. Air bag light came on. I drove home to il (350 miles) and told husband of problem. He took car to dealership on 6/17/05. They said it was the front passenger sensor and gave estimate $829.79 and said car out of warranty. Hyundai said "goodwill" repair possible. Talked to dealership 3 times..still waiting for decision as of 7-29-05. I am on disability and do not drive much. Now,I am afraid of air bags deploying accidentally or not at all. This is a safety issue and I am disappointed in lack of concern . Do I have to be in accident before acknowledge of this potential problem with many of the sonatas on the road?40,019 mileage at time of problem.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the air bag indicator is constantly illuminated, which means that the air bags are deactivated. The dealer turned off the indicator with the use of a computer; however, the indicator illuminated again. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and they turned off the light with the computer again, but the failure recurred. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 01V347000 regarding the air bag indicators. The current mileage was 97,000 and failure mileage was 96,000.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Hyundai Sonata. The contact noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument control panel, which indicated that the air bags were inoperative. She called the dealer in reference to NHTSA campaign id number 01V347000 (air bags) and was informed that her VIN was excluded from the recall. The contact would be responsible for the $900 repair cost. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000 and current mileage was 140,000.
Related recalls
Air bags › Side/window
On certain passenger vehicles, an intermittent condition that leads to the supplemental restraint system (SRS) air bag warning light illumination could result from motion of the side impact air bag wiring harness and side impact air bag wiring harness connector which mount to the adjustable seat cushion assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will more securely fasten the side impact air bag wiring harnesses and connectors to the vehicle's front seat cushion frames. Owner notification began May 28, 2002.
Air bags
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The supplemental restraint system (SRS) air bag warning light could illuminate due to motion of the side impact air bag wiring harness and side impact air bag wiring harness connector that mount to the adjustable seat cushion assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will more securely fasten the front seat side impact air bag wiring harness and connectors to the vehicle's front seat cushion frames.
Airbag complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Hyundai Sonata, 16% of the model year's 276 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Hyundai Sonata airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-105 (side/window, Apr 9, 2002); NHTSA recall 01V-347 (air bags, Nov 6, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Hyundai Sonata airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 15 crashes, 0 fires and 13 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.