2001 Hyundai Sonata Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  9
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  7
• Side/window
  6

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  931%
• 25k–50k
  310%
• 50k–75k
  828%
• 75k–100k
  13%
• 100k–150k
  621%
• 150k+
  27%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

My son was in an accident in which someone pulled out of a side road into his path of travel. The front of the Hyundai from just past the grill on driver's side to entire passenger side hit the front driver wheel forward on the other car. Neither the steering wheel nor the passenger side airbag deployed in my Hyundai. He hit with such force the steering wheel was bowed and steering column was broken along with the bottom of the dash where his knees hit.

Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at 55 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a bridge. The contact stated that the front driver side air bag failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact suffered injuries to the head, thumb, knees, neck, and chest that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a service lot. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 134,000.

I heard a repetitive clicking sound and turned my radio off to listen. The noise didn't change when I slowed down and I resumed my normal speed of 60 MPH. After a few seconds the car slowly & gradually began pulling to the left. I was unable to steer the vehicle at all and was moving into the shoulder and median between the highways. I tried to apply my brakes but the car was not responding. I had no steering or brakes and was heading towards oncoming traffic at 60 MPH. I hit the end of a guard rail and the air bags did not deploy. These cars are not safe to drive! We also had a problem w/it hesitating when it tried to switch gears & the dealership was unable to fix. And the driver window would not stay in the track and shut properly.

I was driving my 2001 Hyundai Sonata and had an accident. Front end damage estimated at $3500.00. Airbags did not deploy!! My husband and myself were both injured in the crash. I hit my chest on the steering wheel, hard. My husband hit his head on the rearview mirror and windshield and we both went for medical treatment. We both still have pain. My husband has had a headache since the crash. The car was towed and was totaled out from the damages. I have to now look for another vehicle. I am sure if the airbags went off, we wouldn't have been injured like we did. I do feel that we are entitled to something for our pain and suffering.

Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2001 Hyundai sonota with 85000 failure mileage at 45 MPH on a icy road another vehicle made a left turn in front of the contact's vehicle and it hit the other vehicle on the passenger's side front end, but the air bag did not depoly. The passenger of the other vehicle, and the contact sustained minor injuries. The contact's vehicle, sustained major damage. Both vehicles were towed away.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 30 MPH and making a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the front of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 615.

While driving at 40 MPH consumer's vehicle rear ended the vehicle in front. Seat belts were worn, but driver's side air bag did not deploy. Police arrived on the scene and cited the consumer. There were no injuries . There was a recall on the air bags one year prior to this collision that was supposed to have been taken care off. Dealer and manufacturer were notified.

While traveling about 5mph another vehicle traveling 30 MPH hit her, and the dual airbags didn't deploy. Dealer is aware of the problem. Ph dealership stated airbags did not deploy because consumer was only traveling at 5 MPH. Driver sustained minor injuries and the vehicle was considered totaled.

Tl*- the contact stated that in late December the airbag light turned on and stayed on. She took the 2001 Hyundai Sonata to the dealership, and found that the vehicle warranty ran out. The dealership informed the contact that the diagnostic test revealed fault code b1382, the passenger's side airbag resistance was high. The contact called the manufacturer, and they informed her that they would not repair the airbag without cost. The general manager of the Hyundai dealership stated that they would pay for the cost of the airbags, but that she would be responsible for the labor. The contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer.. The contact found a recall 01V247000 on line for airbags for her vehicle with campaign# 01V347000, for frontal airbags. The contact felt that the manufacturer and the dealership should be responsible for the malfunctioning of the airbag. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 02V105000 (air bags) but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000. Updated 10/22/2014 the consumer was advised that Hyundai was only responsible for repairing the vehicle one time under recall. The vehicle was repaired by another mechanic but, the failure recurred. Updated 4/2/2015

Related recalls

Airbag complaints in other Sonata years