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 2005 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
(Takata recall) I had a accident on 1/20/2016. My airbag did not inflation, when the airbag came out it was deflated. The airbag let out chemical in my face, eyes, nose, throat.the airbag exposure cause me eye trauma, face skin irritated , and sinus infection, headache . I hit some black ice on highway 77, three miles before you get to newborn, tn. My car slide of the road in to a ditch. The bag did not cause the accident, but it cause body problems.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owned a 2005 Hyundai Sonata. The contact was involved in a fender bender while driving approximately 10 MPH. The air bags deployed and released a lot of tiny metal crystals. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a nearby dealer and deemed destroyed. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Involved in a four car crash early this morning. I was the last in line and rear ended a truck. The Sonata is totaled. The passenger airbag deployed, but not the driver's one. I hit the steering wheel and glasses flew off on the dashboard. It was a hard impact, the front end is destroyed.
My wife had an accident on new jersey parkway south, the air bag on both the driver side and passengers side refuse to deploy, these has cause my wife broken ribbs and some bodily injuries according to doctors report....updated 07/13/16
On December 17, 2007 at approx 5:30 pm my daughter was driving west on osuna at intersection of seaguill , driving the speed limit of 35 MPH, 35 being the posted speed limit. As she proceeded through the intersection on a green light, a late model Ford ranger tried to go through the intersection crossing her path. As she advanced through the intersection she struck the Ford ranger broad side. Fortunately for my daughter she had her seat belt on, because the 2005 Hyundai Sonata's air bags did not deploy. There was no reason for the Hyundai 's air bags not deploying because the impact was straight ahead hit, unless the Hyundai 's air bag were defective. My daughter was not hurt bad, although she has been having neck & back pain and is under a doctor's supervision. I have written to Hyundai., to this date they have been very unresponsive. …
Driving from dealer after purchasing this car used, the air bag light came on. Returned to dealer and was "repaired" and told that they must have loosened the connection when they vacuumed the car. Since then the air bag light has come on and off intermittently. About 6 months after purchasing the car the light came on again and stayed on. Took to mechanic, they checked the codes and reset the light. The light stayed off for another 6 months or so. The light is back on again. Took to my mechanic and was told that this time he could not reset the codes and that I needed to take to hyundaii dealer for repair. After reading other complaints about this year model, I feel like this is a scam by hyundaii to make sure that they make money off of a car that May or May not be dangerous. …
Electrical issues began a month after driving the vehicle. Front and rear light bulbs continue requiring replacement, the dash light also will flash when brakes are depressed. The trunk leaked the first christmas, dealer claimed to repair it, but failed, still leaks. Air bag indicator came on, went off eventually, and is back on again. Finally, car began losing power last year and cutting off sporadically in traffic, and now the rear and window brake lights remain on when lights are on but not when turned off. Recall info points to defective stop brake switch that failed even after repair/replacement, however, my VIN does not appear on the recall list and the dealer will not repair or replace. Curious, since my car is of the make, model, and year reported! Greedy and irresponsible !
Husband driving at low speed, car in front of him stopped; brakes on Sonata failed-hit brake pedal to the floor, but Sonata still did not stop; car was at the dealer (savage Hyundai) the week before for inspection and all was fine; husband hit car in front of him and that person hit another car. In addition, air bags did not deploy even though there was $6700 worth of front end damage; told dealer-said high hit; called Hyundai-implied damage was high and perhaps air bags should have deployed, but make it very difficult to file a formal complaint; said we needed pictures, etc.; car was at the Hyundai dealer being fixed; both Hyundai dealer and Hyundai corporate not making things easy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Sonata. The contact was driving approximately 45 MPH when the vehicle was involved in a crash in which the air bags did not deploy. There were no reported injuries. The same failure occurred on two prior occasions in which the vehicle was involved in a crash and the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was never taken to have the failure diagnosed but it was taken to an independent repair shop to have the body damages repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileages were 175,000.
Vehicle crash (1). Vehicle traveling approximately 20 MPH. Vehicle going opposite direction, makes left hand turn in front of vehicle (1). Drivers exits vehicle (1) car because of excessive smoke "fear of fire and tried to get away from car. Samaritans assist driver to back seat of vehicle (1) for a place to sit awaiting rescue/paramedics. Once driver was seated in the back seat the airbag deployed, and vehicle (1) was totaled, and driver was in stable condition, but the airbag never deployed during impact?
Airbag complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 55 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Hyundai Sonata, 33% of the model year's 165 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Hyundai Sonata airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2005 Hyundai Sonata, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Hyundai Sonata airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 18 crashes, 1 fire and 15 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.