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 2010 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My son was recently in two accidents involving Hyundai sonatas. Both vehicles were totaled. In the first accident, he was driving a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. He fell asleep driving home one night and hit a guardrail with the left front panel. The car continued to slam into the guardrail all the way down the left side. No airbags deployed! Four days ago, while driving a 2009 Hyundai Sonata, he slid on wet pavement and went down an embankment. He hit a large rock protruding from the ground causing the car to flip onto its roof. It continued to slide downhill until it finally came to a stop upside down. Again, not one airbag deployed! By the grace of god my son walked away from both accidents with only minor injuries. I am concerned that both these vehicles have significant airbag protection but when it was needed, they did not deploy. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. While driving 55 MPH, the brake system failed to engage when the brake pedal was depressed. As a result, the the contact crashed into the preceding vehicle. The front driver side air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the legs, knees, lower back, and shoulders that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 39,000.
I was stopped in traffic on I-4 in florida and a GMC pickup truck hit me in the rear of my car a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. The GMC truck was going 70-78 MPH when it hit me. None of my side or any of my air bags deployed as they should have. It happened on 12/23/16. Your lower date code wouldn't let me insert this date. Super government technology.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. The contact was driving approximately 55 MPH when the vehicle lost control and began to swerve to the left and right. The contact was unable to control the vehicle and was involved in a crash in which the air bags did not deploy. The police appeared on the scene and the driver was reported injured. A police report was available. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the air bags would only deploy when the impact from the crash struck the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The current and failure mileage was 7,000.
My Sonata's air bag sensor indicator light came on, also the passenger side air bag is saying "off" the car only has 41,400 mile, I acquired it from my mother . There have been no accidents to the care, thus, no air bag deployment. I brought it to my mechanic who said that he could not fix it because the codes were all off, it needs to go to a dealership. When I checked on recalls, the VIN did not come up as a recall. This is a safety issue that I should be fixed by the dealership at no charge, but since it is not a recall, I have to pay for it. Please help me with this issue
Tl* the contact owned a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. While the contact's daughter was driving 30 MPH, the vehicle began to slide on black ice. As a result, the vehicle crashed into the rear of a pick up truck. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's daughter sustained a concussion that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact's insurance company deemed the vehicle totaled. The vehicle was towed. The crash was related to NHTSA campaign number: 18V137000 (air bags). The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.
Tl contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. The front end of the vehicle was hit by another vehicle while it was stationary. The contact stated that the other vehicle was going approximately 10 miles an hour at the time and the amount off damage to the front end of the vehicle should have caused the air bags to deploy. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and the insurance company stated that they were surprised that the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was repaired, but the contact was afraid to drive the vehicle. The failure mileage and current mileages were 6870.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, the engine rpms increased excessively as the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The contact crashed into a building and the air bags did not deploy. The contact was not taken to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the failure was unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure and current mileage was 59,870.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH and exiting an alleyway, another vehicle crashed into the front driver's side and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck, head and wrist injuries. Also, the contact mentioned that the other driver sustained unknown injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 42,817. Updated 05/28/14 updated 05/30/2014
The airbag light came on and will not go off, took to dealer and they claim the sensor in the seat has gone bad and cost $675 to replace it and also I had to pay $90 just to diagnose it, this should not be right on a 5 year old car, I have seen other complaints online from car owners- I have not replaced part yet as I feel Hyundai should do it for free- and btw there have been 11 recalls on this car so far that I have had to have done- please put pressure on them to recall 2010-2011 sonatas to fix the issue
Airbag complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2010 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the air bags of the 2010 Hyundai Sonata, 6% of the model year's 345 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Hyundai Sonata airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2010 Hyundai Sonata, though it has 2 recalls 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 2010 Hyundai Sonata airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 43,000 miles, and 31% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 0 fires and 12 injuries and 1 death 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.