Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% | 0 miles |
| 2021 | 4 | 3% | — |
| 2020 | 7 | 4% | 2,000 miles |
| 2019 | 9 | 6% | 60,000 miles |
| 2018 | 4 | 1% | — |
| 2017 | 22 | 3% | 32,000 miles |
| 2016 | 21 | 3% | 63,000 miles |
| 2015 | 25 | 2% | 65,000 miles |
| 2014 | 31 | 4% | 80,000 miles |
| 2013 | 104 | 5% | 87,000 miles |
| 2012 | 170 | 11% | 83,000 miles |
| 2011 | 419 | 12% | 93,000 miles |
| 2010 | 20 | 6% | 43,000 miles |
| 2009 | 30 | 7% | 68,000 miles |
| 2008 | 137 | 32% | 72,000 miles |
| 2007 | 257 | 37% | 76,000 miles |
| 2006 | 435 | 42% | 70,000 miles |
| 2005 | 55 | 33% | 70,000 miles |
| 2004 | 46 | 23% | 74,000 miles |
| 2003 | 43 | 22% | 66,000 miles |
| 2002 | 51 | 16% | 70,000 miles |
| 2001 | 47 | 23% | 63,000 miles |
| 2000 | 43 | 16% | 68,000 miles |
| 1999 | 37 | 22% | 67,000 miles |
| 1998 | 6 | 12% | — |
| 1997 | 8 | 16% | 36,000 miles |
| 1996 | 3 | 13% | — |
| 1995 | 15 | 23% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I turned on a highway and had gotten my car up to 45 mph when a deer came out of nowhere and I slammed into it hard back on January 12th. The car only suffered cosmetic damage thankfully, but the air bags did not deploy. I have since then found out that the front air bag crash sensors are in a spot where they are practically useless unless you hit something pretty high up and destroy the headlights in the process. In my opinion, this is a serious safety issue, and when I contacted Hyundai about it, all they told me was to go to the dealership for inspection. I have pictures showing that the crash sensors are located at and not where they should be, and if you open the hood, the wiring for the sensors is right in your face. I still have high anxiety knowing that if I get into another accident, they may not deploy due to their location. …
It was smoking from the engine, I immediately stopped the vehicle. My safety was put at risk immediately while being in the vehicle when the air bags deployed hitting me in the face and causing my face to swell. The safety of others was put at risk due to others being right next to me and putting others at risk of engine blowing up. Yes, the vehicle has been inspected by police. There were no warning signs on the vehicle.
I was driving Home from work and I fell a sleep behind the wheel and Hit a park car. The police report states that my impact speed was 50mph. My insurance company is very concerned that my Air Bags or sensors are defective and that I contact you immediately. Due to the damage and impact of the accident.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 15 MPH in a residential area, another vehicle coming from the left side tried to pass the contact into oncoming traffic, as the contact's husband was trying to slow down to make a U-turn. As a result, the other driver's vehicle then crashed into the contact's husband. There were no warning lights illuminated. None of the air bags deployed. The vehicle was idled back to a friend's place of residence. The contact's husband suffered injuries from the vehicle collision. The contact's husband went to the hospital a day after the collision and was informed he would be sore for a couple of days. A police report was filed. The vehicle has not been repaired or taken to be diagnosed. The contact stated that she had notified the other vehicle's insurance and was awaiting a response. …
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 78 mph, a second vehicle crashed into the front passenger side causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a concrete median. During the crash, no airbags in the vehicle were deployed and the driver sustained a concussion and neck injury which required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 60,000.
I am Detective [redacted] #[redacted] with Austin Police Department Vehicular Homicide Unit and I worked a fatal crash [redacted]. The damage to the vehicle two vehicle should not have caused a death. The airbag became detached from the steering wheel and impaled into the drivers chest. I do have pictures but they are crime scene pictures and pictures of the decedent so I am not attaching them but if someone contacts me I can arrange that. I do not know the speed but I am going to image the module next week.
Hello im jesus ochoa on December 2 of 2022 i had a car accident i went underneath a simi truck and my air bags didnt deployed on my 2018 hyundia sonata and im worry of the new car i have from hyundai if the air bag didnt deployed on my 2018 hyundia
Airbags did not deploy no indicator light came on before nor after I was struck from my driver side front area and yes it is available for inspection upon request. My safety along with my sisters safety was put at risk due to the negligence and cheapness of the dealership I purchased the car from also from there misleading information and improper inspection before selling me the car Car has not been reproduced or confirmed The car was inspected by a third party appraisal company for damages amounts There were no lights on at all before the accident and I am pretty certain that the dealership cleaared the codes before selling me the car
Related recalls (9)
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. On February 27, 2018, Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) notified NHTSA that they were recalling 154,753 model year 2011 Sonata vehicles.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install an external wire filter kit, free of charge. The recall began October 15, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2017 Hyundai Elantra vehicles manufactured April 15, 2016, to September 13, 2016, and Sonata vehicles manufactured May 27, 2016 to September 16, 2016.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Air bags
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 28, 2016 through April 12, 2016. The affected vehicles have a driver-side frontal air bag that may not adequately protect the driver's neck from injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151.
Air bags › Frontal
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016 to February 22, 2016, and one 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicle manufactured October 15, 2015.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 5,2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Air bags › Side/window
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Hyundai Sonata passenger cars, manufactured from January 24, 2012, through June 21, 2012. The curtain side airbags on these vehicles may inflate without deployment command due to an error during manufacturing.
Remedy: Hyundai dealers will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain side airbags free of charge. This recall began on August 31, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Show 4 more recalls
Air bags
Hyundai is recalling 393,308 my 2006-2008 sonata vehicles equipped with an advanced air bag system which features an occupant classification system (ocs) in the right front seat. The purpose of the ocs is to disable the right passenger seat front air bag when it detects the presence of a child restraint system or small child in…
Remedy: Dealers will verify that the ocs does not properly recognize a properly seated adult occupant. After verification, dealers will remove the right front seat cushion assembly and ship it to an evaluation and repair…
Air bags › Side/window
On certain passenger vehicles, the supplemental restraint system (SRS) side impact air bag satellite sensors May be too sensitive to some lateral accelerations that are not caused by side impacts to the vehicle, such as forcefully slamming a door closed.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the side impact air bag satellite sensors. Owner notification began July 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
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.
NHTSA investigations
Improper frontal air bag performance
Hyundai has received 49 reports from customers stating the frontal air bags did not deploy in a crash for the subject vehicles.examination of suplimental information provided to odi by the manufacturer for the reported cases it appeared that the necessary air bag deployment threshold was not met.there have been no fatal incidents or reports of serious injury as a result of being in a frontal crash and the air bags…
Seat Belt Buckle Electrical Malfunction
On July 22, 2014 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation to further analyze allegations of seat belt pretensioner malfunctions on model year (MY) 2006-2008 Hyundai Sonata vehicles.ODI received 131 unique reports alleging a failure within the seat belt pretensioner system, which was typically preceded by SRS light illumination.ODI requested more information from Hyundai in order to…
Air bags may be disabled during crash
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE18-003 on 3/16/18 to investigate incidents involving crashes, resulting in significant collision related damage, where the frontal airbags failed to deploy. ODI reviewed complaint data, available design, test, and field data on the model year (MY) 2011 Hyundai Sonata, MY 2012-2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup vehicles.
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has become aware of eight vehicle crashes in which a rupture of a Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN) air bag inflator occurred during the deployment of the driver side air bag. All eight drivers in these crashes sustained serious or fatal injuries that appear linked to the ruptures.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Sonata years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2006 (435), 2011 (419), 2007 (257), 2012 (170) and 2008 (137) model years. Airbag complaints make up 42% of all complaints for the 2006.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Sonata airbag problems?
Yes — 9 recalls, including 18V-137 (air bag/restraint control module, Feb 27, 2018); 16V-956 (inflator module, Dec 30, 2016); 16V-615 (air bags, Aug 24, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Sonata airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles; 27% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (161 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (60).
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.