Seat Belt complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 2% | 2,000 miles |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% | 26,000 miles |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2019 | 5 | 3% | 60,000 miles |
| 2018 | 8 | 2% | 47,000 miles |
| 2017 | 8 | 1% | 102,000 miles |
| 2016 | 9 | 1% | 31,000 miles |
| 2015 | 21 | 2% | 25,000 miles |
| 2014 | 25 | 3% | 75,000 miles |
| 2013 | 62 | 3% | 89,000 miles |
| 2012 | 75 | 5% | 85,000 miles |
| 2011 | 106 | 3% | 101,000 miles |
| 2009 | 8 | 2% | 100,000 miles |
| 2008 | 19 | 4% | 79,000 miles |
| 2007 | 60 | 9% | 83,000 miles |
| 2006 | 102 | 10% | 77,000 miles |
| 2005 | 3 | 2% | 135,000 miles |
| 2004 | 4 | 2% | 65,000 miles |
| 2003 | 7 | 4% | 80,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 2% | 51,000 miles |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% | 67,000 miles |
| 2000 | 5 | 2% | — |
| 1999 | 6 | 4% | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while she was at a red light, another vehicle crashed into the back of her vehicle however, the seat belt failed to retract, causing the contact to suffer whiplash and a bump to her knees against the dashboard behind the steering wheel. A police report was filed. The contact stated she was able to drive the vehicle to her residence, where she noticed she had sustained injuries on her legs and her right leg was swollen, as well as multiple other injuries. The contact sought medical attention. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the driver's side seat belt was replaced however, the seat belt was still not latching securely. …
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the air bag warning light had been illuminated. The contact stated that while pulling on the seat belt, the warning light was deactivated; however, the warning light activated shortly after. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer performed a compression check. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was advised to drive the vehicle until it blew up. In addition, the contact stated that all four seat belts had failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the front driver's side and passenger's side seat belts failed to retract as intended. The contact stated that the seat belts failed to secure the passengers in place. Additionally, the contact stated that the rear seat belts completely failed to retract as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the independent mechanic or the dealer. …
I was the owner of a 2018 Sonata until I was t-boned and the car was totaled. I started to make a left turn into a school parking lot when the engine kind of stalled or more like stuttered and did not go forward as usual. The oncoming car then struck me before I was completely in the driveway. My vehicle was totaled as was the other one. Fortunately no one was on the passenger's side where the other car hit me. However the seat belt did not engage which resulted in me slamming very hard into the steering column. This resulted in bruised on my right side which cleared up in several weeks, but, unfortunately, I received a heart contusion on my left side which is still causing shortness of breath. Hyundai will not acknowledge a problem with the engine or the seat belt.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt failed to lock securely. The contact stated that the seat belt loosened unexpectedly and failed to properly protect the driver while operating the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,000.
The car was involved in a front end collision going about 35 mph. The Collison was enough to bust the radiator and likely total the car. The entire front end is heavily damaged. There was a driver and front seat passenger in the vehicle at the time of Collision. The seat belts did not lock nor did any airbag deploy.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the driver's seat belt became inoperable. The contact stated that the seat belt failed to properly retract or properly restrain the contact while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the seat belt assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,800.
The first is the drivers side headlight not properly projecting light. The light projected a shadow across the center of the light preventing proper illumination in front of my vehicle. This is causing a safety issue. Brought car to dealer who confirmed that the left headlight was deformed preventing proper projection of the light. This deformity was not covered nor are there any recalls even though numerous people reported the same issue. Am working on privately replacing them both. The second was the return tensioner not properly retracting the seatbelt back in. This was not covered by the dealer but it'sa safety issue where the system may fail.
Related recalls (3)
Seat belts › Pretensioner
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles previously repaired under recall campaign 17V-152. The seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will again verify the connection between the seat belt linkage and the pretensioner and additionally install a warning label to prevent future seat belt linkage detachment, free…
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners and dealers will inspect the connection between the seat belt linkages and the seat belt anchor pretensioners, repairing them as necessary, free of charge.
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured April 25, 2014, to December 4, 2014. The affected vehicles have a front passenger seat belt whose buckle latch assembly may prevent the front passenger from fastening the seat belt.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the front passenger seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059.
NHTSA investigations
Front Passenger Seat Belt Anchor Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation on December 27, 2016 based on two ODI consumer complaints reporting a failure of the front passenger seat belt to remain connected to the seat belt anchor and pre-tensioner during a crash.On March 8, 2017 Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) filed a defect report with the agency stating that it would conduct a safety recall on 977,778 model year…
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Sonata years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2011 (106), 2006 (102), 2012 (75), 2013 (62) and 2007 (60) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 2011.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Sonata seat belt problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 17V-617 (pretensioner, Oct 4, 2017); 17V-152 (anchorage, Mar 8, 2017); 15V-414 (buckle assembly, Jun 30, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Sonata seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles; 24% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › buckle assembly (12 mentions), followed by the pretensioner (11).
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.