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 Tucson owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the front passenger side air bag wiring harness; however, the part was discontinued. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 75,880.
I acquired my vehicle as a used car. Although, to my knowledge my vehicle air bags have not deployed, the air bag light is illuminated on my dash panel and this issue is preventing me from obtaining an updated vehicle registration in my state of residence (Delaware). Since the year make and model are listed under the "recall" section of the NHTSA website, specifically for an airbag issue, I am requesting information regarding what nest-steps I nay take to have this problem repaired by Hyundai without any cost to me.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. While driving 25 MPH, the preceding vehicle applied the brakes unexpectedly, causing the contact to rear end the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the left wrist and chest pain. The contact was transported via ambulance to seek medical attention. The contact was unaware of the injuries to the other driver. A police report was filed. The vehicle was unable to be driven and was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 150,942.
"Takata recall" on April 8th approximately 6 o'clock in the morning I was awaken out of my sleep to my car on fire in my yard. I called the firefighter department they came out and said it was from bad electrical wires. My car was in my front yard...I last drove it that night to pizza hut
While traveling in snowy conditions, on a straight flat road, at approximately 35 MPH, my wife and I went into a slide in our 2005 Hyundai Tucson. After going off the road the car made impact with a tree at the passengers side door causing over $11,000 in damages not only to the outside but also the inside of the vehicle. The passengers side door was pushed into the vehicle approximately a 1ft, causing the roof and dashboard to buckle up, and the front end to bow outward to the passenger's side. Additionally the windshield shattered along with the front passenger window. In this vehicle there are several airbags, including side and curtain, none of which went off. Upon being inspected by my insurance agent it was his belief that at least the side bags should have been deployed. He also informed me that my seat belt tensioners didn't seem to work either. …
On 7-20-2011, I was driving about 35 MPH on a residential road around 1:30 p.m. A large vehicle in front of me, put on his left blinker & started to stop, I braked but still rear ended it. My air bag did not inflate, just the seat belt worked. I chipped a tooth on the steering wheel, got whiplash in my neck. Also my right breast developed a hematoma which grew larger every week, it was very painful, had to have tests to find out what the lump in breast was. The hematoma had to be drained by a doctor w/ driving about 35 MPH on a residential street on 7-20-2011 @ 2:00 p.m. When a largesuv put on his blinker & started to stop, I braked but still rear ended him. The air bag did not inflate,just the seat belt worked. I chipped my front tooth on the steering wheel, got a hematoma in my right breast(very painful) & whiplash in my neck. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the brake lights failed to illuminate. In addition, the contact stated that the ignition key was stuck in the ignition and the shift interlock failed to shift properly without warning. In addition, the air bag warning indicator had failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 09V280000 (exterior lighting) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.
Takata inflators my air bag light has been on for many months. We do not have the resources to take it in to be looked at. I received a card in the mail this morning indicating that my vehicle May be subject to the recall however, according to the VIN it doesn't seem so. Although it is a 2005, the vehicle is still in great running condition. Please advise what I can do to have this checked.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the vehicle was crashed into from the driver's side, near the door and the side air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the air bag failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 53,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 184,000. The VIN was invalid.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
On certain vehicles, static air bag deployment testing conducted by NHTSA using fifth percentile female dummies indicated that a small stature adult driver not wearing a seat belt and involved in a frontal or near frontal crash, the deployment of the driver air bag May not occur.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver air bag module with one that is designed to provide an increased margin of compliance for low risk deployment for small stature adults who are not properly wearing the seat belts.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
On certain sport utility vehicles, during static air bag deployment testing conducted by NHTSA using fifth percentile female dummies indicated if a small statured adult driver, not wearing a seat belt, is involved in a frontal or near frontal crash, deployment of the driver air bag May result in an insufficient margin of…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver air bag module. The recall began on January 29, 2007, and will be conducted through six mailings. Owners May contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Airbag complaints in other Tucson years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Hyundai Tucson?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Hyundai Tucson, 17% of the model year's 185 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Hyundai Tucson airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 07V-197 (inflator module, May 8, 2007); NHTSA recall 06V-445 (inflator module, Nov 22, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Hyundai Tucson airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles, and 32% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 1 fire and 14 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.