Problems · by component

2001 Hyundai Sonata air bags problems

47 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Hyundai Sonata cite air bags, 21% of all 219 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
47
21% of all complaints
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2018Air bagsODI 11075013
“MY SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH SOMEONE PULLED OUT OF A SIDE ROAD INTO HIS PATH OF TRAVEL. THE FRONT OF THE HYUNDAI FROM JUST PAST THE GRILL ON DRIVER'S SIDE TO ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE HIT THE FRONT DRIVER WHEEL FORWARD ON THE OTHER CAR. NEITHER THE STEERING WHEEL NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN MY HYUNDAI. HE HIT WITH SUCH FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BOWED AND STEERING COLUMN WAS BROKEN ALONG WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH WHERE HIS KNEES HIT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2016Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10872204
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BRIDGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, THUMB, KNEES, NECK, AND CHEST THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2015Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10734379
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 615.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 1, 2014Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10661474
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V105000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 10/22/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT HYUNDAI WAS ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THE VEHICLE ONE TIME UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC BUT, THE FAILURE RECURRED. UPDATED 4/2/2015 *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2014Air bagsODI 10632237
“2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG LIGHT BEING CONTINUOUSLY ON *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED EACH TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, IT REQUIRED THE DEALER TO RESET THE ERROR CODE. ON THE LAST OCCASION, THE DEALER FOUND A LOOSE CONNECTOR UNDER THE FRONT SEAT. ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ITEMS BEING PLACED UNDER THE SEAT, HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED TWO RECALLS HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING AIR BAG PROBLEMS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2011Air bagsODI 10437135

Showing 6 of 47 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Air bags: side

Free remedy

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. THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS AND COULD PREVENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR.

Air bagsReported Apr 9, 2002NHTSA 02V105000

Air bags

Free remedy

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. THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG(S).

Air bagsReported Nov 6, 2001NHTSA 01V347000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.