Problems · by component

2004 Hyundai Sonata air bags problems

46 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Hyundai Sonata cite air bags, 23% of all 202 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
46
23% of all complaints
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated her fiance was driving 20-25 MPH on a steep hill with her in the front passenger's side seat. The contact stated that her fiance depressed the brake pedal to come to a complete stop at the stop sign, but the brake pedal went down to the floorboard, and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact's fiance veered to the left and intentionally hit a telephone pole to avoid crashing into a parked vehicle, and to prevent a more severe accident from occurring as the road was significantly steep. The brake warning light was illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a seatbelt mark. The contact's fiance was not wearing a seatbelt and hit his head against the windshield. The contact's fiance sustained a concussion, a laceration on the chin, a chipped front left upper tooth and bruises on the bottom teeth. The ambulance transported both the contact and her fiance to the hospital, where they received medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2023Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11557773
“The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated and the fog lights were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the dealer. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2022Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 11460738
“THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT HAS GONE ON AND IS ALWAYS ON AT JUST 117,780 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THIS HAS DISABLED ALL MY CAR AIRBAGS. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE RED AIR BAG LIGHT. I ASKED MY PASSENGER TO READ ABOUT THIS IN MY USER MANUAL WHILE DRIVING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2019Air bagsODI 11190356
“I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON AND A COWORKER HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH HERS. WITH THE LIGHT BEING ON IT PREVENTS ME FROM GETTING AN INSPECTION STICKER IN MY STATE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS ON NEWER SONATAS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2017Air bagsODI 11013607
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO ANY TIME TOWING LOT IN LEWISTON, MAINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2017Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11000651
“MY FOOT SLIDE OFF THE BREAK, AND HIT MY VAN IN THE BACK BUMPER IN MY DRIVEWAY AND TWO WEEKS LATER MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NEVER WENT OFF. AT MY HOME, NO REPORTS, OR DAMAGE OTHER THEM CUT ON MY BUMPER DUE TO THE HAUL ON THE VAN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2017Air bagsCrash reportedFire reportedODI 10944551

Showing 6 of 46 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

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

Other 2004 Sonata problem areas