Problems · by component

2006 Hyundai Sonata air bags problems

435 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Hyundai Sonata cite air bags, 42% of all 1,047 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
435
42% of all complaints
Crashes
19
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
23
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V161000 (Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2024Air bagsODI 11607317
“The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2023Air bagsODI 11520229
“Passenger occupant classification sensor fails to properly identify whether an adult or child is sitting in the front passenger seat causing the airbag to deploy when it shouldn't. If a child is in the front passenger seat and we get into an accident, the child could be hurt or killed by the airbag. We brought it into the Hyundai dealership after receiving a recall notice that it may fail to properly detect whether a child is in the seat or not. At the time of the recall, the dealerships instructions were to place a certain amount of weight on the seat and if the airbag was still disabled then it was determined to be working correctly. I have since been made aware of a Hyundai TSB that came out a couple of years later that stated in all cases the seat cushion was to be removed and sent back to Hyundai for recalibration. In June 2021 the airbag light came on due to a code B1448. In September 2021 I found another TSB by Hyundai stating that they have extended the warranty on the passenger OCS to 15 years, unlimited mileage. The inspection report for the B1448 was on June 7, 2021 and we purchased the car in July 2006. When I called the closest Hyundai dealership…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2022Air bagsODI 11478910
“The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The contact also stated that the air bag warning light was related to the seat belt which was repaired before; however, the air bag light continued to remain illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2022Air bagsODI 11476301
“I financed my 2006 Hyundai Sonata from a Maryland state car dealer. At the time of my purchase, the dealer didn’t disclose to me that the vehicle had a branded title. The branded title was discovered by Toco Warranty when I requested a auto extended warranty quote. I contacted the MVA, and was informed that it’s illegal to finance a vehicle in the state of Maryland with a branded title since the actual miles are unknown and this is required by dealers in Maryland in order to finance vehicles to consumers. Although I was no longer required to make payments to the dealer, my vehicle has a ABS malfunction, brake line failure, that has caused brake fluid leakage and brake failure as well as a critical control arm needed repair. I’m disabled and on a fixed income, and purchased this vehicle to assist in getting to and from medical appointments. The total cost of repair from Mr. Tire Auto service centers estimâtes at $2700 and Triple AAA Auto repair centers estimates $ 4700 with $ 2800 to get my vehicle in safe driving condition. Because of my low fixed income, I’m unable to make another vehicle purchase without at least $4,600 for a down payment and I don’t have the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2022Air bagsFire reportedODI 11473277
“The airbag light in my car stays illuminated and I’m not sure why. No auto/body shops will touch it and the dealership is backed up so bad it’ll be a month and a half before someone can look at it. My car can’t pass inspection like this and if I were to get into an accident it would be extremely dangerous if the airbags didn’t go off.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 29, 2022Air bagsODI 11458760

Showing 6 of 435 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags

Free remedy

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 THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG IS DISABLED TO PREVENT INJURIES TO A CHILD THAT MAY RESULT FROM A RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG INFLATION DURING A CRASH.

Air bagsReported Apr 10, 2008NHTSA 08V161000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

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