10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,502 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #24

Aug 272014

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 85,548 miles
We have had intermittent issues with the air bag light coming on in this vehicle. When it first happened we took it to a Hyundai service center and they said that some items got under the front seat and compromised the wire harness. I explained my concerns to the service rep that I was shocked that the air bag and safety system could be compromised by items that may get under the seats. This week we had another an air bag warning light come on and again took the vehicle to the Hyundai service center. This time it was determined that there was a short circuit in an air bag assembly. On 8/26/14 I called a Hyundai service contract representative about coverage for this under a service contract. I was advised that the air bag was a maintenance issue and that after time the air bag component would wear out. My reaction was that, yes, every component in the car will wear out over time. Using that argument, Hyundai could argue that no components would be covered as every item on the car is arguably a maintenance issue. I found that position shocking as no service vendor or owner makes regular inspection of the air bag system. This experience leads me to believe that Hyundai does not take their responsibility seriously regarding the use and safety of their air bag systems.

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

problem #23

Jul 282014

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 126,000 miles
Your probe into the Hyundai Sonata airbag issue should be expanded to earlier models as we have a 2005 and what you are initially explaining affects our vehicle also. We have had the airbag light reset a few times by the dealer (zimbrik Hyundai in madison, wi). They initially stated that it was just a wire under the seat that needed to be reattached. They'd do that and turn off the airbag light, it'd be ok for a few months, then the light would come back on. They eventually stated they wanted to repack the airbag for thousands of dollars, seemed somewhat like a scam, so we no longer go it fixed and have been driving with the airbag light on.

- Sun Prairie, WI, USA

problem #22

Jun 102008

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 26,000 miles
I am the original owner of this vehicle since it was new. My wife primarily drives this car and the passenger seat maybe gets used about 10% of the time. The vehicle now has just over 70K miles. Vehicle has been to the Hyundai multiple times due to the air bag light coming on which has always been associated with the passenger seat. At first they told us it was due to stuff under the seat. The next time it was a bad module @ $400 to repair. This time was due to failure of state inspection. Prior to taking to dealer to have the codes read, I did research online and found out that there was a service bulletin relative to the air bag circuit sensor wiring that should have been done at the dealer several years ago but never was. So this time, once at the dealer the codes were read and indicated a high resistance on both seats and a defective passenger seat belt buckle. I paid to have the service bulletin implemented and replacement of the passenger seat buckle. My wife picked the car up but within a couple miles the air bag light came on again. She returned to the dealer to have them repair it again. Now there is a different code being read from the computer that indicates that there is a short on the passenger air bag, but this fault comes and goes if there is movement of the harness in the vicinity of the air bag within the passenger seat. The dealer contacted Hyundai engineering concerning the newest fault code and they are is now telling me that Hyundai engineering is stating that to correct this problem will require the seat to be replaced at a cost of $2200. This is absurd. The air bag system is one of the key safety systems on the vehicle and should be robust enough to withstand many years of service. I have had many cars over the last 40 years and have never had a car with so many wiring problems let alone air bag issues.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #21

Aug 152007

Sonata

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.

- Hensdale, NH, USA

problem #20

Aug 152011

Sonata

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was stated that the wiring to the passenger seat was damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the problem persisted. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Freeland , MI, USA

problem #19

Oct 242008

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 24,474 miles
After many indications of air bag failure (light on) and several costly repairs - finally found a Hyundai dealer that indicated there was a bulletin on how to make the proper repair. Repair made at 55,820 miles on 12/10/12 - now over 58,000 mile and no repeat of air bag light (this is a new record time and mileage with the air bag light out) error code that was consistently repeated = code B1382 quote from the E-mail from the dealer:: got some good news on the vehicle and its needs for the SRS light. Good news as it is going to be easily repaired and cost nothing out of pocket for you. It isn??T going to fall under any type of traditional warranty but we will be taking care of this under a goodwill warranty. It seems like the connectors that should have been repaired were repaired incorrectly. There is a bulletin on how to repair, seal, secure, and re route the wiring harness so that this does not happen any further in the future. It looks like this bulletin was not followed and therefore we had the repeat failure.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #18

Dec 042008

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 51,000 miles
In 2008 airbag light came on, took the car in for service. The dealer said that it was code B1382 and checked the car. It was the connection under the passenger seat. The light has been on and off since that date. The light is now on again. If it is a safety issue where my airbags are not going to be working, and someone get injured in my vehicle, Hyundai will be held responsible for not having a recall. It is up to the ntsb to force Hyundai to have a recall on this problem. People's lives are in danger seeing there are so many issues.

- Albany, NY, USA

problem #17

May 282009

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 73,000 miles
I bought the Hyundai Sonata 2005 gle from colonial Hyundai of downigtwon pa. It was a used car with power train warranty given by the dealer. The car had approximately 73,000 miles at the time of purchase. Soon after I purchased the car the airbags lights started showing up. I went to the dealership and got it fixed, they charged me labor and scanning fees despite it not being my fault as the car had no impact to any object or accidents. Within 6 months of getting it fixed the airbags lights started flashing again, the dealership fixed it again. The airbags light again came back again for the third time, I reported it to Hyundai global customer service - their response was to take it back again to the same dealership and ask them to fix it. I did not take it back to the same dealership becasue I lacked confidence in their work hence I took it outside car service center where they ran the scan but could not find any issues with the airbags but said only Hyundai dealership can reset the lights. I now moved to NJ hence the Hyundai dealership now wants 90$ to do the diagnosis after which they will give me an estimate. I feel its unnecessary waste of time and money and I have already spent enough on this issue. I feel it's unsafe to drive the car with the airbags issue. Requesting help in this regard.

- Highland Park, NJ, USA

problem #16

Jan 012012

Sonata

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the air bag light illuminated while driving 2 mph. The light continued to illuminate intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the air bag light was reset. The failure recurred a few months later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that in order to diagnose the failure, the procedure would be very timely. The failure was not diagnosed and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Hixson, TN, USA

problem #15

Apr 222008

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 48,915 miles
Air bag light started to come on. I took it to dealership. They taped a connector under the passenger seat and the light went out they did not tell me the trouble code. Then on 11/06/08 air bag comes on again at mileage 56236. I took it back to dealership and the trouble code was B1382 and they again cleaned connectors and positioned wiring under passenger seat and the light went out. Then it came on again and we drove it approx 30000 miles. On 02/06/12 I took it to another dealership (other one closed) at 88705 miles they found trouble code B 1382 and found bad connection under passenger seat again. They repaired connection and light went out. On 04/09/12 light is back on as I write this. Why doesn't Hyundai get these problems taken care of? this seems to be an on going problem on the 2005 Sonata.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #14

Nov 012010

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
Air bag lamp randomly turns on and off. Paid to have it fixed once but after several days same trouble returned. As I understand, if the air bag lamp is lit the air bags will not deploy. This would seem like a mandatory recall for a very unsafe condition.

- Hallstead, PA, USA

problem #13

May 052011

Sonata

  • 174,000 miles
I have a 2005 Hyundai Sonata that was purchased new. Today the air bag light came on and has stayed on even after the ignition was turned off and then back on. After reading the many complaints about this problem and the cost of repairs by the dealers, it seems this is a defect and the cars should be recalled.

- Cornelius, NC, USA

problem #12

May 022011

Sonata

  • 50,000 miles
2005 Hyundai Sonata air bag light on.

- Murrysville, PA, USA

problem #11

Dec 012004

Sonata

  • 18 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated the air bag light illuminated continuously on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told the light was illuminating due to wet paper towels under the seat causing corrosion. The paper towels were removed but the failure continued. The failure mileage was 18 and the current mileage was 71,000.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #10

Nov 302010

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 63,000 miles
I am the sole owner of a 2005 Hyundai Sonata. Since the first year of ownership, the car's airbag light has come on intermittently. I have taken the car in multiple times for diagnosis and repair. Each time, the diagnosis is either code B1378 or B1382. Connectors are then retaped. Repairs last for only a few months before airbag light turns on again. The last "repair" lasted approximately 2 years because the service consultant suggested that I not adjust my seat forward and backward as this might loosen the wiring/connectors. For the past two years I did not adjust my seat (rather uncomfortable getting in and out of car) but the airbag light did stay off. It is now on again. Hyundai Consumer Affairs and dealership say that I need to bring the car in again for a diagnosis. They will not cover the diagnosis or repair. I have been arguing that I should not be responsible for the cost because this has been a problem from the beginning. They have never repaired the problem. Why should I bring vehicle in again for the same "diagnosis and repair" when the repair is never achieved. I am beyond frustration. Please help! my car is running with inactive airbags.

- Circle Pines, MN, USA

problem #9

Dec 082010

Sonata

  • 67,000 miles
Airbag sensor light has turned on for no apparent reason.

- Oklahoma City , OK, USA

problem #8

Nov 022010

Sonata

  • 175,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Sonata. The contact was driving approximately 45 mph when the vehicle was involved in a crash in which the air bags did not deploy. There were no reported injuries. The same failure occurred on two prior occasions in which the vehicle was involved in a crash and the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was never taken to have the failure diagnosed but it was taken to an independent repair shop to have the body damages repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileages were 175,000.

- Patton, PA, USA

problem #7

Jan 012008

Sonata

  • 33,000 miles
I own a 2005 Hyundai Sonata. My airbag light has been illuminated for the last 2+years. I only have ~44,000 miles on it now. I checked the fuse, its not blown. I had my codes checked. They state I have to bring it to a dealer/mechanic for diagnoses of airbag systems. I have done some research on the internet. It appears this is a common problem with 05/06 Sonata's, which cost upwards of $1500 to diagnose/repair. I don't have the money to spare to fix a car - which is only worth about $4000 in the first place. Meanwhile, I wonder if my airbags will work if I get in an accident. I hope someone looks into the airbag problem with the 05/06 Hyundai Sonatas. Thanks.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #6

Jul 192010

Sonata

  • 47,000 miles
1. the car (Hyundai Sonata) had a front end collision with a truck that slammed on the brakes. The accident resulted in severe damages to the front of the car. 2. the airbags did not deploy. 3. the vehicle is in the body shop right now. No action has been taken yet.

- Bryan , TX, USA

problem #5

Feb 092010

Sonata

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owned a 2005 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at approximately 20 mph, the vehicle was involved in a crash that destroyed the vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and three injuries were reported. The driver and two rear passengers were reported injured. The vehicle was towed to a towing company lot. Hyundai inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the air bags functioned properly. The failure and current mileages were 95,000.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

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