VehicleVerdict

1999 Hyundai Sonata airbags problems

The 1999 Hyundai Sonata has 31 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 17% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

31

Airbags complaints

17%

Share of year

10

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Sonata airbags complaints by model year444 complaints1991: 1 complaints1995: 16 complaints1996: 3 complaints1997: 9 complaints1998: 6 complaints1999: 31 complaints2000: 44 complaints2001: 49 complaints2002: 53 complaints2003: 45 complaints2004: 46 complaints2005: 57 complaints2006: 444 complaints2007: 259 complaints2008: 139 complaints2009: 31 complaints2010: 20 complaints2011: 417 complaints2012: 170 complaints2013: 100 complaints2014: 31 complaints2015: 24 complaints2016: 21 complaints2017: 22 complaints2018: 4 complaints2019: 8 complaints2020: 7 complaints2021: 4 complaints2023: 1 complaints2025: 1 complaints
Sonata airbags complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

02V105000AirbagsApril 9, 2002 · 145,355 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING A SIDE IMPACT CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MORE SECURELY FASTEN THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESSES AND CONNECTORS TO THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEAT CUSHION FRAMES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

01V347000AirbagsNovember 6, 2001 · 86,513 units

Defect

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).

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR. NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS INTENDED.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MORE SECURELY FASTEN THE FRONT SEAT SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND CONNECTORS TO THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEAT CUSHION FRAMES. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL OCCUR IN SIX MAILINGS ON MAY 27, JUNE 3, JUNE 10, JUNE 17, JUNE 24, AND JULY 1, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

What owners report

“DT: CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND IT STRUCK THE RIGHT SIDE OF OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE TO THE AIRBAGS OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · June 28, 2005 · crash

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 1999 Hyundai Sonata have?

NHTSA has 31 complaints about the 1999 Hyundai Sonata airbags — 17% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1999 Hyundai Sonata airbags?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the airbags: 01V347000, 02V105000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.