2002 Hyundai Sonata airbags problems

The 2002 Hyundai Sonata has 53 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 13% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

Airbags complaints

13%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Sonata airbags complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

02V145000AirbagsMay 24, 2002 · 43,162 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG SATELLITE SENSORS MAY BE TOO SENSITIVE TO SOME LATERAL ACCELERATIONS THAT ARE NOT CAUSED BY SIDE IMPACTS TO THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS FORCEFULLY SLAMMING A DOOR CLOSED.

Consequence

INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF A SRS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WHEN A SIDE IMPACT CRASH HAS NOT OCCURRED COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG SATELLITE SENSORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 8, 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

“DRIVING AT 25 - 30 MPH I WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER MID SIZE VEHICLE. I SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA WILL THOSE BAGS NOT DEPLOY IN A HEAD ON? MY WIFE AND CHILD DRIVE THE 2003 . I AM VERY CONCERNED. MY…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · April 28, 2004 · crash

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 2002 Hyundai Sonata have?

NHTSA has 53 complaints about the 2002 Hyundai Sonata airbags — 13% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2002 Hyundai Sonata airbags?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the airbags: 02V145000.

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

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.