Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Hyundai Sonata submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
L WAS STOPPED ON TRAFFIC ON HIGH WAY ,AND SOME ONE, HIT ME ON THE BACK ,THE GUY WAS SO FAST PROBLEM MORE THAN 75 MPH ,THAN MY CAR FLOAT 20 FOOT ,AND HIT THE CAR ON MY FRONT AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY OR OPEN , SO THE QUESTION IS HYUNDAI SONATA 1999 USUALLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM , ???? *TR
I PURCHASED MY 1999 SONATA FROM A USED CAR DEALER & HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, ITS BEEN A NIGHTMARE, ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER!!!! THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED BECAUSE THE COMPONENT HAD SEVERELY MELTED, ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION, ABS/AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON, & HAVE HAD TO CHANGE OUT THE HALF SHAFT ON BOTH DRIVERS/PASSENGER SIDE, NUMEROUS TIRES, BRAKES BUT THE MOST SEVERE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WHICH PUTS MY SAFETY, MY 12 YR OLD SON & FIANCE'S SAFETY, ALONG WITH FAMILY/FRIEND'S SAFETY AT RISK IS THE COMPLETE CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME I TOO TO A MECHANIC TODAY & HE TOLD ME TO NOT DRIVE THIS CAR FOR ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WILL RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I CAN POTENTIALLY END UP HURTING MYSELF OR OTHER INNOCENT BYSTANDERS BECAUSE HYUNDAI MADE A DEFECTIVE SUBFRAME ESPECIALLY FOR US THAT LIVE & DRIVE IN HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS OF THE WINTRY/ICY ELEMENTS FOR 5+MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR IN UPSTATE NEW YORK!!! I WILL BE CALLING HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CTR & FUCCILLO HYUNDAI(LOCAL DEALER)& THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR NEW YORK. I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT COULD'VE HAPPENED IF I DROVE OVER A POT HOLE RESULTING IN MY TIRE(S) FALLING OFF ESPECIALLY IF I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING 55MPH MY LOVED ONES OR OTHER'S LOVED ONES, & MYSELF COULD'VE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR WORSE DEAD DUE TO HYUNDAI USING A SUBFRAME THAT WOULD SEVERELY CORRODE THE SUBFRAME ESPECIALLY IN THE "SNOW BELT" STATES!!!!! I JUST HOPE THAT I DO NOT HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME HAVING HYUNDAI FIX THE PROBLEM IN A SPEEDY FASHION WITHOUT TRYING TO STRONG ARM ME INTO PAYING FOR REPAIRS THAT I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR BECAUSE IT IS AN INCONVENIENCE BEING WITHOUT A VEHICLE NOW UNTIL IT GETS REPAIRED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAGS AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG, AND ADDED A SCALE TOOL OPERATION AND LT MODULE. EIGHT YEARS LATER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER TO INSPECT THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND INQUIRE ABOUT ANOTHER RECALL. WHILE THE DEALER WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THEY REALIZED THAT THERE WERE NO AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS AND HE HAS PAPERWORK STATING THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED. HE STATED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR EIGHT YEARS WITHOUT ANY AIR BAGS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,825.
AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO ON SINCE 2001. FIRST TRY TO FIX IT 12/01. UP TO END OF 5 YEAR WARRANTY NO COST TO ME. ON 3/19/08 IT COST ME $93.00 TO GET THE LIGHT OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FLOOR HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $780.46. LIGHT BACK ON JULY 08. IN SEPT OF 05, I TRIED TO GET HYUNDAI CUSTOMER TO GET THIS FIXED FOR ME, BUT HYUNDAI REFUSED TO DO IT, AT THEIR COST. MY DISAGREEMENT IS THERE WAS A RECALL AND THEY TRIED; BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO COME BACK, OVER AND OVER AGAIN.. MY CONTENTION IS THEY NEVER FIXED IT, IF THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME BACK ON. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THEM AT THEIR COST NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES. THE PROTECTION FOR A LONG TIME HAS NOT BEEN THERE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. CAN YOU HELP? THEY TRIED 7 TIMES TO FIX IT AND ONCE THE WARRANTY WAS UP I DID NOT WANT TO KEEP PAYING FOR NOTHING. *TR
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY SIDE AIR BAG WENT OFF. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #01V347000 , REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
DT: CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR SERVICE TO DEALER. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT. EACH TIME IT WENT TO THE DEALER THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD BE OFF WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. LAST TIME VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ON DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING LOOSE UNDER THE SEAT. ON JULY 25, 2005 CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STRUCK THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DONE $3300 DOLLARS DAMAGE. APPLIED THE BRAKES BEFORE HITTING OTHER VEHICLE. PEOPLE IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE INJURED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN. THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION GOING ON WERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. THE ROAD HAD SOME LOOSE GRAVEL AND DIRT ON IT BUT THE ROAD WAS DRY.*AK
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 WITH THE AIRBAGS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME WHILE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
RECALL 01V347000 ON SRS WARNING LIGHT. CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK *JB
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR NINE TIMES FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT. *NLM *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM *SCC *JB
CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL AND HIT A SOLID BARRIER AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG MODULE. THE DEALER ALSO PERFORMED RECALL 02V105000 RELATED TO THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS ROUTING. THE REAR DEFOGGER BUTTON FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE A/C AND DEFOGGER WERE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONTROL HEAD. THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS WOULD NOT MOVE RIGHT OR LEFT. DEALER FOUND BREAK IN WIRING IN RIGHT KICK PANEL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CANISTER PURGE VALVE. * PH *AK *TS
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SEATBELT LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR 5 DAYS.*JB
AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAD REPAIRED IT, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED TO EXIST. HAVE HAD VEHICLE IN SHOP 9 TIMES FOR AIR BAG LIGHT.*AK
NOISE LIKE A HELICOPTER IS IN THE BACK SEAT,TO DEALER AND WHEEL BEARING ARE GONE,PARTS UNAVAIABLE THE SECOND TIME(02/01) SEC TO BACKORDER,SAME PROBLEM AGAIN 02/02)CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON SEC TO A CAM SENSOR,SESOR REPLACED, AT 70MPH LITE COME ON AND CAR STALLS NEXT IS AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AFTER SEAT IS ADJUSTED(DRIVER) HAVE NEVER HAD TO TEST THEM SO CAN ONLY HOPE THAT WHE N CAR STALLS THEY WILL DEPLOY
AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONTINUOUSLY ON. TOOK VEHICLE DEALER,AND THEY RESET COMPUTER. TWO MONTHS LATER,AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. A MECHANIC STATED THAT AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN IMPACT. *AK
AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHEN DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AIRBAG MODULE THREE TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *JB
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 50MPH HEAD-ON COLLISION. *AK
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, HYUNDAI MOTORS STATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE LIGHT AND NOT THE AIRBAG, DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A POOR CONNECTION AT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT, HOWEVER CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED OTHER DEALERS WHO STATE THE PROBLEM IS WITHIN THE AIRBAG OR THE LIGHT WOULD NOT BE ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *SLC
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAGS DO NOT WORK, DEALERSHIP HAS DONE ALL THEY CAN TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC
VEHICLE REPAIR LOG OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS DAMAGED. *TT
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT35MPH ON A STREET AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDENLY STOP. WHEN CONSUMER LOOKED UP HE HAD HIT OTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, CONSUMER STATES THAT AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON 3 TIMES PRIOR TO ACCIDENT AND NOW TWICE AFTER. CONSUMER HEARS RATTLE FROM TRUNK. SUNROOF LINING LOOSE. GAS PEDAL VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING. WHEN RIDING OVER BUMPS, THERE IS A RATTLE IN THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *SLC
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING A FAILURE, ATEMPTS TO ADJUST HAVE FAILED, AND AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO THE DEALER ALL COMPONETS AND PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, INCLUDING DRIVERS SEAT WITH AIRBAG, WIRING HARNESS,MODULE. AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. ON LAST VISIT TO DEALER FOR REPAIR AGAIN AFTER ALL PARTS REPLACED, THEY HAVE "GREASED" THE CONNECTION TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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