ProblemsByVin HYUNDAI / AIRBAGS

119 model-year entries · 2005–2025

Hyundai airbags problems

3,374 owner complaints filed with NHTSA against Hyundai vehicles for airbags issues. 64 active recall campaigns. See airbags across all makes →

Complaints

3,374

Recalls

Year-models

119

Avg fix

$1,100

771crashes

16fires

853injuries

13fatalities

Editorial perspective by Shop Foreman · Lead technician

At the shop, Hyundai airbag issues have a recognizable signature. 3,374 documented complaints across 119 year-model entries from 2005 to 2025 is consistent with what we see come in. Complaint volume is spread across the lineup rather than parked on one bad year. That's the signature of a platform or supplier issue, not a single-year flub. 13 fatality reports on file with NHTSA tied to this category on Hyundai vehicles. That elevates this from nuisance to safety-critical. Across the 1,934 complaints reporting odometer mileage, the median failure lands at about 73,190 miles. Average shop fix runs about $1,100 — not catastrophic, but it adds up over time. Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup before you buy. Takata-era inflators are still being recalled. The dealer fixes them free.

Worst-affected Hyundai model-years for airbags Top 25 by complaint volume

2006 Hyundai Sonata

398 complaints · 1 recall · ~$1,100 critical

2011 Hyundai Sonata

327 complaints · ~$1,100 critical

2007 Hyundai Sonata

233 complaints · 1 recall · ~$1,100 severe

2013 Hyundai Elantra

138 complaints · 1 recall · ~$1,100 severe

2012 Hyundai Sonata

132 complaints · 1 recall · ~$1,100 severe

2008 Hyundai Sonata

123 complaints · 1 recall · ~$1,100 severe

2012 Hyundai Elantra

108 complaints · 1 recall · ~$1,100 severe

2007 Hyundai Santa Fe

89 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$1,100 severe

2013 Hyundai Sonata

85 complaints · 1 recall · ~$1,100 severe

2005 Hyundai Santa Fe

71 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$1,100 critical

2011 Hyundai Elantra

68 complaints · 1 recall · ~$1,100 severe

2005 Hyundai Elantra

65 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$1,100 severe

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe

60 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$1,100 severe

2006 Hyundai Azera

53 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$1,100 critical

2006 Hyundai Elantra

51 complaints · ~$1,100 severe

2005 Hyundai Sonata

46 complaints · ~$1,100 severe

2010 Hyundai Elantra

43 complaints · ~$1,100 severe

2009 Hyundai Elantra

41 complaints · 1 recall · ~$1,100 severe

2007 Hyundai Azera

38 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$1,100 severe

2007 Hyundai Accent

38 complaints · ~$1,100 severe

2007 Hyundai Elantra

37 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$1,100 severe

2008 Hyundai Elantra

33 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$1,100 severe

2008 Hyundai Accent

33 complaints · ~$1,100 severe

2006 Hyundai Tucson

32 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$1,100 severe

2025 Hyundai Palisade

29 complaints · 1 recall · ~$1,100 moderate

Active recalls — Hyundai airbags 12 on file

critical NHTSA 26V307000 May 15, 2026 2016 Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra and 2016 Elantra GT vehicles

An air bag inflator that ruptures may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or passengers, increasing the risk of injury or death.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated August, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 300. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 16, 2026.

critical NHTSA 05V527000 November 17, 2005 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe

On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an occupant classification system (ocs) the right front seat of the vehicle may misclassify certain small children seated on the front edge of the seat as an adult

The possibility of misclassification of certain small children as an adult may allow the right front airbag to deploy in a frontal collision crash or the side impact airbag to deploy in a side collision crash; severe injury or death could occur.

Fix: Dealers will ensure that the vehicle's ocs will properly classify certain small children when seated on the front edge of the seat and will disable the right front airbags. Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's ocs electronic control unit to provide an increased margin for recognition of certain small children. The recall began on december 6, 2005. Owners may contact Hyundai of puerto rico at 1-800-981-0188.

critical NHTSA 05V450000 October 4, 2005 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe

On certain vehicles equipped with an occupant classification system (ocs) the right front seat of the vehicle may misclassify certain small children seated on the front edge of the seat as an adult

Fix: Dealers will ensure that the vehicle's ocs will properly classify certain small children when seated on the front edge of the seat and will disable the right front airbags. Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's ocs electronic control unit to provide an increased margin for recognition of certain small children. The recall began on december 21, 2005. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

severe NHTSA 26V254000 April 21, 2026 2026 Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles

Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 299. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 22, 2026.

severe NHTSA 26V034000 January 23, 2026 2025 Hyundai Palisade

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Palisade vehicles

Improper side curtain air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Fix: Dealers will install a protective film over the rear window and remove padding, as necessary free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed beginning March 13, 2026. Final remedy owner letters will be mailed in phases, beginning in June 2026 and expected to continue through December 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 292. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 24, 2026.

severe NHTSA 25V809000 November 21, 2025 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles

Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.

severe NHTSA 24V561000 July 26, 2024 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Santa Fe and Santa Fe HEV vehicles

An air bag that deploys unintentionally can increase the risk of an injury. An air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the wiring harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 22, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 265.

severe NHTSA 23V599000 August 25, 2023 2024 Hyundai Palisade

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Palisade vehicles equipped with dark premium suede seats

Deactivated front passenger air bags will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Fix: Dealers will update the ODS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26th, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 249.

severe NHTSA 22V632000 August 18, 2022 2023 Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Elantra N and 2022-2023 Elantra vehicles

A detached air bag cover emblem may strike a vehicle occupant, which can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 14, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 234.

severe NHTSA 21V185000 March 17, 2021 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles

In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ODS module, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied as of May 12, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 202.

severe NHTSA 20V248000 May 4, 2020 2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016 Genesis Coupe vehicles

A detached driver's air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the mounting bolts and retighten them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 192.

severe NHTSA 19V802000 November 7, 2019 2020 Hyundai Palisade

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Palisade vehicles

Damaged side curtain air bags may not inflate properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover on the mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 186.

Common questions

How many Hyundai airbags complaints are on file with NHTSA?

3,374 complaints across 119 model-year entries from 2005 to 2025. 64 active recall campaigns cover airbags issues across the Hyundai lineup.

Which Hyundai model has the most airbags complaints?

The 2006 Hyundai Sonata leads with 398 complaints in this category. Next: 2011 Sonata (327) and 2007 Sonata (233).

What does it cost to fix Hyundai airbags problems?

Independent shops average $1,100 for airbags repairs across the Hyundai lineup. Dealer pricing tends to run twenty to forty percent higher. Specific cost depends on the failure mode and parts availability.

Are there Hyundai airbags recalls?

Yes — 12 active recall campaigns cover airbags on Hyundai vehicles. Recall fixes are free regardless of mileage or warranty status. The list below shows current campaigns with their NHTSA numbers.

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Editorial commentary written by Shop Foreman, an independent contributor to ProblemsByVin and not affiliated with Hyundai. Severity ratings derive from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities on the NHTSA complaint and recall record. Repair cost averages reflect independent-shop pricing and may differ in your area.