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Air bagsPart report

1998 Hyundai Sonata Air bags Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
12%of 49 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Hyundai Sonata, 12% of the 49 complaints for this model year. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Although air conditioner compressor was paid for at 900.+ dollars the belts and wheels still lock-up. When taken back to have checked the problem can never be produced. As for clock spring the owners manual says that the airbag system should be checked every 10 years abd this system has failed in 2 years. Service manager told me airbags will not deploy now. I am told if I pay for the repairs to the airbag first I will be reimbursed, but why must I pay for a safety item that is beyond my control and that is a major item of safety.”

NHTSA complaint #740316, filed 2001-02

“While driving down the road at about 15 MPH, driver in front came to a complete stop. It was really foggy outside, and consumer pressed on the brakes, and hit the other vehicle's bumper, and airbags deployed. Consumer felt that airbags shouldn't have deployed. Dlr said an airbag specialist would look at it. But someone tampered with the car before specialist came.”

NHTSA complaint #856050, filed 2000-02

“While driving 65 MPH vehicle had no frontal impact and no accident, but driver's and passenger's airbags deployed inadvertedly, causing driver to lose control of vehicle and going into a ditch. Please provide further information.”

NHTSA complaint #835817, filed 1999-03

“Consumer was involved in a 5 MPH minor collision in which the driver's and passenger's air bags deployed, both driver and passenger sustained injuries. Please give any further details.”

NHTSA complaint #843867, filed 1999-07

“False deployment of both the driver and passenger air bag resulted in the driver to feeling sick and dizzy from the substance which came out of the air bag.”

NHTSA complaint #544062, filed 1999-02

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202516%
202311%
202143%
202074%
201996%
201841%
2017223%
2016213%
2015252%
2014314%
20131045%
201217011%
201141912%
2010206%
2009307%
200813732%
200725737%
200643542%
20055533%
20044623%
20034322%
20025116%
20014723%
20004316%
19993125%
1998612%
1997816%
1996313%
19951523%
199113%

Other parts of the 1998 Hyundai Sonata

Transmission and drivetrain
12 complaints
Fuel system
10 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
7 complaints
Electrical system
4 complaints
Engine cooling
4 complaints
Brakes
3 complaints
Other or unknown
2 complaints
Steering
2 complaints
Body and structure
2 complaints
Equipment
1 complaints
Exterior lighting
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1998 Hyundai Sonata

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology