2002 Hyundai Sonata Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 51about this part
- Share
- 16%of 320 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 67,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 51 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Hyundai Sonata, 16% of the 320 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 67,500 miles. 22 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My roommate got into a t bone type accident she was going at least 25mph and the air bag did not deploy but it hit hard enough to rip the core support off, we have pictures. She did not take the ambulance but she's will probably go to the er later”
NHTSA complaint #11318645, filed 2020-03, 200,000 miles“My 2002 Hyundai Sonata air bag light has been on since 2009 I have bought it to one mechanic he cleaned and tightened the air bag harness under driver and passenger seat they stayed out briefly and came back on shortly therafter. Brought it to another mechanic and he couldn t fix it. Called local dealer and they said their are no active recalls and could be alot of money. …”
NHTSA complaint #10610854, filed 2014-07, 96,000 miles“While cleaning out the vehicle, I had the front passenger side door open and when I went to shut the door, the wind took it and it slammed shut. As a result, the air bag on the side of the seat deployed. After researching, I found that models of my vehicle had similar recalls with the same summary of incidents. I spoke with the national dealer hotline and I was told that the vehicle missed the recall by 3 days. I am now waiting to hear back from a serviceman to see if they can do anything about it.”
NHTSA complaint #10578064, filed 2014-04, 106,000 miles“I have had the Sonata at the arapahoe Hyundai dealer on two different occasions having the airbag light reset/fixed they told me it was a connection problem and they had to use a special grace to fix it now it's the third time the light has come on and I'm having to take it back to the dealer again not knowing what they're going to find this time. Looking on the internet there's hundreds and hundreds of people with problems with Sonata airbag lights looks like this is a problem that Hyundai needs to recall. …”
NHTSA complaint #10628250, filed 2014-08, 90,000 miles“I have a Hyundai Sonata 2002. The 'airbag' light has been on constantly for over 4 years. Just recently I want to sell the car and started to look up how to fix this problem, since I could never afford it before. I found out that thousands of other Hyundai Sonata owners are having the same problem, and that the air bag does not work as long as this light is on. This is a defect from Hyundai and should not be the burden of the consumer. Hyundai needs to fix this problem for all of its vehicles years 2000 - 2008 whether the warranty has expired or not. It is a travesty!!”
NHTSA complaint #10401059, filed 2011-05, 65,000 milesRelated recalls
- 02V145000May 24, 2002On certain passenger vehicles, the supplemental restraint system (srs) side impact air bag satellite sensors may be too sensitive to some lateral…Covers: Hyundai Sonata 2002
Related service bulletins
- 11032523Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province…
- 11032522Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 6% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 4 | 3% |
| 2020 | 7 | 4% |
| 2019 | 9 | 6% |
| 2018 | 4 | 1% |
| 2017 | 22 | 3% |
| 2016 | 21 | 3% |
| 2015 | 25 | 2% |
| 2014 | 31 | 4% |
| 2013 | 104 | 5% |
| 2012 | 170 | 11% |
| 2011 | 419 | 12% |
| 2010 | 20 | 6% |
| 2009 | 30 | 7% |
| 2008 | 137 | 32% |
| 2007 | 257 | 37% |
| 2006 | 435 | 42% |
| 2005 | 55 | 33% |
| 2004 | 46 | 23% |
| 2003 | 43 | 22% |
| 2002 | 51 | 16% |
| 2001 | 47 | 23% |
| 2000 | 43 | 16% |
| 1999 | 31 | 25% |
| 1998 | 6 | 12% |
| 1997 | 8 | 16% |
| 1996 | 3 | 13% |
| 1995 | 15 | 23% |
| 1991 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2002 Hyundai Sonata
88 complaintsSuspension
63 complaintsBrakes
26 complaintsFuel system
25 complaintsSteering
24 complaintsElectrical system
23 complaintsEngine cooling
16 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsWheels
11 complaintsTires
10 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 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