2003 Hyundai Sonata Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 43about this part
- Share
- 22%of 199 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 65,252miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 43 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Hyundai Sonata, 22% of the 199 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,252 miles. 14 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“We were involved in an accident and none of the airbags properly deployed it only fell out of the seat on the passenger side of the car and it deployed flat no air in it or nothing. My fiancee was injured as well as myself and we are currently being treated for injuries sustained by the accident...”
NHTSA complaint #10690695, filed 2015-02, 187,000 miles“Car stopped in front of us to turn left with no brake lights and no blinker. When we realized he was stopped we immediately hit the brakes. The surface (concrete) on the bridge was slick and did not allow us to have traction. We skidded approx 65 feet and rear-ended the car at approx. 40-45 MPH. Passenger front air bad failed to deploy. Drivers side deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10135935, filed 2005-09, 24,575 miles“The air bag light is constantly on, meaning that in the event of an accident, they will not deploy. Incredibly dangerous. This is apparently due to wiring underneath the passenger seat stretching and pinching from moving the seat itself and when things are placed underneath the seat that may disturb the wiring. I know it is the wiring underneath the passenger seat due to checking the trouble code and also being able to temporarily fix the issue for a couple weeks by gingerly moving the wires until the light went away. Now I can't get the light to go away no matter what methods I try. …”
NHTSA complaint #11100227, filed 2018-06, 136,000 miles“I am the one-owner of a 2003 Hyundai Sonata, 4 cyl., sedan. Two months after my warranty expired, the airbag light came on. I have yet to have it checked, but the vehicle has never been in an accident. I am hesitant to find out how much this indicator will cost to diagnose.”
NHTSA complaint #10243346, filed 2008-09, 54,000 miles“For no specific reason my 2003 Hyundai Sonata 4 cylinder base model's airbag light came on. I had to get the passenger airbag replaced at a cost of $900 at the dealer. No explanation was given by the dealer as to why the bag went bad.”
NHTSA complaint #10308436, filed 2010-02, 115,000 milesRelated 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 2003 Hyundai Sonata
38 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsFuel system
18 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
13 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsWheels
10 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsSeat belts
7 complaintsTires
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 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