2004 Hyundai Sonata Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 46about this part
- Share
- 23%of 202 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 74,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 46 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Hyundai Sonata, 23% of the 202 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 74,000 miles. 15 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The air bags warning light has gone on and is always on at just 117,780 miles. The dealership has informed me that when the light is on this has disabled all my car airbags. I was driving on the freeway at 70 MPH when I first noticed the red air bag light. I asked my passenger to read about this in my user manual while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11190356, filed 2019-03, 117,700 miles“Airbag light stays on. An internet search indicates that this is a chronic problem with 2014 sonatas, but Hyundai has failed to issue a recall. There is, however, a recall for the 2013 sonatas. Don't understand why there is not a recall. I purchased my car early in 2004 year. Many parts are carryovers from the previous year.”
NHTSA complaint #10702186, filed 2015-03, 100,000 miles“My foot slide off the break, and hit my van in the back bumper in my driveway and two weeks later my air bag light came on and never went off. At my home, no reports, or damage other them cut on my bumper due to the haul on the van.”
NHTSA complaint #10944551, filed 2017-01, 72,000 miles“I was involved in a chain reaction collision on I-10 interstate. My vehicle re-ended another vehicle and neither the driver's nor the passenger's air bags deployed. Front end damaged and insurance has totaled my car. Brakes did not seem to stop with sufficient force.”
NHTSA complaint #10500572, filed 2013-02, 112,000 miles“Air bag light. Please help ,I have reported this to you before. My air bags are defected. The dealer suppose to had repaired them at least 7 times. Everything has been replaced except the air bags itself. I can not get my car inspected because of this.somebody is going to die because of the airbags.”
NHTSA complaint #10302457, filed 2010-01, 55,000 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 2004 Hyundai Sonata
56 complaintsBody and structure
47 complaintsElectrical system
17 complaintsBrakes
16 complaintsSteering
13 complaintsWheels
13 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
12 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 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