2021 Hyundai Sonata Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 3%of 135 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the air bags of the 2021 Hyundai Sonata, 3% of the 135 complaints for this model year. 2 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.
“We lease a 2021 Sonata sel equipped with air bag system featuring an ocs in the right front seat. The purpose of the ocs is to disable right passenger seat front air bag when it detects ta child restraint system or small child in the right front seat. Right front air bag is disabled to prevent injuries to a child from a right front air bag inflation during a crash. My wife is about 4'10 tall and weighs 135#. When seated in passenger seat, she requires a cushion to raise her so she can see over dashboard and out side window. …”
NHTSA complaint #11435886, filed 2021-10“I turned on a highway and had gotten my car up to 45 mph when a deer came out of nowhere and I slammed into it hard back on January 12th. The car only suffered cosmetic damage thankfully, but the air bags did not deploy. I have since then found out that the front air bag crash sensors are in a spot where they are practically useless unless you hit something pretty high up and destroy the headlights in the process. In my opinion, this is a serious safety issue, and when I contacted Hyundai about it, all they told me was to go to the dealership for inspection. …”
NHTSA complaint #11456267, filed 2022-03“During a front end collision the car did not auto brake and the air bags did not deploy. The car has been totaled and is currently at a dealership for insurance appraisal.”
NHTSA complaint #11679381, filed 2025-08Related 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 2021 Hyundai Sonata
34 complaintsFuel system
34 complaintsOther or unknown
32 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
25 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
12 complaintsForward collision avoidance
9 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsLane departure
3 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsSeats
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 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