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2016 Hyundai Sonata Airbags Problems

17 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data

17
Complaints
2
Recalls
8
Crashes
Jan 2026Nov 2025
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Airbags Recalls (2)

RECALLCampaign #16V615000

AIR BAGS

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 28, 2016 through April 12, 2016. The affected vehicles have a driver-side frontal air bag that may not adequately protect the driver's neck from injury in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 148.

RECALLCampaign #16V232000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016 to February 22, 2016, and one 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicle manufactured October 15, 2015. In these vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may be missing a chemical enhancer required for the second stage air bag deployment, resulting in the second stage not deploying in certain crashes. The primary stage will deploy as intended.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 5,2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 144.

Owner Complaints (17)

criticalAIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CrashFiled: Jan 2026

I was involved in a low-speed collision at a residential intersection after stopping at a stop sign and beginning to proceed. Going under 5 MPH, I braked immediately, but contact occurred. Despite relatively minor front-end damage, the driver steering wheel airbag and driver knee airbag deployed.

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NHTSA #: 11713027
criticalAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Nov 2025

On September 25, 2023, I was involved in a motor vehicle collision while driving my Hyundai Sonata 2016, during which the front driver-side airbag failed to deploy despite the impact being significant enough to cause injury.

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NHTSA #: 11697970
criticalAIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CrashFiled: Mar 2024

I was in a rear collision with an SUV but my air bags to the 2016 Hyundai Sonata did not deploy. Everybody was OK and nobody was injured in both parties.

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NHTSA #: 11577538
criticalAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Jun 2023

I was in a near head on collision that knocked me out of my lane and knocked me around my car (I was wearing the seatbelt) and the point of impact was on my driver side near my impact sensor and the damage continued to the other side of my vehicle including a crack in the filter in front of my radiator

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NHTSA #: 11525674
criticalAIR BAGS,SEATS
Filed: Feb 2022

For no apparent reason and very little passenger usage the seat sensor for the passenger air bag is supposedly not working properly and if there is an accident the air bag may not deploy.

NHTSA #: 11453325
criticalAIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CrashFiled: Jul 2019

Head on collision with a deer, going 70mph on highway 49. No air bags released. After taking car to dealership, from receiving a letter of recall in the mail.

NHTSA #: 11235075
criticalAIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: May 2016

On february 19 2019 I was driving a car rental from hertz driving on the freeway in southern ca driving only 25 MPH I crashed trying to avoid crashing into car in front of me kept putting on my breaks and the car would not stopped the breaks malfunction I tried to changing lane I still crashed I was going 25 MPH the car was totaled bumper was plastic or fiber glass the air bag "exploded" not deployed.

NHTSA #: 10870226
highAIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
CrashFiled: Oct 2019

- sudden accecleration surge when releasing brake. When turning into parking and when light turn green and releasing brake. - spuratic acceleration decrease when driving...

NHTSA #: 11267606
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Sep 2025

I am submitting this complaint as a follow-up to my prior NHTSA complaint regarding the defective passenger seat Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) in the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. Previous Tracking Number: 11689976 Since my initial submission, I have prepared a detailed technical and comparative report, which I am attaching here.

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NHTSA #: 11690150
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Sep 2025

The problem originates from a single faulty passenger seat airbag sensor, but Hyundai requires replacement of the entire seat cushion module, quoted at approximately $3,200 for the part alone and around $4,000 total repair cost. This creates the impression that a single failed sensor affects the entire airbag system.

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NHTSA #: 11689976
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Jul 2025

Warning light on dash just went on

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NHTSA #: 11676244
mediumAIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: Aug 2023

1. Driver side airbag. Inspected. 2.Airbag safety light is on in the console. Driver may receive injury or death if airbag does not deploy during accident. 3.Yes by Antioch NAPA Auto Center (925)757-7274 4. Yes 5. Yes. Warning light lamp is on for the driver side airbag. First appeared around 7/27/2023 Diagnostic Test: Found code B138000 driver front airbag was not responding. Air bag not registering on scan tool. Tested airbag in seat and it had .1ohm. There is a short in Airbag.

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NHTSA #: 11540997
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: May 2021

The airbag indicator light came on while I was driving. I contacted the dealer who was unable to inspect for a period of time. During the period of time, the sensor no longer lit.

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NHTSA #: 11416438
lowAIR BAGS
Filed: Feb 2020

Air bags lights keeps coming while we're in seatbelts

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NHTSA #: 11308032
lowAIR BAGS
Filed: Nov 2019

Air bag lights keep coming on

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NHTSA #: 11277488
lowAIR BAGS
Filed: Apr 2019

Airbag senor came on. None of the controls work on my steering wheel.

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NHTSA #: 11193326
lowAIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
CrashFiled: May 2016

Deer ran in front of my car. Air bags inflated and stayed so for quite a while. When I got out of the car I noticed my foot was burnt with skin off and legs were burning from the powder in air bags.

NHTSA #: 10870409

Other 2016 Hyundai Sonata Issues