Diagsheet

2015 Hyundai Sonata · symptom sheet

Airbag warning light or recall

  • 25owner reports
  • 66,397median miles
  • 7involved a crash

Newest report Jul 27, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

25 of the 1,142 complaints on this car describe airbag.

Tick what matches of 25 reports

15
10
3
2
1

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (12 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the airbags covers the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

16V-232Apr 21, 2016
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.

Risk and remedy
Risk: An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.

NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Sonata

EA25-005opened Oct 21, 2025
Airbags · model years 2017

Dtn air bag inflator rupture. Open.

NHTSA summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has become aware of eight vehicle crashes in which a rupture of a Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN) air bag inflator occurred during the deployment of the driver side air bag. All eight drivers in these crashes sustained serious or fatal injuries that appear linked to the ruptures. Six of those drivers sustained fatal injuries and two sustained severe injuries. In all eight incidents, the subject inflators had been installed as replacement equipment after the vehicle was involved in a previous crash. Information gathered during NHTSA’s initial analysis of these incidents indicates that the inflators were potentially imported illegally into the United States. In conjunction with this safety investigation, NHTSA is also working with appropriate authorities to address any illegal activities associated with the importation of these inflators. As a result of the significant safety concerns relating to these inflators, as well as extensive information already obtained by ODI relating to their field ruptures, ODI is moving directly to the Engineering Analysis (EA) stage of its investigative process rather than first opening a Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA has taken a variety of actions to address the risks posed by the importation of substandard or counterfeit air bag components. However, until recently, these risks appeared spread across a variety of components and manufacturers. As part of ODI’s continuo
EA19-001opened Apr 19, 2019
Airbags · model years 2013 to 2019

Electrical overstress. Closed sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V-024.

NHTSA summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles
PE18-003opened Mar 16, 2018
Airbags · model years 2011 to 2013

Air bags may be disabled during crash. Closed aug 30, 2019, led to recall 18E-043.

NHTSA summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE18-003 on 3/16/18 to investigate incidents involving crashes, resulting in significant collision related damage, where the frontal airbags failed to deploy. ODI reviewed complaint data, available design, test, and field data on the model year (MY) 2011 Hyundai Sonata, MY 2012-2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. ODI also evaluated data from the automotive air bag system supplier, ZF-TRW (ZF), to review vehicles that may contain the same air bag control unit (ACU) used in the subject vehicles. Hyundai Motor America (HMA) issued recall No. 18V-137 for MY 2011-2013 Sonata and MY 2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. Kia Motors America (KMA) issued recall No. 18V-363 for MY 2010-2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup, MY 2011-2013 Optima, MY 2011-2012 Optima Hybrid, and MY2011-2012 Sedona vehicles. The two recalls address vehicles containing ACUs manufactured without adequate circuit protection by installing a wire harness filter kit to prevent internal damage to the ACU. In the event of a crash, ACU damage may result in the disablement of the vehicle's airbags. Each respective manufacturer has mailed letters to affected vehicle owners informing them of the remedy and its availability. ODI plans to evaluate the susceptibility of the subject ACU to electrical signals, as well as other vehicle factors that can either lead to, or reduce the likelihood of, an electrical overstress event in other vehicles manufactured with the subject ZF ACU.Accordi
PE14-023opened Jul 22, 2014
Airbags · model years 2006 to 2008

Seat belt buckle electrical malfunction. Closed dec 1, 2014.

NHTSA summary
On July 22, 2014 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation to further analyze allegations of seat belt pretensioner malfunctions on model year (MY) 2006-2008 Hyundai Sonata vehicles.ODI received 131 unique reports alleging a failure within the seat belt pretensioner system, which was typically preceded by SRS light illumination.ODI requested more information from Hyundai in order to understand the nature of the failure and how the airbag deployment algorithm, the seat belt pretensioners, and/or the airbag function may be affected. In response to ODI?s information request (IR), Hyundai submitted 764 unique consumer and field reports and 19,847 warranty claims related to a failure in the front seat belt buckle assembly potentially causing a malfunction of the seat belt pretensioners.In it's response, Hyundai advised that if the resistance specifications for the seat belt buckle pretensioner circuit, located in the seat belt stalk, exceed the nominal range, a diagnostic trouble code will be set and the SRS warning indicator lamp will illuminate.The presence of this stored code will not affect the ability of the SRS Control Module (SRSCM) to detect a collision and command deployment of the pretensioners and airbags, if warranted.In fact, the wiring harness connector may be unplugged from the seat belt buckle pretensioner, and the signal to deploy the pretensioner will still be commanded and recorded.MY 2006-2008 Sonata?s utilize a dual pretensioner
DP03-001opened Mar 26, 2003
Airbags · model years 1999

Improper frontal air bag performance. Closed aug 1, 2003.

NHTSA summary
HYUNDAI HAS RECEIVED 49 REPORTS FROM CUSTOMERS STATING THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.EXAMINATION OF SUPLIMENTAL INFORMATION PROVIDED TO ODI BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE REPORTED CASES IT APPEARED THAT THE NECESSARY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT THRESHOLD WAS NOT MET.THERE HAVE BEEN NO FATAL INCIDENTS OR REPORTS OF SERIOUS INJURY AS A RESULT OF BEING IN A FRONTAL CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION REMEDY OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY THE PETITIONER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR FURTHER DETAILS, REFER TO ODI?S RESPONSE TO THE PETITIONER PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL. 68, NO. 148, DATED AUGUST 1, 2003.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 25,000 and 97,000 miles, from the 11 reports that gave a mileage.

215
216
217
118
419
220
221
222
323
324
125
126

What owners wrote

“My passenger occupancy mat señor is not working. It has been replaced by Hyundai several times and was a part of a recall. It was replaced in 2006 and 2007. They installed a new version of the senor mat, and the mat senor is defective again. I called Hynindia of America, and they said even though it was a recall and they fixed it as a recall fix, they said that they are no longer responsible. Is that the case?”

Filed Sep 5, 2025

“My 2015 Hyundai Sonata has issues when switching from eco-to standard to sports, it constantly shakes when approaching a red light or stop.. my vehicle is constantly stock and vandalize and stole. Need you to easy assessability by thieves. this constitute higher insurance for me and consistent problems”

Filed Jun 10, 2023

“I own a 2015 Hyundai Sonata and have an issue with dash pad, the passenger side air bag has split at the airbag seam and has traveled to the drivers side. If the passenger airbag deploys, I could see some severe injury to the passenger side occupant when the airbag deploys after the cover detaches from the rest of the dash pad. The lifespan of any safety system component is 15yrs according to NHTSA”

Filed Mar 10, 2023

“Engine burns 2 quarts of oil a week. Took it in for oil consumption tests and Hyundai figures out ways to not replace these faulty GDI Engines. Also car has a strong gas smell inside car. Maybe gas leaking. Airbag warning light has been on for years. Took it to the dealer in the past they said it's ok(Hub Hyundai Katy TX) but I don't feel confident.”

Filed Jul 29, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 7 of 25 reports involved a crash and 7 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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