2002 Hyundai Sonata Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/14/2026

23Air Bags complaints

7.2%Of all 319 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS53 · 16.6%

SUSPENSION50 · 15.7%

AIR BAGS23 · 7.2%

STEERING19 · 6%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17 · 5.3%

Share of the 319 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2002 Hyundai Sonata overview page.

What owners report

“AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON MY 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. THE CAR WAS…”NHTSA complaint 10235875 — filed 07/26/2008

“: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10148371 — filed 01/23/2006

“MY HYUNDAY SONATA HAD AN ACCIDENT, HIITING A PARKED SUV AND THE SONATA WAS TOTALLED BUT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY (INFLATE).”NHTSA complaint 10104173 — filed 12/20/2004

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Hyundai Sonata have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2002 Hyundai Sonata: 23 of 319 complaints on file (7.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2002 Hyundai Sonata have in total?

319 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 31 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 54 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.