6 complaints reported

1997 Hyundai Sonata Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
6
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
3

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2003 Crash Injury

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT LOW SPEED, UNDER 5 MPH, KILLING FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.*AK THE SONATA HIT THE REAR END OF A VEHICLE DEPLOYING BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT BAG. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN IF THE 5 YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS BELTED. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT BELIEVE THE CHILD WAS. THE CHILD SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE NECK, SPINAL CORD INJURIES AND BRAIN DAMAGE. THE CHILD WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.CW

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 1999
Jan 2003

ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1999 WHILE DRIVING ON BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON PRKWY, I APPROACHED AN AREA OF HIGHWAY WERE WORK WAS BEING DONE. I WAS NOW TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MPH. AT ONE POINT TRAFFIC CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS I GLANCED DOWN AT MY INSTRUMENTAL PANEL THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT APPEARED TO BE FLICKERING, THE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN WENT OUT. WHILE IN A STOPPED POSITION APPROXIMATELY (2) MINS AFTER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, THE AIRBAGS BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DEPLOYED. I WAS STARTLED BY THIS AND DID HOWEVER RELEASE THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES SLIGHTLY BUMPING THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE AND LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER OF MY CAR. THE MAJOR DAMAGE IS FROM THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR FROM THE AIRBAGS. PLEASE BE AWARE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BEFORE MY CAR CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. *SCC *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 1999
Aug 2001

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2001
Apr 1999 Crash Injury

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH VEHICLE HAD HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 1999
Sep 1998 Crash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT TRAVELLING ABOUT 15MPH, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. CAR WAS TOWED, INSURANCE INVESTIGATION PENDING. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 1998
Jun 1998 Crash Injury

AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE CAUSING INJURY IN ACCIDENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 1998

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1997 Hyundai Sonata has 6 Air Bags complaints on file. 4 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.