2005 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 165 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 26 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 27 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lightingJul 21, 2009
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFT OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-787-999-4310.
Campaign 09V280000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
55 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Jun 1, 2025
Air Bag light stays on and cannot pass stare inspection without repair. NHSTA site has 54 reports of this issue and dealer cannot figure out how to repair. What can be done?
Air bags, Oct 11, 2020
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT WON'T GO OFF. THIS IS ALL THE TIME WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY, OR MOVING. WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF, IT'S STILL ON.
Air bags, Oct 25, 2018
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS NOT BEEN FIX CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.
Air bags, Jun 9, 2018
HAVING A CONSTANT MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRBAG SENSOR AFTER HAVING REPAIR AT LEAST 2 TO 3 DIFFERENT TIME OF HAVING THE CAR. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STILL COMES ON .
Air bags, May 16, 2018
THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THE MORE I LOOK AROUND I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. JUST THIS SITE ALONE HAD 50 COMPLAINTS ON THE AIRBAG ALONE.
Air bags, Jan 8, 2018
TAKATA INFLATOR MY CAR HAS THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON.
Air bags, Service brakes, Mar 26, 2017, crash
BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING A BAD ACCIDENT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHOLE FRONT END SMASHED IN HOOD ALMOST IN THE WINDSHEILD.
Air bags, Mar 7, 2017
TAKATA RECALL
Electrical system, Air bags, Jan 29, 2017
AIR BAG DASH LIGHT IS ON FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON. IT USED TO BE INTERMITTENT, BUT IT EVENTUALLY STAYED ON. MECHANICS AND HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP HAVE NO ANSWERS. IT COMES ON AS SOON AS I START THE CAR AND DOESN'T TURN OFF UNTIL THE CAR IS OFF. I WAS TOLD MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. HOW DELIGHTFUL. *TR
Air bags, Oct 14, 2016, crash
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FENDER BENDER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND RELEASED A LOT OF TINY METAL CRYSTALS. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALER AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Air bags, Sep 12, 2016
I HAVE A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA AND REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AS OF TODAY AND THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO STALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND NEVER GOES OFF SO I REPORTED IT AGAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WHERE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS FOR THE CONSUMERS.
Air bags, Structure, Apr 16, 2016, crash
MY WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT ON NEW JERSEY PARKWAY SOUTH, THE AIR BAG ON BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE REFUSE TO DEPLOY, THESE HAS CAUSE MY WIFE BROKEN RIBBS AND SOME BODILY INJURIES ACCORDING TO DOCTORS REPORT....UPDATED 07/13/16 *BF
Air bags, Feb 1, 2016, crash
(TAKATA RECALL) I HAD A ACCIDENT ON 1/20/2016. MY AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATION, WHEN THE AIRBAG CAME OUT IT WAS DEFLATED. THE AIRBAG LET OUT CHEMICAL IN MY FACE, EYES, NOSE, THROAT.THE AIRBAG EXPOSURE CAUSE ME EYE TRAUMA, FACE SKIN IRRITATED , AND SINUS INFECTION, HEADACHE . I HIT SOME BLACK ICE ON HIGHWAY 77, THREE MILES BEFORE YOU GET TO NEWBORN, TN. MY CAR SLIDE OF THE ROAD IN TO A DITCH. THE BAG DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT, BUT IT CAUSE BODY PROBLEMS.
Air bags, Nov 6, 2015, crash
INVOLVED IN A FOUR CAR CRASH EARLY THIS MORNING. I WAS THE LAST IN LINE AND REAR ENDED A TRUCK. THE SONATA IS TOTALED. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT NOT THE DRIVER'S ONE. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND GLASSES FLEW OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. IT WAS A HARD IMPACT, THE FRONT END IS DESTROYED.
Air bags, May 11, 2015
DRIVING FROM DEALER AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR USED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. RETURNED TO DEALER AND WAS "REPAIRED" AND TOLD THAT THEY MUST HAVE LOOSENED THE CONNECTION WHEN THEY VACUUMED THE CAR. SINCE THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND STAYED ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC, THEY CHECKED THE CODES AND RESET THE LIGHT. THE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS OR SO. THE LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS TIME HE COULD NOT RESET THE CODES AND THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE TO HYUNDAII DEALER FOR REPAIR. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS YEAR MODEL, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SCAM BY HYUNDAII TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MAKE MONEY OFF OF A CAR THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE DANGEROUS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AND I AM DRIVING THE CAR, BUT WILL BE UNABLE TO DO SO WHEN I NEED ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION. CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY $1500+ FOR A REPAIR ON A CAR ONLY WORTH ABOUT $4000. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
Electrical system, Air bags, Service brakes, Mar 4, 2015
ELECTRICAL ISSUES BEGAN A MONTH AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE. FRONT AND REAR LIGHT BULBS CONTINUE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, THE DASH LIGHT ALSO WILL FLASH WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED. THE TRUNK LEAKED THE FIRST CHRISTMAS, DEALER CLAIMED TO REPAIR IT, BUT FAILED, STILL LEAKS. AIR BAG INDICATOR CAME ON, WENT OFF EVENTUALLY, AND IS BACK ON AGAIN. FINALLY, CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER LAST YEAR AND CUTTING OFF SPORADICALLY IN TRAFFIC, AND NOW THE REAR AND WINDOW BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON BUT NOT WHEN TURNED OFF. RECALL INFO POINTS TO DEFECTIVE STOP BRAKE SWITCH THAT FAILED EVEN AFTER REPAIR/REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER, MY VIN DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE RECALL LIST AND THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE. CURIOUS, SINCE MY CAR IS OF THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR REPORTED! GREEDY AND IRRESPONSIBLE ! *TR
Steering, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Mar 4, 2015, crash, fire
I WAS DRIVING IN MY OWN LANE WITH MY SEATBELT ON AND LIGHTS ON AND I DIDN'T SEE THIS BUS COMING SPEEDING WITH NO LIGHTS ON AT ALL HE SCRATCHED MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND HE ALL MOST TOOK THE MIRROR OFF I HIT THE BRAKE AND IT SLOWED TO 55 AND I STILL HIT HIM I WAS GOING SPEED LIMIT THE RADIATOR BROKE AND THE CAR ALL MOST EXPLODED ALSO THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF AND THE SPEED MPH WAS ABOUT 5 OFF THE STEERING PUMP ALSO FAILED. I ALL MOST DIED. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Nov 18, 2014
THIS IS THE FIRST DATE THAT I REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. SINCE THAT TIME, THE LIGHT HAS GONE OFF AND COME BACK ON A MANY TIMES. IT WAS CHECKED AGAIN BY THE DEALER AND ALSO BY A LOCAL, CERTIFIED MECHANIC. IT USUALLY STAYS OFF FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS, BUT COMES BACK ON. IT IS NOW ON AGAIN. IN ADDITION, I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE DOOR JAM SWITCH IN JAN. 2014. THE DOOR CHIMES (SEATBELT SOUND) GOES OFF RANDOMLY. NOW, THIS SOUND IS BACK. THE CAR RANDOMLY LOCKS ITSELF AND THE RADIO RANDOMLY GOES ON AS WELL. I FEEL THAT THE CAR HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY MAKE IT UNSAFE. I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAG ISSUE. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES ON IT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN RECALLED FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS. *TR
Air bags, Nov 10, 2014
ARE MY AIRBAGS A PROBLEM? WERE THEY MANUFACTURED BY TAKATA? THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS REMAINED ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED. SHOULD I GET THEM REPLACED? AM I IN DANGER FROM AIRBAGS? *TR
Air bags, Oct 8, 2014
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES. CHECKED BY AUTO ELECTRICAL SERVICE SHOP, RESET LIGHT, BUT ILLUMINATES AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER. CONSTANT PROBLEM. TOLD AIR BAGS WILL NOT OPERATE IF LIGHTS IS ON. DANGEROUS. *TR
Air bags, Sep 26, 2014
AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN MY2005 SONATA. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SCANNED IT. THEY SAID IT WAS EITHER A BAD MODULE OR A BREAK IN A WIRE. I TOOK IT TO A VERY GOOD LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY INSPECTED THE WIRING AND MODULE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AND FOUND NOTHING OBVIOUSLY WRONG. THEY PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND THE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN, THE DID THE SAME THING AND IT STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS. IT HAS BEEN ON SINCE. *TR
Air bags, Aug 28, 2014
WE HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON IN THIS VEHICLE. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED WE TOOK IT TO A HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THAT SOME ITEMS GOT UNDER THE FRONT SEAT AND COMPROMISED THE WIRE HARNESS. I EXPLAINED MY CONCERNS TO THE SERVICE REP THAT I WAS SHOCKED THAT THE AIR BAG AND SAFETY SYSTEM COULD BE COMPROMISED BY ITEMS THAT MAY GET UNDER THE SEATS. THIS WEEK WE HAD ANOTHER AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COME ON AND AGAIN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER. THIS TIME IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN AN AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. ON 8/26/14 I CALLED A HYUNDAI SERVICE CONTRACT REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT COVERAGE FOR THIS UNDER A SERVICE CONTRACT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND THAT AFTER TIME THE AIR BAG COMPONENT WOULD WEAR OUT. MY REACTION WAS THAT, YES, EVERY COMPONENT IN THE CAR WILL WEAR OUT OVER TIME. USING THAT ARGUMENT, HYUNDAI COULD ARGUE THAT NO COMPONENTS WOULD BE COVERED AS EVERY ITEM ON THE CAR IS ARGUABLY A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. I FOUND THAT POSITION SHOCKING AS NO SERVICE VENDOR OR OWNER MAKES REGULAR INSPECTION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS EXPERIENCE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT HYUNDAI DOES NOT TAKE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY REGARDING THE USE AND SAFETY OF THEIR AIR BAG SYSTEMS. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Jul 28, 2014
YOUR PROBE INTO THE HYUNDAI SONATA AIRBAG ISSUE SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO EARLIER MODELS AS WE HAVE A 2005 AND WHAT YOU ARE INITIALLY EXPLAINING AFFECTS OUR VEHICLE ALSO. WE HAVE HAD THE AIRBAG LIGHT RESET A FEW TIMES BY THE DEALER (ZIMBRIK HYUNDAI IN MADISON, WI). THEY INITIALLY STATED THAT IT WAS JUST A WIRE UNDER THE SEAT THAT NEEDED TO BE REATTACHED. THEY'D DO THAT AND TURN OFF THE AIRBAG LIGHT, IT'D BE OK FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN THE LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON. THEY EVENTUALLY STATED THEY WANTED TO REPACK THE AIRBAG FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, SEEMED SOMEWHAT LIKE A SCAM, SO WE NO LONGER GO IT FIXED AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. *JS
Air bags, Jul 17, 2014
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NEW. MY WIFE PRIMARILY DRIVES THIS CAR AND THE PASSENGER SEAT MAYBE GETS USED ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS JUST OVER 70K MILES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE HYUNDAI MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT. AT FIRST THEY TOLD US IT WAS DUE TO STUFF UNDER THE SEAT. THE NEXT TIME IT WAS A BAD MODULE @ $400 TO REPAIR. THIS TIME WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF STATE INSPECTION. PRIOR TO TAKING TO DEALER TO HAVE THE CODES READ, I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN RELATIVE TO THE AIR BAG CIRCUIT SENSOR WIRING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AT THE DEALER SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT NEVER WAS. SO THIS TIME, ONCE AT THE DEALER THE CODES WERE READ AND INDICATED A HIGH RESISTANCE ON BOTH SEATS AND A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. I PAID TO HAVE THE SERVICE BULLETIN IMPLEMENTED AND REPLACEMENT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT BUCKLE. MY WIFE PICKED THE CAR UP BUT WITHIN A COUPLE MILES THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM REPAIR IT AGAIN. NOW THERE IS A DIFFERENT CODE BEING READ FROM THE COMPUTER THAT INDICATES THAT THERE IS A SHORT ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, BUT THIS FAULT COMES AND GOES IF THERE IS MOVEMENT OF THE HARNESS IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIR BAG WITHIN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER CONTACTED HYUNDAI ENGINEERING CONCERNING THE NEWEST FAULT CODE AND THEY ARE IS NOW TELLING ME THAT HYUNDAI ENGINEERING IS STATING THAT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WILL REQUIRE THE SEAT TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2200. THIS IS ABSURD. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS ON THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE ROBUST ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND MANY YEARS OF SERVICE. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH SO MANY WIRING PROBLEMS LET ALONE AIR BAG ISSUES. *TR
Air bags, Mar 18, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.