27 of the
1,559 complaints filed about the Hyundai Santa FE Sport
are about the airbag system —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2017.
Airbag light illuminates on the dash and the seatbelt light illuminates intermittently as the seat electrical harness under the seat only connects in certain positions of the seat. My issue is associated with the passenger seat. This airbag light is associated with the airbag not firing or improperly firing. To avoid a recall, Hyundai has extended the warranty for vehicles for this issue but refuses to fix mine without payment.
NHTSA complaint #11754153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have great concern that certain vehicles of Hyundai are getting a little bit of extended warranty occupant classification system forward slash occupant detection system known issues. OCS/ODS I will try to attach a picture of the letter. As a nurse manager I find this once again appalling on Hyundai behalf, after these years pass we won't know if our air big warning lights or trouble codes or even a a passenger is detected when driving. They offered to pay if you had issues with this problem or in my case in the next four and a half years they would cover it but after that do I feel that this is my problem because they're having defect sensors and warning lights or maybe lack thereof altogether after speaking to them when I called and made a case number XXX with Hyundai Motor America. I strongly believe this should be a recall. I would never trust anybody sitting in my passenger seat, and I don't think you would either. They always try and find some way to get around doing the right thing and obviously they have problems with intermittent airbags warning lights trouble codes and this needs to be looked into if there are any risk/issues detecting or possibly never detecting a grandchild sitting in that front seat! After 5 years I will worry if anybody sits in the front seat now. I have started the process and will wait for your reply, of communicating with [XXX] our Minnesota State Attorney General's office on this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11742849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owned a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact’s son stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the brake pedal depressed with no warning light illuminated. The contact’s son stated that the ABS braking system failed, and the brake pedal did not function when attempting to stop the vehicle. As a result of the failure, the contact’s son collided with the highway pavement. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was required. The contact’s son also stated that the air bags did not deploy during the crash. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and was deemed a total loss by AAA due to severe front-end damage. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11726456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My air bar light was flashing so I took it into the dealer as it is still under warranty. They said it is a sensor in the seat that deploys the air bag. It has been since November with no ETA on the part. When I asked about getting my car back after several times they tried to get me to sign a wavier saying if I was in an accident they wouldn't be liable. I refused and my car is still at this dealership.
NHTSA complaint #11718421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving on US-rt1 in Dinwiddie Va, in my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. I was in a collision where a vehicle pulled out in front of me at no fault of my own, and I hit that vehicle going about 47mph. the front nor rear/side air bags deployed. My body slammed into the steering wheel causing severe whiplash as well and contusions to my left shoulder and neck, as well as my wife to be who also sustained injuries to her leg/knee. Had the airbags deployed i would have not made contact with the steering wheel though-out these events.
NHTSA complaint #11716272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The light for the passenger airbag has been on for years. I have taken it in, and the only thing the service department determined is that there was a water bottle under the seat. I was rear-ended into another vehicle, and the airbag did not deploy. The engine burns the oil from an oil change in approximately two weeks. I add a quart of oil every two weeks. If the engine seizes while driving due to this condition, I could be injured in an accident.
NHTSA complaint #11695915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
During a severe accident in which the cars collided from both the back and front at most likely over 50mph, the air bags did not deploy. In such a case, I feel as though they should have gone off as there was severe whiplash and the cars hit at such a fast and hard speed. My safety was impacted severely as if the cars around did not hit the way they did, I believe I could have died. It is extremely concerning that they did not go off when such large amounts of damage were done. In addition, there have been over 50,000 recalls done for air bags not working in this exact vehicle. In addition, the vehicle is being checked in the next day for additional damages and they will confirm the air bag issues. Police as well as insurance providers were shocked that the air bags did not deploy in such a severe case. No warning messages or lamps were on when the accident occurred or before. This is extremely concerning and I now fear for my safety even further if I were to purchase this vehicle again. It is a terrifying thought that I could have died due to a car malfunction.
NHTSA complaint #11684293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The passenger airbag sensor is malfunctioning and does not recognize that a passenger is in the car. The dealership advised that they don't know if the airbag would deploy if an accident occurred, which presents a risk to passengers. The airbag light stays on all the time. The dealership performed the diagnostics on the vehicle on 2/5/2025 and confirmed that the sensor was malfunctioning. They advised that the parts were on back order (88104-4Z591-VAS and 88952-4Z500). We still have not been able to obtain both parts as of 8/26/2025. We have contacted dealerships in other states who advised that they've been waiting on these parts for over a year. We are unable to fix the vehicle, and it is unsafe to drive with anyone in the passenger seat. We opened an issue with Hyundai Corporate, but did not receive any resolution. We were told that they would reimburse us for the cost of a rental when we needed to transport additional passengers. They later denied our request because 1) They claim it is not a safety-related issue, and 2) it occurred outside the state where we initially took the vehicle to the dealership since we are on a long-term work assignment and temporarily living in another state.
NHTSA complaint #11683192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The day after I purchased this 2018 Used Hyundai Santa Fe, the passenger air bag light came on. July 2024. I have been working with the dealership where I purchased the vehicle (Larry H Miller Chevrolet, in Murray Utah), and calling Hyundai Corporation for months. Hyundai called me every 3 days for almost 3 months with a customer update and they would say is "We have no updates". This is extremely frustrating. The main idea Hyundai Corporate office is telling me is that they don't have a contract with someone that would provide the vehicle part to fix this issue. They don't have a car part available in existence to fix this issue. This is a huge safety concern. I asked them "does that mean my passenger airbag could randomly go off while I'm driving down the road, or does this mean that my passenger airbag won't go off in case I got in a wreck?" They said that it could mean a number of things, but at this time, do not put anyone in the front seat of my car. The car part is a passenger airbag plate sensor that is underneath the passenger seat. Hyundai said there are no after market parts that are sufficient enough to put into the vehicle. Especially with it being a safety issue. How can this be on the consumer??? This is very crippling. This is a huge safety concern with no timeline for resolve. I am very mad. I have been fighting this for 9 months now.
NHTSA complaint #11652169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the air bag warning light illuminated the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with a defective clock spring. The contact was informed that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls or warranty coverage on the vehicle. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11640632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the passenger’s side seat occupancy sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11583872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11568779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I believe it is a clock spring failure. The airbag light is on & the buttons on the steering wheel do not work. I searched it & have seen several posts of others having same issue. I really feel this should be looked into, cause this is highly unsafe to be driving around with what very well could be an airbag that doesn't deploy & could seriously hurt drivers. Also, the contact stated the vehicle uses 5 quarts of oil within a 2 week period.
NHTSA complaint #11560220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Heavy oil consumption. Burning oil. Constant oil replacement needed. Airbag light stays on. Passenger air bag turns off when person is sitting in seat.
NHTSA complaint #11476443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that some of the accessory buttons were inoperable. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who confirmed that the clock spring had failed and could affect the deployment of the air bag. The clock spring was replaced and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 71,300. Consumer would like a portion of repair cost refunded from Hyundai, due to safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11467771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Applied brakes rapidly and the air bag light came on. It became intermittently on and off after that. Took it to the dealership with the light off and asked them to investigate and this is their response. OCS MAT DEFECT PERFORMED OCS MAT RESET. RECOMMEND REPLACE OCS MAT IF CONDITION CONTINUES Airbag light is now on continuously.
NHTSA complaint #11448170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Defective Passenger Airbag,the Airbag warning light flickers on and off periodically I was told by a Licensed Mechanic the Sensor for the front passenger seat may not deploy during a Collision
NHTSA complaint #11424007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL BUTTONS STOPPED FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED HEADQUARTER HYUNDAI (985 RINEHART RD, SANFORD, FL 32771) OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
NHTSA complaint #11387030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON 12/30 TOTALLY MY VEHICLE BEING HIT IN THE FRONT RIGHT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NOT HAPPY AT ALL , SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11292430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.