← New search

2005 Hyundai Sonata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Hyundai Sonata do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 161.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

128 reports with mileage · 37 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports2 fire reports19 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

55 reports
Clear category filter
110,000 miles · Sep 26, 2014
Air Bags

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 …

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10639196

85,548 miles · Aug 28, 2014
Air Bags

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 …

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10629021

126,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

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 …

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10616748

26,000 miles · Jul 17, 2014
Air Bags

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 PASSENGE…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10611344

20,000 miles · Mar 18, 2014
Air Bags

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 WA…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10573124

80,000 miles · Aug 13, 2013
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE WIRING TO THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. TH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE WIRING TO THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10535111

24,474 miles · Mar 14, 2013
Air Bags

AFTER MANY INDICATIONS OF AIR BAG FAILURE (LIGHT ON) AND SEVERAL COSTLY REPAIRS - FINALLY FOUND A HYUNDAI DEALER THAT INDICATED THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON HOW TO MAKE THE PROPER REPAIR. REPAIR MADE AT 55,820 MILES ON 12/10/12 - NOW OVER 58,000 MILE AND NO REPEAT OF AIR BAG LIGHT (THIS IS A NEW RECORD TIME AND MILEAGE WITH THE AIR …

Read full complaint

AFTER MANY INDICATIONS OF AIR BAG FAILURE (LIGHT ON) AND SEVERAL COSTLY REPAIRS - FINALLY FOUND A HYUNDAI DEALER THAT INDICATED THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON HOW TO MAKE THE PROPER REPAIR. REPAIR MADE AT 55,820 MILES ON 12/10/12 - NOW OVER 58,000 MILE AND NO REPEAT OF AIR BAG LIGHT (THIS IS A NEW RECORD TIME AND MILEAGE WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT OUT) ERROR CODE THAT WAS CONSISTENTLY REPEATED = CODE B1382 QUOTE FROM THE E-MAIL FROM THE DEALER:: GOT SOME GOOD NEWS ON THE VEHICLE AND ITS NEEDS FOR THE SRS LIGHT. GOOD NEWS AS IT IS GOING TO BE EASILY REPAIRED AND COST NOTHING OUT OF POCKET FOR YOU. IT ISN??T GOING TO FALL UNDER ANY TYPE OF TRADITIONAL WARRANTY BUT WE WILL BE TAKING CARE OF THIS UNDER A GOODWILL WARRANTY. IT SEEMS LIKE THE CONNECTORS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED WERE REPAIRED INCORRECTLY. THERE IS A BULLETIN ON HOW TO REPAIR, SEAL, SECURE, AND RE ROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS SO THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ANY FURTHER IN THE FUTURE. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS BULLETIN WAS NOT FOLLOWED AND THEREFORE WE HAD THE REPEAT FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502753

51,000 miles · Feb 10, 2013
Air Bags

IN 2008 AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS CODE B1382 AND CHECKED THE CAR. IT WAS THE CONNECTION UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF SINCE THAT DATE. THE LIGHT IS NOW ON AGAIN. IF IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE MY AIRBAGS ARE NOT GOING TO BE WORKING, AND SOMEONE GET INJ…

Read full complaint

IN 2008 AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS CODE B1382 AND CHECKED THE CAR. IT WAS THE CONNECTION UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF SINCE THAT DATE. THE LIGHT IS NOW ON AGAIN. IF IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE MY AIRBAGS ARE NOT GOING TO BE WORKING, AND SOMEONE GET INJURED IN MY VEHICLE, HYUNDAI WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT HAVING A RECALL . IT IS UP TO THE NTSB TO FORCE HYUNDAI TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER SEEING THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10497652

73,000 miles · Nov 11, 2012
Air Bags

I BOUGHT THE HYUNDAI SONATA 2005 GLE FROM COLONIAL HYUNDAI OF DOWNIGTWON PA. IT WAS A USED CAR WITH POWER TRAIN WARRANTY GIVEN BY THE DEALER. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 73,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. SOON AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR THE AIRBAGS LIGHTS STARTED SHOWING UP. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GOT IT FIXED, THEY CHA…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT THE HYUNDAI SONATA 2005 GLE FROM COLONIAL HYUNDAI OF DOWNIGTWON PA. IT WAS A USED CAR WITH POWER TRAIN WARRANTY GIVEN BY THE DEALER. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 73,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. SOON AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR THE AIRBAGS LIGHTS STARTED SHOWING UP. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GOT IT FIXED, THEY CHARGED ME LABOR AND SCANNING FEES DESPITE IT NOT BEING MY FAULT AS THE CAR HAD NO IMPACT TO ANY OBJECT OR ACCIDENTS. WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF GETTING IT FIXED THE AIRBAGS LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT AGAIN. THE AIRBAGS LIGHT AGAIN CAME BACK AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME, I REPORTED IT TO HYUNDAI GLOBAL CUSTOMER SERVICE - THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO TAKE IT BACK AGAIN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND ASK THEM TO FIX IT. I DID NOT TAKE IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP BECASUE I LACKED CONFIDENCE IN THEIR WORK HENCE I TOOK IT OUTSIDE CAR SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY RAN THE SCAN BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAGS BUT SAID ONLY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP CAN RESET THE LIGHTS. I NOW MOVED TO NJ HENCE THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP NOW WANTS 90$ TO DO THE DIAGNOSIS AFTER WHICH THEY WILL GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE. I FEEL ITS UNNECESSARY WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY AND I HAVE ALREADY SPENT ENOUGH ON THIS ISSUE. I FEEL IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE AIRBAGS ISSUE. REQUESTING HELP IN THIS REGARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483956

70,000 miles · Jun 29, 2012
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH. THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS RESET. THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH. THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS RESET. THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, THE PROCEDURE WOULD BE VERY TIMELY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10463553

Official recalls

1

09V280000 · Exterior Lighting

Jul 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.