1. THE CAR (HYUNDAI SONATA) HAD A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A TRUCK THAT SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN SEVERE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. 2. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. 3. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE BODY SHOP RIGHT NOW. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN YET. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sonata years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Air Bags complaints
55 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THREE INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE DRIVER AND TWO REAR PASSENGERS WERE REPORTED INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THREE INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE DRIVER AND TWO REAR PASSENGERS WERE REPORTED INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING COMPANY LOT. HYUNDAI INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAGS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,000.
OUR SRS AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON TIME AFTER TIME. WE TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TURN IT OFF, IN A COUPLE OF DAYS IT WILL COME BACK. WE'VE BEEN TOLD WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING. IT COMES ON AT TIMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IS THIS COMMON ON HYUNDAI'S? *TR
FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS ON IN THE CLUSTER PANEL. LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER CANNOT TELL ME IF THE AIRBAG IS OPERABLE. I'M SHOCKED AT THE NUMBER OF AIRBAG COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THIS SITE FOR THE 05 SONATA AND THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY. I HAVE RECORDS INDICATING LOOSE CLIPS, DEFECTIVE MODULE REPLACED, ETC. ON SERVICE …
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FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS ON IN THE CLUSTER PANEL. LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER CANNOT TELL ME IF THE AIRBAG IS OPERABLE. I'M SHOCKED AT THE NUMBER OF AIRBAG COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THIS SITE FOR THE 05 SONATA AND THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY. I HAVE RECORDS INDICATING LOOSE CLIPS, DEFECTIVE MODULE REPLACED, ETC. ON SERVICE FOR AIR BAG LIGHT. *TR
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. TOOK IT TO AN AIRBAG SPECIALIST AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SENSOR IS BAD AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1,600. I CANNOT GET AN ANSWER FROM HYUNDAI AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR IS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. *TR
THE 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY AND RECALLED, CLOSE TO THE 2006 RECALLS. WE OWN A COMPANY AND HAVE PURCHASED OVER 12 TO 14 HYUNDAIS. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE SONATA GLS 2005 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, SEATBELT RESTRAINT, THE FRONT TIRES ARE CLOSER TO THE BACK & NOT CENT…
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THE 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY AND RECALLED, CLOSE TO THE 2006 RECALLS. WE OWN A COMPANY AND HAVE PURCHASED OVER 12 TO 14 HYUNDAIS. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE SONATA GLS 2005 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, SEATBELT RESTRAINT, THE FRONT TIRES ARE CLOSER TO THE BACK & NOT CENTERED ON THE WHEEL WELL (HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE PURCHASED, BUT THEY DO NOT CORRECT.), HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS & THAT UNIBODY TYPE FRAME & SO ON. IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE A TRUCK LEFT THE TAIL GATE DOWN & A LADDER HIT THE WINDSHIELD, THE CAR WAS THEN PARKED, TURNED OFF , THE KEYS TAKING OUT OF THE IGNITION & THEN BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE CELL PHONE THEN PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT INFER ALL THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TO LOCK UP & CAN NOT BE PULLED OUT TO WEAR. HYUNDAI STATES THAT THIS IS NOT WARRANTED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DEPLOYED AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. HYUNDAI HAD A GREAT WARRANTY 10 YEARS AGO. THEY DO NOT STAND UP TO THEIR WARRANTY AS BEFORE & I HAVE FOUND THAT SOME OF THE WARRANTY HAS CHANGED. I HAVE SWITCHED TO TOYOTA. HYUNDAI HAS DONE NOTHING SO FAR TO CORRECT. *TR
ON DECEMBER 17, 2007 AT APPROX 5:30PM MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WEST ON OSUNA AT INTERSECTION OF SEAGUILL , DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH, 35 BEING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. AS SHE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION ON A GREEN LIGHT, A LATE MODEL FORD RANGER TRIED TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION CROSSING HER PATH. AS SHE A…
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ON DECEMBER 17, 2007 AT APPROX 5:30PM MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WEST ON OSUNA AT INTERSECTION OF SEAGUILL , DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH, 35 BEING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. AS SHE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION ON A GREEN LIGHT, A LATE MODEL FORD RANGER TRIED TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION CROSSING HER PATH. AS SHE ADVANCED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION SHE STRUCK THE FORD RANGER BROAD SIDE. FORTUNATELY FOR MY DAUGHTER SHE HAD HER SEAT BELT ON, BECAUSE THE 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE HYUNDAI 'S AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING BECAUSE THE IMPACT WAS STRAIGHT AHEAD HIT, UNLESS THE HYUNDAI 'S AIR BAG WERE DEFECTIVE. MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT HURT BAD, ALTHOUGH SHE HAS BEEN HAVING NECK & BACK PAIN AND IS UNDER A DOCTOR'S SUPERVISION. I HAVE WRITTEN TO HYUNDAI., TO THIS DATE THEY HAVE BEEN VERY UNRESPONSIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THERE COULD BE A DEFECT IN HYUNDAI'S AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM. NEXT TIME THEY MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ALBUQUERQUE NM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 15 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE FRONT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN 180 DEGREES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. TWO PASSENGERS SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND A…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 15 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE FRONT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN 180 DEGREES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. TWO PASSENGERS SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND ARE UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE. THE POLICE REPORT NUMBER IS 07-04457. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000.
VEHICLE CRASH (1). VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. VEHICLE GOING OPPOSITE DIRECTION, MAKES LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF VEHICLE (1). DRIVERS EXITS VEHICLE (1) CAR BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE SMOKE "FEAR OF FIRE AND TRIED TO GET AWAY FROM CAR. SAMARITANS ASSIST DRIVER TO BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE (1) FOR A PLACE TO SIT AWAITING RESCU…
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VEHICLE CRASH (1). VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. VEHICLE GOING OPPOSITE DIRECTION, MAKES LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF VEHICLE (1). DRIVERS EXITS VEHICLE (1) CAR BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE SMOKE "FEAR OF FIRE AND TRIED TO GET AWAY FROM CAR. SAMARITANS ASSIST DRIVER TO BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE (1) FOR A PLACE TO SIT AWAITING RESCUE/PARAMEDICS. ONCE DRIVER WAS SEATED IN THE BACK SEAT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND VEHICLE (1) WAS TOTALED, AND DRIVER WAS IN STABLE CONDITION, BUT THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED DURING IMPACT? *AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PART IN ORDER TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THE AIR BAG MODU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PART IN ORDER TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THE AIR BAG MODULE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE LENGTH OF WAITING TIME WAS TOO LONG. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *AK
Official recalls
109V280000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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