YearToAvoid

2012 Hyundai Sonata Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 169 airbag complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata, 11% of its 1,556 total complaints, tied to 18 crashes and 12 injuries. Two related recalls (12V352000 and 18V137000) address curtain airbag deployment and seat belt/airbag wiring issues.

Airbags complaints
169
11% of 1,556
Crashes reported
18
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
12
Median mileage
83,900 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Frontal or side airbags failed to deploy during moderate-speed collisions, including crashes at 40 mph and 52 mph.
  • Curtain side airbags did not deploy in side-impact crashes, leaving occupants unprotected.
  • A passenger side airbag deployed unexpectedly with no crash event, throwing debris and startling the driver.
  • Airbags failed to deploy even after owners received notice of recall campaign 18V137000 covering seat belts and airbags.
  • Some owners reported airbag non-deployment during low-speed lane-change collisions and animal strikes.

When 2012 Hyundai Sonata airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 9, 2012, latest Jun 16, 2026.

2012 Hyundai Sonata airbags complaints: complaints filed per quarter302012 Q32015 Q22017 Q22018 Q42020 Q22021 Q42023 Q32026 Q1
169 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2018 Q3 (30).

Airbags recalls for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata

  1. NHTSA 18V137000Feb 27, 2018Airbags580,058 vehicles

    Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. On February 27, 2018, Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) notified NHTSA that they were recalling 154,753 model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. On April 18, 2018, Hyundai expanded the recall to include an additional 425,305 model year 2012-2013 Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying.

    Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install an external wire filter kit, free of charge. The recall began October 15, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 174.

  2. NHTSA 12V352000Jul 24, 2012Airbags29,767 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window

    Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Hyundai Sonata passenger cars, manufactured from January 24, 2012, through June 21, 2012. The curtain side airbags on these vehicles may inflate without deployment command due to an error during manufacturing.

    Risk: The curtain airbag may inflate without deployment command and increase the risk of injury to occupants of the vehicle. Additionally, an unexpected deployment would be a significant driver distraction and would limit the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai dealers will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain side airbags free of charge. This recall began on August 31, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

Airbags complaints by Sonata model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200555 (33%)
  2. 2006435 (42%)
  3. 2007257 (37%)
  4. 2008137 (32%)
  5. 200930 (7%)
  6. 201020 (6%)
  7. 2011418 (12%)
  8. 2012169 (11%)
  9. 2013102 (5%)
  10. 201431 (4%)
  11. 201525 (2%)
  12. 201621 (3%)
  13. 201722 (3%)
  14. 20184 (1%)
  15. 20199 (6%)
  16. 20207 (4%)
  17. 20214 (3%)
  18. 20220 (0%)
  19. 20231 (1%)
  20. 20240 (0%)
  21. 20251 (6%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA lists 169 airbag-related complaints for the 2012 Sonata, which is 11% of the 1,556 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2012 Hyundai Sonata airbags?
Yes. Recall 12V352000 covers curtain side airbags that could inflate without a deployment command, and recall 18V137000 covers a wire filter kit related to seat belts and airbags.
Have airbag problems on the 2012 Sonata caused injuries or crashes?
NHTSA data tied to airbag complaints for this model year show 18 crashes, 2 fires, and 12 injuries.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically appear on the 2012 Sonata?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for airbag complaints on the 2012 Sonata is 83,900 miles.
Is the 2012 Sonata worse than other years for airbag complaints?
The 2012 Sonata's 11% airbag complaint share is close to the 2011 model's 12%, but higher than most later years like 2015 (2%) and 2018 (1%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.