2011 Hyundai Sonata: airbags did not deploy in a crash

Filed Oct 5, 2026 · Airbags · GA

The passenger frontal airbag deployed on its own while the vehicle was being driven, with no collision or impact that the driver is aware of. The driver airbag did not deploy. The incident occurred on October 4, 2026, at about 11:14 PM, shortly after the driver refueled at a gas station and was heading toward the highway. The airbag tore open the dashboard panel and cracked the windshield from the inside where the bag struck the glass. The driver brought the vehicle back to the gas station and it was towed. It has not been driven since. Safety risk: The sudden deployment startled the driver and the cracked windshield reduced visibility while the vehicle was moving. Anyone in the passenger seat would have been struck at close range. Recall history: This vehicle received the Recall 174 / the federal safety agency 18V‑137 airbag control unit remedy (ACU main wiring harness installation, part 91700-4R100-QQH) at a Hyundai dealer in September 2025, at about 305,800 miles. The deployment occurred about 13 months and 18,400 miles later, at 324,243 miles. Warning signs: No airbag warning light or other warning appeared before the deployment. The vehicle was serviced at a Hyundai dealer about one month earlier (oil change and multi-point inspection), and no airbag or restraint-system problem was reported. Inspection: The vehicle is at a Hyundai dealer and is available for inspection. We have asked that the airbag control unit, airbag module, and stored crash data be preserved. A case has been opened with Hyundai Motor America. As of this report, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or an insurer, and no dealer has confirmed the cause. Cause: UNKNOWN. Our best assessment is an electrical fault in the airbag control unit or its wiring, which received recall work in 2025.

Filed Jul 10, 2022 · Acceleration, Airbags · KS · crash · 1 injury

A friend borrowed my car to go to the corner store to get me a couple of things while my husband was getting surgery. My friend ended up in a rollover accident after hitting a tree. All recalls were up to date on my vehicle, he stated that no airbags deployed. Now after the vehicle was rolled back over and taken to the tow yard the insurance adjuster was the first to see and the driver airbag had deployed. I was not there I cannot say when the airbag deployed however none of the curtain airbags deployed. Also my friend stated that the car accelerated just before impact he swerved to miss something in the road and ended up rolling the vehicle after hitting the tree. The car should not have been accelerating but it was like the car had a mind of its own. I thought the recall was to fix the air bags. He could have been killed.. no reason these cars are still on the road. Not to mention all of the mechanical issues. And I'm sorry to say that I'm glad my kids weren't in the car.

Filed May 20, 2022 · Airbags, Electrical · 97,000 miles · NY · crash · fire · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the rear end of the vehicle. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle skidded and stopped. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to her residence and parked the vehicle. The contact then sought medical assistance and was informed that she had sustained a left shoulder rotator cuff tear. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bags failed to engage and did not need to be reset. The vehicle was then taken to an auto collision mechanic where it was repaired. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle. The contact was thrown to the right and to the driver's side door. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was transported to the hospital by emergency units. The contact was informed by her orthopedist that her left shoulder rotator cuff tear was reinjured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was then towed to a second dealer Bob Johnson Kia (3817 W Henrietta Rd, Rochester, NY 14623), where it was diagnosed that the air bags failed to engage and did not need to be reset. The vehicle was then taken to an auto collision mechanic where it was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she smelled a burning odor. Upon parking the vehicle at her residence, the contact saw smoke coming in through the instrument panel and AC vents. The contact stated that all four doors were then locked. The contact then released the key from the ignition and unlock the doors using the key fob. The contact saw a flame coming through the AC vent just before she exited the vehicle. After exiting the vehicle, the contact saw that the front seats were on fire and there was fire underneath the hood of the vehicle. The fire department arrived at the scene but was unable to un

Filed Oct 14, 2021 · Steering · 195,000 miles · MD · crash

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at 70 MPH, the contact noticed the EPS warning light illuminated. The contact continued to drive but noticed the steering wheel of the vehicle was very loose causing the vehicle to swerve on the road. The contact lost automatic power steering which caused the contact to crash into a medium wall on the side of the road. The air bags did not deploy. There was no medical treatment at the scene. No one was injured. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as an electric issue with power steering that would need to be repaired by a local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired..The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000.

Filed Sep 11, 2021 · Airbags · NC · crash

No airbags deployed upon result of hitting a COW at 50mph. Airbags didnt deploy. Waiting to be overlooked by insurance adjuster. Highway patrol overlooked vehicle while filing a report. None.

Filed Feb 26, 2021 · Airbags · 164,000 miles · FL · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, he rear-ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy and no warning lights were illuminated. The contact suffered injuries to his chest when the seat belt retracted during the collision. Medical attention was received as the contact was transported by ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact was leaving the hyundai dealer when the collision occurred after getting the steering wheel and a flat tire repaired, but the dealer was not aware of the collision. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 164,000.

Filed Jan 8, 2021 · Airbags, Engine · 119,000 miles · FL · crash · 3 injuries

Tl* the contact owned a 2011 hyundai sonata. The contact stated while her daughter's friend was driving 65 MPH, when the vehicle began to accelerate the speed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The drive was turned to the right to park on the side of the road but the vehicle seized on the road. The contact stated another vehicle rear ended the seized vehicle. No airbags deployed. The contact stated there were 3 passenger inside the vehicle. The contact stated the driver sustained back pains and seeked medical attention at a near hospital and was seeing a chiropractor at the moment. The contact also stated another daughter was seated at the rear middle and sustain concussion and was seeking medical attention also. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The insurance deemed the vehicle loss. The contact also stated she had experience the failure on 5 different occasion. The vehicle was taken to local dealer cocoa hyundai ( 1825 w king st, cocoa, fl 32926: (321) 631-2444) and were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000. *dt

Filed Jan 22, 2020 · Airbags, Seat belts · 116,000 miles · AR · crash

Vehicle rollover crash occurred monday, 1/20/2020 while driving approx 45 MPH after missing a curve in the road. No airbags deployed (driver, passenger, nor side) nor did the seat belts properly restrain occupants (driver nor 3 passengers).

Filed Dec 27, 2019 · Airbags · 93,000 miles · AR · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that the driver and passenger side air bags failed to deploy. The contact stated that the driver swerved to the right to avoid a crash. As a result, the vehicle drove in a ditch. The vehicle was driven out of the ditch and crashed into a pole. The driver and passenger side air bags failed to deploy. The driver suffered injuries to the face, mouth, chin, neck, and a bruised forehead. Medical attention was received. Police report number: 2019-4834 was filed. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The cause of the failure was not determined. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.

Filed May 20, 2019 · Airbags, Seat belts · 45,000 miles · IL · crash · 1 injury

I was driving south bound on I-355 in dupage county when I was about to switch over from the 3rd from right lane onto the 4th from right lane to exit when the left back of my car got hit causing me to do a 180 spin into the middle of lane two from left hitting another vehicle but no air bags deployed out. Idk if it's ruled a total lost or not. Insurance have to get back to me. Me and my 2yr daughter was in the car

Filed May 16, 2019 · Airbags · 102,000 miles · NC · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2011 hyundai sonata. While driving 50 MPH, the contact crashed head on into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled and towed to an insurance company. A police report was filed. The contact suffered injuries and received medical attention. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 102,000.

Filed Mar 17, 2019 · Airbags, Brakes · 136,000 miles · FL · crash · 2 injuries

"takata recall" ... On march 16th 2019 my wife was driving with a passenger our 2011 hyundai sonata limited when an accident occurred at a high speed the airbags did not deploy and the seat belts did not hold them back both were severely injured the brakes also failed to stop the vehicle. I am attaching a picture of the vehicle after the accident I do have the police report however the officer did not mention on the police report to my knowledge about the airbags but when you contact me I can give you the number of the shop that has the vehicle and they can verify that the airbags did not deploy.