2008 Hyundai Sonata Air Bags & Restraints Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V161000 (Air Bags); however, the dealer informed the contact that he had to pay for a diagnostic test prior to the recall repair. The contact declined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 181,000.

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed failures with the passenger's side occupancy sensor and occupant classification system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was unknown.

Took vehicle to independent Hyundai factory trained technician due to air bag light. Was advised this is due to failure of Occupant Classification System sensor in front passenger seat. This is related to NHTSA Campaign 08V161000, but technician advised my VIN was not listed under this recall. Technician advised me to contact Hyundai due to the recall and inquire if my vehicle could be covered, since leaving unaddressed could cause injury or death during collision. Manufacturer is aware of issue due to previous recall cited above. Spoke with Hyundai customer service phone line on 12/13/2022 and informed of issue, asking if the recall would cover my vehicle even though my VIN was not indicated in the previous recall. Customer service advised this could not be done. Asked customer service to file complaint about known safety issue and was given case #20713402. Customer service advised I could pay for repairs out of pocket and receive refund if recall was later issued. Action requested: expand recall 08V161000 to include additional 2008 Hyundai Sonatas exhibiting same manufacturer defect which is a risk to public safety.

AIR BAG light is on, with defect in Occupant Classification System (passenger weight sensor), with OCS system lights flashing erratically with no passenger in seat. Hyundai dealer and corporation keep telling me that there is no relevant campaign related to my vehicle. There is information for "Campaign 083 – 2006 – 2008 Sonata – Occupant Classification System (OCS) Reprogramming" online. Internally labeled as 08-01-006 Body Electrical issue. Campaign clearly states that problem is to be fixed on individual customer basis, meaning it wouldn't show up as a official recall. Hyundai currently refuses to take responsibility.

"AIR BAG" light stays on. Passenger side seatbelt light blinks on and off. Likely a Sensor issue, but seems to be a recurring problem with 2008 Sonatas.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT INITIALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V161000 (AIR BAGS) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GURNEE HYUNDAI (6251 GRAND AVE, GURNEE, IL 60031) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,900.

RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ALWAYS OFF, EVEN IF SEAT IS EMPTY. RED PASSENGER SEATBELT LIGHT ALWAYS FLASHING UNTIL SEAT BELT IS LATCHED, EVEN IF THERE IS NO ONE SITTING IN SEAT. THIS IS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. RECEIVED B1448 ERROR CODE. DEALER SAYS VIN ISN'T IN THE RECALL. I HAVE CALLED 2 LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERS AND HYUNDAI CORPORATE. SAME ANSWER.

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND HASN'T GONE OFF...MECHANIC SAY IT MAY BE A SENOR BUT WHEN I LOOKED UP THE VIN TO CHECK OPEN RECALLS NOTHING POPS UP BUT FROM FURTHER READING THIS IS A MAIN ISSUE WITH THESE VECHILES

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS CAME OFF AND SO HAS THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS CAME OFF AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS TOTALLY INOPERABLE. THIS S A TOTAL SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, A CAR CRASH GOD FORBID OR EVEN THE CAR CATCHING FIRE. GETTING TO SAFETY WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT. I CANT AFFORD TO CONTINUING FIXING AN ISSUE THAT IS DEFECTED TO BEGIN WITH. THE BRAKE LIGHTS DOESN'T ILLUMINATE ALL TIME WHEN ENGAGED AND MY AIR BAG LIGHTS ARE ON AND MY CAR SWAYS IN THE BACK DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM BEING RUSTED

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND HAS NOT TURNED OFF.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT SIGN IS OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT PEARSON HYUNDAI, MIDLOTHIAN TPK RICHMOND VA SINCE NOV 21 2019 FOR AIR BAG RECALL REPAIR. THAT IS 3 WEEKS. THE DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER. I HAVE SPENT $700 ON A RENTAL AND HAD TO TURN IT BACK IN. EVERY TIME I CALL THEM, I GET THE RUN AROUND. I CAN'T GO TO WORK NOW. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND NOW I ONLY HAVE ONE PRESENT FOR MY DAUGHTER. IS THIS A TYPE OF COMPLAINT THAT CAN BE FILED WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION?

THE PASSENGER BUCKLE WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 2017 AFTER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. OCTOBER 2019 WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE AIRBAG LIGHT CHECKED AND THEY AGAIN SAY THE PASSENGER BUCKLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED BY HYUNDAI 15 YEAR WARRANTY ON SEAT BELT BUCKLE ISSUES. CODE IS B1518. THEY SAY IT HAS TO FLASH A DIFFERENT CODE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. PAID $406 IN 2017 FOR THE REPAIR AND WILL NEED TO PAY $480 TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN. I RARELY USE THE PASSENGER SEATING BECAUSE I USUALLY DRIVE ALONE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.

MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I DIDN'T PAY IT ANY MIND AT FIRST UNTIL I REALIZE THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUES WHEN DRIVING AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. NOT SURE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH IT BUT IT NEEDS TO BE FIX

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT DUE TO A FAULTY OCS SENSOR ON MY 2008 SONATA (ERROR CODE B1448). THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE HYUNDAI INITIATED CAMPAIGN 083 TO ADDRESS. IN THIS CASE THE DEALERSHIP HUFFINES HYUNDAI DID FIX THE PROBLEM BY SENDING THE WHOLE SEAT OUT TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPROGRAMED. HOWEVER THIS SAME SENSOR FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THEY CAN'T REPROGRAM THE SENSOR AGAIN AND OFFERED TO FIX IT AGAIN AT MY COST (EXTREMELY HIGH COST). THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT UNDER CAMPAIGN 083 THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ONLY REPAIR/REPROGRAMMING THE OCS SENSOR ONCE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THIS OCS SENSOR FAILED AND THE COMPLETE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS COMPROMISED AND WON'T ACTIVATE IN AN ACCIDENT. I ESCALATED THIS ISSUE TO HYUNDAI CORPORATE CUSTOMER CARE RESOLUTION TEAM AND THEY ECHOED THE SAME COMMENTS AS THE DEALERSHIP. THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ONLY TO REPAIR/REPROGRAMMING THE OCS SENSOR ONCE. I ASKED TO HAVE THIS ESCALATED THE NEXT LEVEL AND THIS PERSON BASICALLY SAID NO AND HE WOULDN'T ESCALATE IT. AFTER DOING SOME LENGTHY RESEARCH THERE IS NO OTHER SAFE WAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED OTHER THAN GOING THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AT HIGH COST TO ME OR ANY OTHERS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE OCS SENSOR, HYUNDAI KNOWS IT'S PRONE TO FAILURE. THEY DON'T REPLACE THE SENSOR, JUST REPROGRAM THE SAME FAULTY SENSOR AND THEN WON'T FIX IT IF IT FAILS AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DECISION BY HYUNDAI TO PUT PROFITS BEFORE CUSTOMER SAFETY. WHY WAS THIS NOT A FULL GOVERNMENT FORCED RECALL? WAS HYUNDAI GETTING AROUND THE RECALL RULES BY ISSUING A CAMPAIGN? CAMPAIGN 083 EFFECTED CLOSE TO 400,000 VEHICLES.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE 'PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF' LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED WHEN THERE IS NO ONE SITTING IN THE SEAT. ERROR CODE B1448 WAS FOUND TO BE THE ERROR, WHICH IS A FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE AIRBAG WILL ALWAYS DEPLOY REGARDLESS OF WHO IS SITTING THERE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE STATIONARY UPON TURNING THE CAR ON ONE DAY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS UNKNOWN RECALL ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

FOR THE PAST YEAR I HAVE HAD THIS CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT USED. I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ABOUT IT WHEN I LOOKED IT UP BUT NOT MY CAR SPECIFICLY. FOR THE PAST YEAR MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS TURNED ON AND OFF EVERY NOW AND AGAIN AND NOW ITS JUST ON. I CONTINUED TO LOOK UP DETAILS CONCERNING THE SITUATION AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE BUT NOT MINE SPECIFICALLY. AND SINCE IT IS A USED VEHICLE I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PREVIOUS OWNER OR DEALERSHIP HAS DONE THE RECALL FOR IT.

HAVEN'T BEEN IN A CRASH RECENTLY, BUT AIR BAG LIGHT RANDOMLY CAME ON FOR NO REASON. WILL NOT GO AWAY (3 DAYS NOW)

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND WHEN RAN ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE IT IS THE OCS MAT FAULT. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED AN ACKNOWLEDGED ISSUE ON THE 2008 HYUNDAI BUT WHEN I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID MY BODY TYPE VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED? WHY WOULD THIS BE?