2016 Hyundai Sonata Air Bags & Restraints Problems

I was involved in a low-speed collision at a residential intersection after stopping at a stop sign and beginning to proceed. Going under 5 mph, I braked immediately, but contact occurred. Despite relatively minor front-end damage, the driver steering wheel airbag and driver knee airbag deployed. The passenger front airbag did not deploy, and no side or curtain airbags deployed. There was no significant intrusion into the engine compartment or passenger cabin. I am submitting this report due to concern that the driver airbags deployed in a low-speed impact that did not appear severe enough to warrant deployment. Pictures attached

I am submitting this complaint as a follow-up to my prior NHTSA complaint regarding the defective passenger seat Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) in the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. Previous Tracking Number: 11689976 Since my initial submission, I have prepared a detailed technical and comparative report, which I am attaching here. The report documents how Hyundai’s repair policy for the OCS creates excessive repair costs (over $3,600 for a single sensor failure) and forces consumers to operate vehicles with compromised safety systems, in violation of the intent of FMVSS 208. The attached report provides: • Technical analysis of the OCS design and failure mode • Cost comparison with other manufacturers (Toyota, Honda, Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz) • Legal and consumer protection implications, including potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act • Supporting exhibits (service estimate and parts documentation) I respectfully request that NHTSA review this additional evidence in connection with my prior complaint and consider appropriate regulatory or enforcement actions. Thank you for your attention.

The problem originates from a single faulty passenger seat airbag sensor, but Hyundai requires replacement of the entire seat cushion module, quoted at approximately $3,200 for the part alone and around $4,000 total repair cost. This creates the impression that a single failed sensor affects the entire airbag system. I was not provided with a definitive answer as to whether this fault impacts the driver airbag, which leaves a critical safety uncertainty. By designing the sensor as an inseparable, non-serviceable part of the cushion module, Hyundai forces consumers into an unreasonable expense. This situation puts drivers in the position of either paying thousands of dollars or risking driving with potentially compromised airbag safety. I strongly believe this constitutes a serious safety defect and should be subject to recall.

WARNING LIGHT ON DASH JUST WENT ON

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the driver's seat belt became inoperable. The contact stated that the seat belt failed to properly retract or properly restrain the contact while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the seat belt assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,800.

Car keep stalling misfire just started muffler sound smoke lack of power when driving

On September 25, 2023, I was involved in a motor vehicle collision while driving my Hyundai Sonata 2016, during which the front driver-side airbag failed to deploy despite the impact being significant enough to cause injury. This non-deployment represents a malfunction of the airbag system, including its sensors and deployment components, and aligns with issues already reported in class-action complaints involving Hyundai vehicles, making my case further evidence that an airbag defect exists. Because the vehicle was declared a total loss by my insurance company and later sold at auction, the physical component is no longer in my possession now; however, I retain documentation on accident-related records that clearly show the airbag did not deploy. The failure of this critical safety system placed my safety at direct risk because the protective barrier intended to reduce impact forces was absent, resulting in greater injury than would reasonably be expected had the system functioned properly. The problem has not been reproduced yet because the vehicle was transferred to insurance immediately after the incident and was not repairable. But working with accident reconstruction engineers on this matter. Prior to the crash, the vehicle displayed no warning lights, SRS messages, or other symptoms indicating an issue with the airbag system, and at no time before the collision was I alerted to any malfunction that would have suggested the system would fail at the moment it was most needed.

1. Driver side airbag. Inspected. 2.Airbag safety light is on in the console. Driver may receive injury or death if airbag does not deploy during accident. 3.Yes by Antioch NAPA Auto Center (925)757-7274 4. Yes 5. Yes. Warning light lamp is on for the driver side airbag. First appeared around 7/27/2023 Diagnostic Test: Found code B138000 driver front airbag was not responding. Air bag not registering on scan tool. Tested airbag in seat and it had .1ohm. There is a short in Airbag.

I was in a near head on collision that knocked me out of my lane and knocked me around my car (I was wearing the seatbelt) and the point of impact was on my driver side near my impact sensor and the damage continued to the other side of my vehicle including a crack in the filter in front of my radiator

For no apparent reason and very little passenger usage the seat sensor for the passenger air bag is supposedly not working properly and if there is an accident the air bag may not deploy.

THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO INSPECT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME, THE SENSOR NO LONGER LIT. I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO CHECKED THE CODES. IT APPEARED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAD ILLUMINATED THE SENSOR. HE TRIED TO REPLACE BUT IT'S ON 6 WEEKS BACK-ORDER.

Seat belts don't retract properly, and right rear passenger seat belt doesn't function.

I was in a rear collision with an SUV but my air bags to the 2016 Hyundai Sonata did not deploy. Everybody was OK and nobody was injured in both parties.

AIR BAGS LIGHTS KEEPS COMING WHILE WE'RE IN SEATBELTS

- SUDDEN ACCECLERATION SURGE WHEN RELEASING BRAKE. WHEN TURNING INTO PARKING AND WHEN LIGHT TURN GREEN AND RELEASING BRAKE. - SPURATIC ACCELERATION DECREASE WHEN DRIVING... MOST RECENT: PULLING INTO PARKING STALL ( LEFT) AS I PULLED FOWARD AND RELEASE BRAKE TO MOVE UP ANOTHER FOOT, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CAR WENT OVER PARKING BLOCK ( 1-2 FEET IN FRONT OF ME) THEN JUMP OVER INTO A TREE. ( 1-2 FEET IN FRONT OF PARKING BLOCK). FORCE OF SURGE LEFT SKID MARKS ON PARKING BLOCK. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE (APPROX 5K)

AIR BAG LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON

HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A DEER, GOING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY 49. NO AIR BAGS RELEASED. AFTER TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP, FROM RECEIVING A LETTER OF RECALL IN THE MAIL. MOTOR WOULD SHUT DOWN WHEN REACHING 65 MPH, BEFORE TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR RECAL. CAR WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY.

AIRBAG SENOR CAME ON. NONE OF THE CONTROLS WORK ON MY STEERING WHEEL.

MY SON GOT TRAPPED IN THE REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SEATBELT WHILE IN PARKING AND IT GOT SO TIGHT AS IT WAS RETRACTING BACK. WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE AND SAW HIM PULLING IT HARD. THE MOMENT WE SAW HIM CRYING I HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT IMMEDIATELY AS IT BECAME SO TIGHT AROUND HIS TUMMY.

THE REAR SEAT BELTS LOCK UP AND HOLD THE OCCUPANTS TIGHT AGAINST THE SEATS. SO TIGHT IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO RELEASE THEM. COMPARED TO FRONT SEATS THE BELTS ARE FREE UNTIL A ABRUPT STOP