Hyundai Tucson Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 188 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Hyundai Tucson across 21 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (37). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (41% of reports).
- 188air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 79mention a crash
- 63mention an injury
- 6related recalls
- 28%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 77 of 188 complaints (41%)
- Failed deploy: mentioned in 16 of 188 complaints (9%)
- Medical attention: mentioned in 14 of 188 complaints (7%)
- Airbags deployed: mentioned in 11 of 188 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 117 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 188 complaints, 79 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 63 an injury.
Hyundai Tucson air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Tucson | 5 | 2% | 18,000 |
| 2024 Tucson | 4 | 4% | — |
| 2023 Tucson | 4 | 3% | — |
| 2022 Tucson | 12 | 3% | 14,670 |
| 2021 Tucson | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2020 Tucson | 7 | 4% | 50,000 |
| 2019 Tucson | 3 | 1% | 29,000 |
| 2018 Tucson | 5 | 1% | 24,000 |
| 2017 Tucson | 10 | 1% | 22,000 |
| 2016 Tucson | 15 | 1% | 33,100 |
| 2015 Tucson | 5 | 2% | 29,500 |
| 2014 Tucson | 2 | 1% | 61,800 |
| 2013 Tucson | 11 | 4% | 24,000 |
| 2012 Tucson | 6 | 2% | 30,868 |
| 2011 Tucson | 1 | 1% | 80,000 |
| 2010 Tucson | 5 | 8% | 72,655 |
| 2009 Tucson | 6 | 33% | 31,000 |
| 2008 Tucson | 4 | 9% | 65,199 |
| 2007 Tucson | 13 | 20% | 68,000 |
| 2006 Tucson | 37 | 27% | 32,644 |
| 2005 Tucson | 31 | 17% | 64,440 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (6)
Air bags:sensor:side impact
Model years: 2026
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 299. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 22, 2026.
Air bags:side/window:curtain
Model years: 2025
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
Risk: Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
Air bags
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Problem: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Hyundai Tucson vehicles manufactured January 3, 2011, through December 23, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the air bag assembly installed in the steering wheel may come loose from its mounting.
Risk: An air bag assembly that is not properly mounted may result in an increased risk of injury to the driver in the event of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts that secure the driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 118.
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Model years: 2010
Problem: Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2010 tucson vehicles. Properly seated adult right front seat passengers weighing over approximately 240 pounds cause the passive occupant detection system (pods) module program to illuminate the "air bag" warning lamp.
Risk: If "air bag" warning lamp is illuminated, the passenger air bag will deploy if a crash of sufficient force to require front air bag deployment is experienced, and will not be deactivated if a child is seated in the right front seating position, which may increase the risk of injury to a child front passenger.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the pods module free of charge. Hyundai anticipates owners notification began by telephone on february 15 2010 and the notification was mailed on march 5, 2010. Owners may contact hyundai customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007
Problem: On certain vehicles, static air bag deployment testing conducted by nhtsa using fifth percentile female dummies indicated that a small stature adult driver not wearing a seat belt and involved in a frontal or near frontal crash, the deployment of the driver air bag may not occur.
Risk: This can cause increased risk of injury to the driver under certain crash conditions.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver air bag module with one that is designed to provide an increased margin of compliance for low risk deployment for small stature adults who are not properly wearing the seat belts. The recall began on september 6, 2007, and will be performed in two mailings. Owners may contact hyundai de puerto rico at 1-800-981-0188.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, during static air bag deployment testing conducted by nhtsa using fifth percentile female dummies indicated if a small statured adult driver, not wearing a seat belt, is involved in a frontal or near frontal crash, deployment of the driver air bag may result in an insufficient margin of compliance as measured by the test dummy used in the nhtsa test.
Risk: This can cause increased risk of injury to the driver under certain crash conditions.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver air bag module. The recall began on january 29, 2007, and will be conducted through six mailings. Owners may contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle hydroplaned, causing the driver to lose steering control, and the vehicle struck a concrete median wall. The frontal structure suffered severe damage, destroying the vehicle; however…
The passenger seat airbag system warning light is on and stays on, there is an active recall but my vin is not yet included
My client lost her right eye and suffered a brain injury when an aftermarket rhinestone emblem decal from her steering wheel shot into her face during a low-impact crash with a deer. The crash left minimal damage to the front end of the vehicle, but caused the airbags to deploy, shooting the decal…
Was in a side impact car accident last year. And have been speaking with Hyundai off and on since the accident and have basically been brushed off in my concerns about the fact my airbags never deployed when my rear passenger door was essentially ripped off during the car accident. Progressive…
I was in a car accident, and air bags didn't deploy.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Hyundai Tucsons have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 188 owner complaints about air bags for the Hyundai Tucson. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Hyundai Tucson air bags?
Yes: 6 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Hyundai Tucson?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 77 of 188 complaints, followed by “failed deploy” (16).
Other Hyundai Tucson problems
- Engine problems (2,381)
- Power Train problems (1,215)
- Electrical System problems (730)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (388)
- Structure problems (384)
- Service Brakes problems (379)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (359)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (341)
See all Hyundai Tucson problems.