Recall 18V137 affects 580,058 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Sonata vehicles for air bag control unit shorts. Repair is free at any franchised Hyundai dealer.
Hyundai is recalling 580,058 2011-2013 Sonata and Sonata Hybrid vehicles because the air bag control unit can short circuit in a crash. If that happens, frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags can fail to deploy when needed, which increases injury risk; the Hyundai dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The air bag control unit in the 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonata and Sonata Hybrid is the computer that decides when crash restraints deploy. It reads crash sensor signals, then commands the frontal air bags, side air bags, and seat belt pretensioners. Pretensioners tighten the belt at the start of a crash so the restraints work together.
On affected vehicles, a chip inside that control unit lacks adequate circuit protection. During certain frontal crash events, electrical overstress can damage the chip. If that happens, the control unit does not communicate correctly and the air bags or pretensioners do not deploy when they are needed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is inside the crash-control electronics, so the vehicle can drive normally until a crash exposes the defect.
Who's affected?
Spans Sonata Hybrid and Sonata sedans across 2011-2013, with air bag control, side air bag, and seat belt pretensioner components in scope.
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | seat belt |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | side air bag |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | air bag system |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | air bag system |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | seat belt |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | side air bag |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | air bag system |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata | air bag system |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata | seat belt |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata | side air bag |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata | air bag system |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata | air bag system |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata | seat belt |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata | side air bag |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata | air bag system |
| 2013 Hyundai Sonata | air bag system |
| 2013 Hyundai Sonata | seat belt |
| 2013 Hyundai Sonata | side air bag |
| 2013 Hyundai Sonata | air bag system |
| Units affected | 580,058 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific sedan is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, occupants face a higher injury risk in a crash that requires those systems to deploy. There is no warning sign before failure, so confirm your VIN and schedule the repair soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Hyundai dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid or Sonata is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Hyundai dealer and ask about recall number 18V137 before scheduling the free external wire filter kit.
- Bring the owner notice if Hyundai mailed one, or give the dealer the recall number when you call.
- Drive with extra care until the repair is complete because the air bag control unit short circuit can disable the air bags and seat belt pretensioners in a crash.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Hyundai technician installs an external wire filter kit for the air bag control unit circuit. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. The available remedy description does not state a repair time, so plan to ask the service desk how long the appointment will take when you schedule it. If you already paid for a related repair before the recall notice, Hyundai provides reimbursement under its submitted reimbursement plan. Ask Hyundai customer service or the dealer how to submit repair documentation for review.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| February 27, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 20, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| June 15, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 15, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V137?
Recall 18V137 covers 580,058 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonata and Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The air bag control unit can short circuit in a crash, disabling frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags. Hyundai dealers install an external wire filter kit for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonata or Sonata Hybrid is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V137. If it is, contact a franchised Hyundai dealer and ask for recall 174 and the external wire filter kit. The recall repair has been open since October 15, 2018, and parts and labor are covered.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Hyundai's remedy says dealers will install the external wire filter kit free of charge. Schedule the repair with a franchised Hyundai dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is reduced crash protection. If the air bag control unit shorts in a crash, the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags can be disabled, increasing injury risk for occupants when those safety systems need to deploy.
What if I bought my Hyundai Sonata used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Sonata or Sonata Hybrid is included, then reference recall 18V137 or Hyundai recall 174 when you call the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V137000 |
|---|---|
| Hyundai customer service | 1-855-371-9460 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V137 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V137000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →