2004 Hyundai Elantra Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANT SENSOR LIGHT FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG REAPEATEDLY GOES ON AND OFF WHEN A 122 LB. FULL GROWN ADULT FEMALE IS SITTING PROPERLY IN THE SEAT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEALER SAYS THEY'VE DONE WHAT THEY CAN, AND THAT THEIR HYNDAI CORPORATE CONTACTS HAVE DONE WHAT THEY CAN. SEAT AND SENSOR SYSTEM REPLACED TWICE, TO NO AVAIL. I BELIVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE CAR HAS A SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOESN'T DEPLOY!*AK
I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 ELANTRA IN APRIL 2004. AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND HAVING DRIVEN IT FOR A FEW MILES, I REALIZED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS DISABLED. SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR, I HAVE RIDDEN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SEVERAL TIMES, AND REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION, THE AIRBAG REMAINS DISABLED. WHEN THE ODOMETER READ 1,000 MILES, I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND I REQUESTED A CHECK OF THE PASSENGERS AIRBAG SENSOR. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL; HOWEVER, THE SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS FEATURE WAS PART OF THE DESIGN FOR THE NEW 2004 MODEL. HE OFFERED ME TO TEST DRIVE A BRAND-NEW ELANTRA TO COMPARE IT TO MINE. THE OTHER CAR HAD THE SAME DESIGN FLAW. I AM DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED. I DO NOT CONSIDER THE CAR TO BE SAFE. ON JULY 14/04 I SENT A LETTER TO THE DEALER AND TO THIS DATE I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THEM. *AK
"PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" INDICATOR COMES ON AN INCONSISTENT BASIS WHILE RIDING. PASSENGER IS A 120LB ADULT FEMALE WHO SITS AS INSTRUCTED IN OWNERS MANUAL. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER CLAIM THEY CAN DO NOTHING TO PREVENT THIS. THEY BLAME YOU FOR RULES LAID DOWN REGARDING SENSORS. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE PURCHASING CAR FEB 23 2004. DATE LISTED BELOW IS LATEST OCCURENCE. *AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT SEAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SENSOR THAT ACTIVATES THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WHEN SOMEONE OVER 56 POUNDS IN WEIGHT SITS IN THAT SEATING POSITION. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM SENSOR WILL INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE CORRECTLY. CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT HER VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THE SAFETY RECALL (CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-322). *AL *MJJ
THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE SEAT SENSORS WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER GAVE THE FIRST ELANTRA BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN A REPLACEMENT SAME MODEL AND YEAR, BUT THE PROBLEM EXISTED IN THAT CART AS WELL. *AK *JB
AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, CONSUMER NOTICED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *LA THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR INCORRECTLY INTERPRETED THE ABSENCE OF A SEATED ADULT WHEN AN ADULT IN FACT OCCUPIED THE SEAT. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE AND IN THE EVEN OF A CRASH THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY . THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM IN THE PAST. (RECALL #03V322000). THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND THEY STATED THE HAD TO CONSULT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE SECOND TIME THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND WAS REPORTED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY WITH 60LB WEIGHT IN THE SEAT. THE THIRD TIME THE DEALER RECEIVED AN EXTRA SENSITIVE SENSOR FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FOURTH TIME THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND STATED THERE HAD BEEN NO CHANGE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PART WAS REPLACED WITH THE NEWEST THAT THERE WAS AND THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. *JB
THE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR KEPT SHOWING NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, WHICH INDICATED THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER STATED THE CONSUMER SHOULD MAKE CONTACT TO HAVE THE BAG DEACTIVATED. CONSUMER DID NOT WISH TO HAVE THIS DONE.*AK
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2004 Hyundai Elantra has 107 Air Bags complaints on file. 18 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.