59 complaints reported

2011 Hyundai Elantra Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
59
Crashes
9
Fires
0
Injuries
5

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2026 Crash

Vehicle: 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring Date of Crash: [XXX] Location of Crash: Duluth, MN Description of Incident: I was driving my 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring straight through an intersection when another driver ran a stop sign and T‑boned the passenger side of my vehicle. The impact was severe enough that the vehicle was totaled, with significant structural intrusion into the passenger compartment. No airbags (side torso or curtain) deployed, although the strike was a direct side impact at approximately 30+ mph. I expected at least the side curtain or side torso airbags to deploy. My insurance adjuster noted that the lack of deployment was unexpected given the severity and nature of the crash. Outcome: Vehicle declared totaled No airbags deployed No serious injuries, but a significant safety concern INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2025
May 2024

Air bag fault light is on.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2024
Jun 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not yet been taken to an independent mechanic or local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 102,700.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2022
Mar 2023

On October 1, 2023, I started my vehicle in the driveway to having the red airbag warning light appear as a dashboard symbol. No accidents have occurred. I do not see any recalls on this issue. I’ll be visiting the Hyundai dealership today- October 3, 2023.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2023
Mar 2023

As the driver in a front end crash, my driver side airbag did not deploy. There was heavy front end damage and the car was unrepairable due to the front end damage. There was no prior indication that the airbag(s) were not working properly. The collision center where the car was towed was also surprised that there was no air bag deployment.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2023
Nov 2022

The air bag light on the dashboard came on and has stayed on. I got into my car in the morning as I do everyday, and the air bag light came on. The light goes out when I turn off the ignition. But the light stays on while the car is running and while I'm driving the car. This has been a problem for over a week. I haven't been involved in any accidents or incidents that led to the light coming on. And I haven't had any work done to the car that would cause this problem. I'm worried that the air bags won't deploy if I was involved in an accident. I see others all over the internet that have been having the same issue. The cost is prohibitive to have it checked and fixed. A recall should be issued. There's no reason that the air bag light should just come on and stay on. I would like Hyundai to cover the cost of checking and fixing this safety issue.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2022
Dec 2021

The airbag light goes on and off intermittently. I've not had any accidents or anything so I'm not sure why it's doing this. A lot of people are complaining about the same problem on blogs on the internet. I think this should be a recall and be fixed for free.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2021
Oct 2021

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the airbag warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer who informed the contact about diagnostic testing. The contact declined the diagnostic fees. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2021
Feb 2021

AIRBAG LIGHT ON

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2021
Aug 2020

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A NON-HIGHWAY STREET MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. I WAS NOT TURNING, I DID NOT HIT ANY BUMPS, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT. THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN IT WILL SHUT OFF AND REPEAT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK NOW. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2020
Jul 2020

THERE WAS NO MAJOR OR MINOR INCIDENT THAT WOULD INDICATE AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS. AT ABOUT 07/10/20 I BEGAN TO NOTICE MY AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT WOULD LIGHT UP AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES OF DRIVING INDICATING THE DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG WOULD BE INOPERABLE; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT THAT TYPICALLY IS LIT "OFF" WOULD NOT BE LIT INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD BE CURRENTLY OPERATIONAL. IN ADDITION I NOTICED THAT WHEN I HAD A PASSENGER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ("OFF") WOULD NOT BE LIT AS DESIGNED AND MY DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD NEVER TURN ON (INDICATING IT BEING NOT OPERATIONAL.) MOST RECENTLY, ON 07/25/20 I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG WOULD BE LIT FROM THE MOMENT I TURN ON THE ENGINE. IT REMAINS LIT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE DRIVE AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SEAT WILL TURN ON OR OFF SPONTANEOUSLY AND HAVING A PASSENGER NO LONGER HAS AN EFFECT ON THE DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2020
Jul 2020

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AT WONT TURN OFF. SHOP SAID THE CLOCK SPRING HAS TO BE REPLACED OR THE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY IN A CRASH.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2020
Jun 2020

THE LIGHT APPEARED WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE. WHEN IT INITIALLY CAME ON, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAIN ROAD. IT TURNS ON THEN WILL GO AWAY, ONLY TO TURN ON AGAIN. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REQUESTED I COME IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT $140, AND I WAS ASKED TO DROP THE VEHICLE OFF. ALSO, THIS WOULD ONLY BE FOR THE TEST AND I WOULD BE CHARGED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONCE DISCOVERED. THIS IS INCONVENIENT AS I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND ONLY ONE VEHICLE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I AM BEING CHARGED FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE NO ACCIDENTS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2020
Jun 2020

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING 55 MPH AND MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I DIDN'T HIT ANY LARGE BUMPS. IT COMES ON FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN TURNS OFF. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2020
Jun 2020

I DIDN'T NOTICE EXACTLY WHEN HAPPENED, BUT BASICALLY THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IT HASN'T LEFT. MOST LIKELY THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2020
Dec 2019

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON! I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT OR A FENDER BENDER FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.I CAN'T GET AN INSPECTION STICKER

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2019
Oct 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY APPEARS AND GOES OFF ON THE DRIVER DASH.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2019
Sep 2019 Crash Injury

YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH 2019, AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 AM, MY GIRLFRIEND HAD A HIGH SPEED IMPACT (SPEED LIMIT IN THIS AREA OF ALASKA IS 65MPH) WITH A MOOSE. IT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT ON THE BUMPER/HOOD/WINDSHIELD/ROOF, OCCURING ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON THIS INITIAL IMPACT. ADDITIONALLY, AS THE CAR LEFT THE ROAD, THERE WAS A SECOND FRONTAL IMPACT INTO A HARDENED, PLOWED SNOWBANK, IN WHICH THE AIRBAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS YEAR AND MODEL IS BELIEVED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS, WHICH ALL FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, AND HAS NO OTHER ACCIDENTS OR REPAIRS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. WE DO NOT KNOW AS OF YET IF A STATE TROOPER REPORT WAS FILLED, WE WILL BE CHECKING MONDAY. HOWEVER, WE HAVE PHOTOS THAT WILL BE ATTACHED THAT CLEARLY SHOW THE,AIRBAG FAILURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2019
Aug 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON AIR BAG PROBABLY WANT WORK AND THAT IS A SAFETY FEATURE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2019
Aug 2019

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2019
Jul 2019

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND STAYS ON EVEN WHILE STARTING TO DRIVE. IT MAY COME OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE CAR IS MOTION BUT MOSTLY REMAINS ON. (THE ONLY RECENT WORK ACCOMPLISHED WAS AN ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT BY PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC A WEEK AND A HALF PRIOR.)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2019
Jan 2019

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. NO ACCIDENTS, NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO CAR IT JUST RANDOMLY TURNED ON AND HAS STAYED ON. VERY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING IN A CAR WITH MY FAMILY WITH THE CHANCE THE AIRBAGS WOULDN'T DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. SHOULD BE A RECALL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2019
Jan 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WONT TURN OFF.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2017
Dec 2018

TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY AND IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUES YBAT IS COVERED BY WARRANTY ALTHOUGH MY DEALER QUOTED ME $385

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2018
Oct 2018

AIRBAG IS ON I RECEIVE A LETTER SAYING THERE IS WARRANTY FOR CLOCK SPRING I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHECK THE CAR WHATEVER THEY DID DOESN'T TURN OFF THE LIGHT THEY TOLD ME IF I WANT THIS TO GET FIXED I HAVE TO PAY TO MAKE SURE WHAT IT IS.1000S OF PEOPLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM SHOULD BE FREE AND RECALL

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2018

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra has 59 Air Bags complaints on file. 9 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.