Air Bags. Review the 114 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports2 fire reports18 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

114 reports

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Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2004

Air Bags

CONSUMER'S WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT THING THAT WAS DESCRIBED ON THE INTERNET ONLY FOR RENT A CAR BUSINESS. FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SOMEONE THERE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10092885

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2004

Air Bags

2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, WHEN A PASSENGER IS RIDING THE LIGHT ON THE DASH KEEPS COMMING ON WITH THE MESSAGE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" THE CAR WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER, AND HE SAYS THE PERSON IS NOT HEAVY ENOUGH FOR THE SEAT SENSOR TO PICK UP. THE PERSON WEIGHS 140-155 POUNDS. WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091088

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2004

Air Bags

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THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS NOT ACTIVATED WHEN MY WIFE OF 120# IS SEATED IN MY 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THIS HAS OCCURRED FROM THE TIME I ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND IN THAT THERE WAS NOT A FIX. ON YOUR SITE YOU STATE THAT THE REMEDY IS A RE-PROGRAMING BY THE DEALER. THE MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR AT THE DEALER HAS NOT HEARD OF THAT. I ACQUIRED THIS CAR AS A RESULT OF MY 2001 ELANTRA BEING TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT ACTIVATED BOTH OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS, WHICH I CONSIDER PREVENTED SERIOUS INJURY TO ME AND MY WIFE. MY LAST CONVERSATION WITH THE SUPERVISOR AT THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS A POSIBLE FIX IN THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WOULD BE MODIFIED TO ENABLE DEPLOYMENT AT ALL TIMES. HE ALSO STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SIGN A WAIVER IF THEY WERE TO DO SO. THIS IS BEYOND ME. I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE COULD DESIGN A SYSTEM WITHOUT THE MEANS TO CALIBRATE IT FOR PEOPLE WITH NARROW REARS. THE AIR BAG SENSOR IS SUPPOSED TO BE ENABLED FOR WEIGHTS GREATER THAT 56# AS STATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. A 60# INDIVIDUAL IS NOT VERY WIDE.

NHTSA ODI #10091003

68,000 miles · Sep 10, 2004

Air Bags

PASSENGER'S ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO WORK AND SHUT OFF WHEN AN ADULT SAT IN THE SEAT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091802

200 miles · Sep 8, 2004

Air Bags

FRONTAL AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN A PASSENGER WAS SEATED. ALSO, SENSOR FAILED TO ACTIVATE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED

NHTSA ODI #10091598

2,234 miles · Aug 28, 2004

Air Bags

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I BOUGHT A NEW HYUNDAI ELENTRA IN JUNE 20TH, 2004. EVERY SINCE I GOT IT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED. I AM A FULLY GROWN ADULT FEMALE WHO WEIGHS 128LBS. WHEN I AM SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF MEANING THAT IT WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE WITH NO RESULTS. HYUNDAI KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THE SENSOR SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DEALER HOWEVER, ADMITS THAT THEY REALIZE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT THAT THEY CAN NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE UNLESS HYUNDAI AMERICA GIVES THEM PERMISSION. THIS ISSUE REALLY CONCERNS ME BECAUSE IT IS A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO DEATHS. PLEASE NOTE THAT EVERYTIME SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, THE SENSOR HAS FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10088741

2,000 miles · Aug 24, 2004

Air Bags

WHEN AN ADULT SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ADVANCED AIR BAG WOULD SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10089528

2,140 miles · Aug 19, 2004

Air Bags

THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IF A PERSON'S WEIGHT WAS OVER 50 LBS. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON AS LONG AS THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10089294

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2004

Air Bags

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MY HUSBAND BOUGHT A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA END OF FEBRUARY AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR. WHEN I AM SITTING IN THE SEAT (I WEIGH APPROX 120 LBS) THE LIGHT INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF IS ILLUMINATED 99% OF THE TIME. WHEN WE NOTICED IT I TRIED TO BE AWARE OF THE WAY I WAS SITTING AND ALSO HAD OTHERS SIT THERE INSTEAD OF ME. WHEN READING THE OWNERS MANUAL ABOUT THE SENSOR WEIGHT BEING 56 LBS AND NOTICING THE PROBLEM PERSISITING NO MATTER HOW STILL OR CORRECT I SAT WE CALLED THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME THEY PHYSICALLY LOOKED AT IT TO "DIAGNOSE" THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK (6/04) AND I WASN'T SITTING RIGHT; OF COURSE IT STILL OCCURED. SO WE HAD TO GO DOWN AND DEMONSTRATE THAT I SAT IN THE SEAT EXACTLY LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO AND THE LIGHT NEVER WENT OFF. THIS PROMPTED THEM TO ORDER A NEW SENSOR. IT TOOK APPROX 40 DAYS FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE AND WE JUST RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK YESTERDAY AND IT IS STILL MALFUNCTIONING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10086341

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2004

Air Bags

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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

NHTSA ODI #10086183

Official recalls

05V479000 · Air Bags

Oct 17, 2005

CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY A CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT (CRS) AS AN ADULT. THIS MAY OCCUR IF THE CRS IS INSTALLED AFTER AN ADULT HAS BEEN SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. IF THERE HAS NOT BEEN A 'KEY ON' ' KEY OFF' CYCLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EMPTY PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE CRS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF A CRS AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG OR SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO REMOVE THE FEATURE THAT MAY CAUSE THE CRS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ADULT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.

05V395000 · Air Bags

Sep 12, 2005

Consequence & remedy

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO REMOVE THE FEATURE THAT MAY CAUSE THE CRS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ADULT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

04V370000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jul 30, 2004

DURING AN INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) OFFSET FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FUEL TAN DAMAGE COULD OCCUR. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP THAT IS LOCATED NEAR THE FUEL TANK MAY NOT BE POSITIONED PROPERLY AND COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EARS AND CORRECTLY POSITION THE CLAMP, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.

04V208000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 3, 2004

DURING AN INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) OFFSET FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUEL SPILLAGE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF FUEL TANK DAMAGE CAUSED BY CONTACT BETWEEN A VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR AND THE FUEL TANK. THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR WAS FOUND TO BE MISPOSITIONED AND FACING TOWARD THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE COULD CAUSE THE MISPOSITIONED CLAMP TO PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP AND CORRECTLY POSITION THE CLAMP, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

03V322000 · Air Bags

Aug 26, 2003

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, IF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED OR IS OCCUPIED BY SOMEONE LIGHTER THAN 56.4 POUNDS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED AND WILL NOT DEPLOY IF A CRASH OCCURS. HOWEVER, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR MAY INCORRECTLY INTERPRET THAT A SEATED ADULT IS AN INFANT SEAT AND DEACTIVATE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IF SOMEONE HEAVIER THAN 56.4 POUNDS WHO IS SEATED WITH ONE LEG RESTING ON THE OUTBOARD OR INBOARD EDGE OF THE SEAT; WITH LEGS SPREAD; OR POSITIONED OFF-CENTER TOWARD THE CENTER CONSOLE AND WITH HIS OR HER ARM LEANING ON THE CONSOLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER.

Remedy: THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR WILL BE REPROGRAMMED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE04041 · POST-CRASH Fuel Tank Leak

Opened Apr 16, 2004 · Closed Jul 13, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

PE04-041 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE A FUEL LEAK INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED DURING AN INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) FRONTAL CRASH OFFSET TEST ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE.THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR WAS MISPOSITIONED AND FACING TOWARD THE FUEL TANK, WHICH ENABLED THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR TO PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL TANK TO LEAK STODDARD FLUID DURING THE IIHS CRASH TEST.ON APRIL 30, 2004, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY (HYUNDAI) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN CERTAIN MY 2004 ELANTRA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2003 THROUGH APRIL 14, 2004.THE NOTIFICATION IDENTIFIED THE MISPOSITIONING OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP, WHICH RESULTED FROM AN EARLY SEPTEMBER MANUFACTURING CHANGE AT THE SUPPLIER THAT INSTALLED THE HOSE CLAMP ON THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE, AS THE FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DEFECT.IF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP IS MISPOSITIONED SO THAT ONE OF ITS EARS IS FACING THE FUEL TANK AND THAT VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN HIGH SPEED CRASH, THE CLAMP MAY PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.HYUNDAI WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE POSITION OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP INSPECTED AND CORRECTLY REPOSITIONED, IF NECESSARY.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

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