Problems · by component

2001 Hyundai Elantra air bags problems

118 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Hyundai Elantra cite air bags, 36% of all 329 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
118
36% of all complaints
Crashes
50
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
48
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH POWER LOCKS. THE VEHICLE OVERALL IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE PROGRESSIVE MOTOR, ELECTRICAL, AND COMPLEX ISSUES EFFECTING THE BASIC USAGE OF MY CAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2019Electrical system, Air bags, EngineODI 11189697
“TAKATA RECALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON DASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET THE LIGHT IS ON. NOT SURE IF AIRBAGS WILL WORK IF AN ACCIDENT EVER DOES OCCUR. CANNOT HAVE FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE BECAUSE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN LIGHT CAME ON. UNKNOWN WHY THIS FAILURE OCCURED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2018Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11096850
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE MADE A RUMBLING NOISE AND JERKED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 22, 2017Suspension, Air bagsODI 10990976
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO SERVICE THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER OR LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REFUEL IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME DURING REFUELING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2017Suspension, Air bags, Service brakes, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10939603
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V532000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2016Air bagsODI 10910413
“TURNING ONTO MAIN STREET WHEN A LARGE OAK TREE FELL FROM LEFT SIDE OF ROAD, CATCHING LOWER DRIVERS SIDEFRONT FIBERGLASS BUMPER AND TOW BAR. MAKING THE CAR STOP ABRUPTLY. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, PASSENGER SIDE SHATTERED WINDSHIELD AND RIPPED DASH AREA ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE BAG HIT MY WIFE'S RIGHT ARM AND SHATTERED ALL THE BONES FROM HER ELBOW TO HER FINGERS. WE ARE 74,AND 75 YRS OF AGE. AS DRIVER MY LIP WAS SPLIT OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO MY HOME 5 BLOCKS AWAY LOOKING THROUGH A SHATTERED WINDSHIELD. BUT THE WIFE HAD TO SPEND 5 DAYS IN HOSP. AND TWO SURGERIES TO PUT HER ARM BACK TOGETHER. THE AIR BAG DID ALL OF THE BAD DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND MY WIFE. ALL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE LEGAL HELP HAS BEEN TURNED DOWN SAYING NOT ENOUGH TO TAKE TO COURT. CAN YOU HELP. THE AIR BAG ALMOST KILLED HER. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP NOT MAME...THANKYOU *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 20, 2015Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 10689720

Showing 6 of 118 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Air bags: sensor

Free remedy

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001-2002 ELANTRA VEHICLES. MOVEMENT OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS MOUNTED UNDER EACH FRONT SEAT, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY CONTACT FROM MATERIALS PLACED UNDER THE SEAT, MAY RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE THAT WOULD CAUSE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION.

Air bagsReported Oct 14, 2008NHTSA 08V533000

Air bags: sensor

Free remedy

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001 ELANTRA VEHICLES. IF A LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE AREA OF THE CUPHOLDER ON THE CENTER CONSOLE, IT MAY SEEP THROUGH THE CONSOLE OPENING FOR THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER AND THEN DRIP ONTO THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE SPILLED LIQUID MAY CONTAMINATE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND ITS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.

Air bagsReported Oct 14, 2008NHTSA 08V532000

Air bags: side

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM SIDE AIR BAG SATELLITE SENSORS INSTALLED WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED, CAUSING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Air bagsReported Oct 17, 2000NHTSA 00V332000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.