Problems · by component

2003 Hyundai Elantra air bags problems

48 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Hyundai Elantra cite air bags, 21% of all 234 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
48
21% of all complaints
Crashes
31
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
27
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Live in Indiana where the weather is super salty in the winters and all of the salt in Indiana has really really affected the whole underside of my car. The whole subframe is falling apart and the rust has gotten to everything under the car. I have spent about 4 thousand dollars into this car doing all the work myself to make this car run In pristine conditions. I am very very worried that my whole back end will just fall apart going down the road due to the rust.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2023Suspension, Air bags, StructureODI 11551132
“I HAD A WRECK TODAY ON A HIGHWAY WHERE I WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY. MY CHEST RAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.THE CAR WAS TOTALLY SMASHED IN THE FRONT AND THE DOOR HAD A HARD TIME OPENING. I WAS RUSHED TO THE ER AND HAD CONTUSIONS TO MY STERNUM AREA OF MY CHEST. *I DID WEAR SEAT BELTS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2018Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 11099449
“REPLACED SENSORS BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, NOW THE CAR WON'T PASS INSPECTION. THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WON'T READ ANY MALFUNCTION AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2016Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10904542
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES. ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN FROM THE ACCIDENT BY AMBULANCE TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED FOR NECK AND LOWER BACK PAIN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2015Air bags, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 10776610
“DRIVING AT 45MPD AIR BAG LIGHT ACTIVATED. WENT TO MY REPAIR SERVICE RAM AUTO(FT. PIERCE,FL. TECH TESTED WITH CAR DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE. COULD NOT FIND ISSUE. TRIED TO DELETE CODE FOR AIR BAG, LIGHT COMES BACK ON. SUGGESTED I SEE IF ANY RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE- NO REPORTS OF AIR BAG RECALLS FOR A HYUNDAI 2003 GLS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2015Air bagsODI 10724339
“I HAD A LOW SPEED ACCIDENT APPROXIMATELY 10-20MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHERE I HIT A CEMENT SURROUNDING OF A POLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD, BUSTED THE DASH VENTS, LOCKED MY DRIVERS SEATBELT AND SHATTERED WINDSHIELD GLASS ALL OVER THE CAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2014Air bags, Seat belts, StructureCrash reportedODI 10599046

Showing 6 of 48 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2003 Elantra problem areas