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2008 Hyundai Elantra air bags problems

38 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Hyundai Elantra cite air bags, 12% of all 316 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

All 2008 Elantra problems
Complaints
38
12% of all complaints
Crashes
22
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
30
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owned a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while the wife was driving at 30 MPH, the contact's wife was involved in a no-fault accident. The other vehicle involved was a 2020 Yukon Denali, which ran a stop sign and crashed the front driver's side. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. The contact's wife was taken by ambulance to the hospital for medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was condemned to total loss by State Farm. The contact stated his wife suffered bruises and a herniated fifth disk in her back that required medical attention. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,200.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11553034
“While making a U-turn in a parking lot I accidentally ran over a pothole. Upon doing so the driver's airbag deployed burning a hole through my shirt and leaving burns on my stomach and arms. No other part of the vehicle was affected.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2023Air bagsODI 11531753
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT VEHICLE START UP, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REGIONAL HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 2380 WEST KENOSHA STREET, BROKEN ARROW, OK 74012, (918)806-2000, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL AND THAT THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE WOULD BE WAIVED HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2020Air bagsODI 11297894
“MY 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAS THE AIRBAGS LIGHT ON FOR ABOUT FEW YEARS. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM ON MY CAR THAT IS RECENTLY STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING UP. IT HAS TUNE UP, NEW SENSORS, NEW COILS, AND ETC. I BOUGHT A FUEL PUMP OEM AND THE PUMP IS NOT 2 YEARS OLD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2019Air bags, EngineODI 11288161
“THE CAR WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR GOING AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN INJURIES. MY CAR WAS TURNING LEFT AT ABOUT 15 MPH AND THE OTHER DRIVER BLEW THROUGH A RED LIGHT AT 60 MPH. PHOTOS AVAILABLE FROM ESURANCE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 6, 2019Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11218270
“DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD & AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED ON, BILLS AUTO REPAIR DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AND SAID THE AIRBAG COMPUTER NEEDS REPLACED FOR $1,459, DEALER NOT YET NOTIFIED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 31, 2018Air bagsODI 11114913

Showing 6 of 38 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Air bags: sensor

Free remedy

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH AUGUST 29, 2007. THE DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSOR DETERMINES THE SEAT'S FORE AND AFT POSITION AND ALLOWS THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG TO DEPLOY AT THE PRESSURE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT SEATING POSITION, WITH A LOWER PRESSURE DEPLOYMENT IN THE MOST FORWARD SEATING POSITIONS. THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE MAY RECEIVE AN UNSTABLE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM THE SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSOR SUCH THAT, IN A CRASH THAT REQUIRES DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY AT THE HIGHER PRESSURE THAN INTENDED IF THE SEAT WAS POSITION IN ONE OF THE FORWARD POSITIONS IN WHICH A LOWER PRESSURE DEPLOYMENT IS INTENDED.

Air bagsReported Mar 15, 2011NHTSA 11V179000

Air bags: sensor

Free remedy

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 ELANTRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2006, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2008. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATS IN THE VEHICLES CONTAIN A WEIGHT SENSOR DESIGNED TO DEACTIVATE THE RIGHT FRONTAL AIRBAG WHEN OCCUPANTS OF CERTAIN WEIGHTS OCCUPY THE SEAT. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR IS LOCATED UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE, BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE CONNECTOR COULD BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MALFUNCTION SUCH THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT.

Air bagsReported Mar 15, 2011NHTSA 11V143000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

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