2006 Hyundai Elantra Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT. THE REPAIR COST IS OVER $600.00. IN MY OPINON THIS COULD BE A POSSIBLE RECALL ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
I HAVE 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, I LET MY DAUGHTER DRIVE IT AND SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS DEMOLISHED. I WAS SHOCKED THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I FIND THIS VERY DISTURBING, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH A FALSE SENSE OF SAFETY. I AM JUST SHOCKED THAT HIS COULD HAPPEN AND I WOULD HOPE THAT HYUNDAI WOULD INVESTIGATE. HOW MANY OTHER DRIVERS ARE OUT THERE WITH THAT FALSE SENSE OF SAFETY. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN BE WARNED OF THE HAZARDS THAT IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. *KB
"PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING ACTIVATES WITH A FULL SIZED INDIVIDUAL IN THE SEAT. WHEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER, WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER HAD TO BE SEATED FACING COMPLETELY FORWARD WITH LEGS POSITIONED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM WITH FEET ON THE FLOOR (KNEES BENT, RATHER THAN LEGS EXTENDED STRAIGHT OUT). IF PASSENGER BODY POSITION IS SO STRICT, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG IS UNRELIABLE FOR REALISTIC DRIVING CONDITIONS. DEALER FINALLY SAID THEY COULD REPLACE THE "SENSOR MAT" IN THE SEAT, BUT DID NOT OFFER THIS UNTIL THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA THAT WAS MANUFACTURED FEBRUARY 4, 2006. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE DASH ILLUMINATED WHEN A POT HOLE WAS HIT BUT TURNED OFF WHEN DRIVEN OVER RAILROAD TRACKS. AIR BAG LIGHT RECENTLY CAME ON AGAIN NOW THAT CAR IS OVER 50,000 MILES AND OUR OF WARRANTY DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT THE SRS HARNESSES DRIVER AND PASSENGER NEED TO BE FULLY REPLACED. THESE PARTS COST OVER 1200.00 WITHOUT LABOR AND NEITHER HAVE BEEN RECALLED IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE WILL WORK WHILE THIS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. PASSENGER SEAT IS OPERATED BY A WEIGHT SENSOR AND PREVIOUSLY HAD ILLUMINATED PROPERLY UNTIL I PAID THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT MY CAR. I NOTICED LATER THAT EVENING THAT NOW THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING IN REGARD TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY WRECKS. *TR
AIR BAG DASH LIGHT CONSTANTLY LIT AND PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR CONSTANTLY OFF EVEN WITH PASSENGERS SITTING IN IT OR EVEN IF THE SEAT IS EMPTY. *LN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,547.
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE OWNER WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY AND OFFER PROTECTION AGAINST INJURY. DESPITE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ELANTRA AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT (I.E. STEERING WHEEL) AIRBAG, THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ELANTRA TOOK A DIRECT HIT FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY A 90 DEGREE ANGLE (I.E. IT WAS "T-BONED"). THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT SPUN THE ELANTRA 180 DEGREES FROM THE DIRECTION IT WAS TRAVELING. THE IMPACT BEGINS ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, BUT IS DEEPEST IN THE BACK-SEAT PASSENGER'S DOOR. THE MAXIMUM DEPTH OF THE INDENTATION IS APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES INWARD AND IS APPROXIMATELY 20 INCHES WIDE. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT THE ELANTRA WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH.
I WAS IN A WRECK AND WAS HIT IN THE FRONT RIGHT AT THE HEADLIGHT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN THE HIT HAPPENED THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, HOWEVER THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THE FRAME OF THE CAR IS BENT AND LOOKS LIKE THE CAR WILL BE TOTALED. *TR
WAS BROADSIDED IN MY 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, PRIOR TO MY ACCIDENT HAD CAR AT DEALER TWICE WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG LIGHT GOING OFF AN ON. NO MATTER WHO SAT IN FRONT SEAT IT STILL DID THAT. I WAS TOLD BOTH TIMES THAT IT WAS FINE ONLY IT WASN'T, MY 14 YR. OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN FRONT SEAT THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE PASSENGER WINDOW CAUSING HER TO BE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL. SHE IS OK BUT STILL FEELING PAIN. ONLY AFTER THIS ACCIDENT DID I HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE RECALLS AND TROUBLES OTHERS HAVE HAD. *TR
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION (WITH A GREEN LIGHT) AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH. A MAN TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT HIM RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS FRONT AND BACK DOORS. HIS SIDE AIRBAGS AND HIS FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRST RESPONDERS (EMT'S AND FIREMEN) WERE VERY SURPRISED THAT MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR IS TOTALED, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A SETTLEMENT YET FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO FOR HOLDING INDICATED THAT IT HAD A BENT FRAME AND THEY, TOO WERE SURPRISED THAT THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. I HAD INJURIES TO MY NECK (WHIPLASH) AND TO MY KNEE, ALTHOUGH NOTHING WAS BROKEN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A DEER WITH HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. A POICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61,000.
DEFECT OF AIRBAG SAFETY EQUIPMENT. THE MALFUNCTION OF THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE OCS IS TO DISABLE THE RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT FRONT AIR BAG WHEN IT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM OR SMALL CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG IS DISABLED TO PREVENT INJURIES TO A CHILD THAT MAY RESULT FROM A RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG INFLATION DURING A CRASH. THE ABOVE IS TAKEN FROM AN ACTIVE RECALL ON ANOTHER HYUNDAI MODEL WITH THE SAME EQUIPMENT. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY WIFE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND SHOWED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS NOT ACTIVE. COMMON SENSE WOULD WARRANT CONCERN ABOUT THIS BEING SAME PROBLEM AS IN RECALL ID # 08V161000 - AIR BAGS. IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT, AS THIS IS SERIOUS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR
I WAS IN CASA GRANDE ARIZONA DRIVING NORTH ON TREKELL ROAD WHEN I WAS HIT IN THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WHILE GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE FRONT, BACK AND PASSENGER SIDE WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE DRIVER DOOR, AND PART OF THE BACK DOOR CAME IN ABOUT 1 FT. I ENDED UP WITH A BRUISE LUNG, 2 CRACKED RIBS, AND GRADE 2 CUT ON MY SPLEEN. BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS WENT OFF, BUT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. I HAVE ALOT OF PICTURES THAT SHOWS NO DAMAGE WHAT SO EVER TO THE FRONT OR PASSENGER SIDE. THE ONLY DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS ON THE DIVER SIDE WHERE THE FRONT DOOR AND PART OF THE BACK DOOR CAME INTO THE CAR ABOUT 1 FT. MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
I PURCHASED MY 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN DEC 06 AND NOTICED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT WOULD STAY ON AT TIMES WHEN THERE WERE PASSENGERS ARE IN THE FRONT SEAT. ON MY FIRST OIL CHANGE, I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN THEY SAT IT THE CAR, NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND THAT PERHAPS MY PASSENGER WAS NOT SEATED "CORRECTLY". I ACCEPTED THE EXPLANATION AT THE TIME, BUT HAVING SAT IN MY OWN PASSENGER SEAT WHEN I WAS SLEEPY AND MY MOTHER DROVE, I AM DISTURBED THAT DESPITE BEING SEATED UPRIGHT WITH MY SEATBELT SECURELY FASTENED, THE LIGHT WOULD STILL NOT STAY OFF CONSISTENTLY. I FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE AND BROUGHT IT UP TO THE DEALER AGAIN AT MY LAST CAR SERVICING IN FEB 08, BUT WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN AT THE SERVICE SHOP, SO IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. I UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT, BUT I AM GREATLY CONCERNED THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY. THE TSB STATES THAT THIS MAY OCCUR WITH SMALLER STATURE ADULTS, BUT I HAVE NO CHILDREN OR VERY SMALL FRIENDS/FAMILY, AND I AM CERTAINLY AVERAGE SIZED AND THE LIGHT STILL GOES ON AND OFF. MY CONCERNS ARE ONLY ASSUAGED BY THE FACT THAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC THAT IT IS JUST A LIGHT SENSOR AND THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL ALWAYS DEPLOY IF THE SEATBELT IS BUCKLED. I HOPE THAT THIS IS TRUE, BUT AFTER READING OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS SITE ABOUT AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING, MY ANXIETY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE HAS INCREASED. I PLAN TO WRITE A LETTER TO HYUNDAI REGARDING THIS MATTER BUT I AM NOT SURE IF MY CONCERNS WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, SO I AM HOPING THAT THIS ENTRY WILL HELP TO BRING MORE ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. MY QUESTION IS SIMPLE. IS IT REALLY JUST A FLAKY SENSOR/LIGHT OR ARE MY AIR BAGS UNRELIABLE? *TR
ALL BAGS IN THE CAR FAILED TO OPEN UPON IMPACT, DON'T BUY "HYUNDAI"S AND HYUNDAI SAID THAT SINCE 2002 THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WITH ELANTRAS AND OTHER MODELS. BUT DID NOTHING TO FIX THEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE INDICATOR READS, "AIR BAG OFF". THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FAILURE TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS REPAIRED. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 21,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT AP10-15 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CRASH OCCURRED AS THE VEHICLE STARTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AFTER WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS ONLY ONE PASSENGER IN VEHICLE. THERE WAS NEVER ANY MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE PERFORMED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 49000. UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB
2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED VIN: [XXX]. ON OCT 13TH 2006 THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. THE SPEED AT IMPACT WAS ESTIMATED AT 60 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED, AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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Quick Summary
The 2006 Hyundai Elantra has 44 Air Bags complaints on file. 14 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.