2008 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE ONE DAY AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND IS MY PERSONAL CAR I USE EVERY DAY
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED AND THEN REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND STAYS ON INTERMITTENTLY. GOOGLE SEARCH HAS INDICATED THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS MANY ELANTRA OWNERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ODOR OF AIR BAG POWDER EMANATED FROM THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.
WE PULLED THE CAR OUT OF AN INTERSECTION AND T BONED ANOTHER CAR. BOTH CARS WERE TOTALED IN THIS ACCIDENT, YET NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON A FLAT ROADWAY. THE DRIVER OF THE HYUNDAI WAS WEARING HIS SEATBELT. PLEASE SEE PICTURES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V179000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE AUTO CARTWHEELED, HIT A TELEPHONE POLE, AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TR
TL * THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, BACK, AND NECK WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TRAVELING DOWN A DIRT ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF A VEHICLE AND THEN CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOYED.THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,000.
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON FM 429 AND HIT A PATCH OF LOOSE GRAVEL. THE CAR BEGAN TO SKID AND LANDED FRONT FIRST INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO ROLL MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL IT RESTED ON ITS SIDE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE ENTIRE ACCIDENT. THE ONLY AIR BAG THAT DEPLOYED WAS WHEN SHE STEPPED ON THE DOOR TRYING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTED ON IT'S SIDE AND SHE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 12/12/11
DRIVER WAS DOING ABOUT 50 MPH. CAR COMING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION DECIDED TO DO A U TURN IN FRONT OF DRIVER AND HIT FRONT OF CAR. AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF WHICH WAS ODD. HYUNDAI HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AND EXPECT US TO KEEP THE CAR FOR AROUND 2 MONTHS AND NOT GET IT FIXED UNTIL THEY GET AROUND TO LOOKING AT IT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DELAYING TECHNIQUE AND THEY ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO CANCEL THE OPEN TICKET. AAA WANT TO GET THE CAR FIXED (WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE AS THEY ARE PAYING FOR RENTAL CAR) AND NEED TO MOVE ON. HAVING DONE SOME INVESTIGATION ONLINE, IT LOOKS EVIDENT THAT THERE ARE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA CARS WITH AIRBAGS THAT HAVE NOT WORKED IN SEVERAL ROAD ACCIDENTS. *TR
DRIVER PULLED CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY, DROVE DOWN BLOCK ABOUT 40-50 FOOT, TURNED CAR AROUND AND PULLED UP IN FRONT OF RESIDENCE, PUT CAR IN PARK AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO "CRASH", NO POTHOLES ON STREET, NO RUTS IN DRIVEWAY HE TURNED AROUND IN. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THE COMPUTER SHOWED CAR SUFFERED IMPACT. THEY ALSO STATED CAR HAD SOME MARKS UNDERNEATH. IF THEY ARE CLAIMING THE INCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF HITTING A POTHOLE, WOULDN'T THE AIR BAG HAVE DEPLOYED AT IMPACT NOT 3-5 MINUTES LATER WHEN CAR WAS PUT IN PARK? ALSO, IRONICALLY, THIS VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER 5 DAYS EARLIER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR FOR THE AIR BAG. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE RECALL WORK AND THE INCIDENT. WE LIVE ON A SMALL DEAD END STREET WITH NO POTHOLES AND THERE ARE NO RUTS OR POTHOLES IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. TWO NEIGHBORS WITNESSED THE INCIDENT. THE DEALER OFFERED UP THAT SINCE THE COMPUTER SAYS THERE WAS IMPACT, THEY WILL DO NOTHING FOR US. THEY STATE THE RECALL REPAIR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING WHEN IT DID. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SENT SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THEIR REPORT STATES THAT THERE ARE SOME MARKS UNDERNEATH WHICH MY LOCAL MECHANIC SAYS MOST CARS THAT DRIVE ON OUR ROADS DISPLAY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOUND NO DAMAGE TO THE FRAME, THE RADIATOR OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE COST OF FIXING THE CAR IS ESTIMATED AT $1793.50. I HAVE A $500.00 DEDUCTIBLE AND I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE AT MY OWN COST. MY HUSBAND, THANK GOD, SUFFERED NO MAJOR INJURIES. WE ARE TERRIFIED TO GET BACK IN THIS CAR. I TOTE AROUND MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE. I AM HOPING YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS. I WOULD HATE FOR ANYONE ELSE TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND MAYBE NOT BE SO LUCKY AS MY HUSBAND WAS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 11V143000 AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE FAILURE WOULD NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 441870, AND STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINING ILLUMINATING WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE 99,500.
ON TUESDAY , JAN. 5TH 2010 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. I SUFFERED NECK AND LOWER BACK INJURIES. THE IMPACT WAS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BY A MINIVAN GOING ~35MPH AND MY SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE AND WERE POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIRBAGS. *TR
DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH OF TWO VEHICLES . THE VEHICLE WITH FAILED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WAS TRAVELING APPROX 45-55 MPH SECOND VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN SAME DIRECTION TRAVELING EST 10 -0 MPH IN THIS REAR END CRASH. *TR
THE CAR IS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. MY WIFE AND MOTHER WERE IN A HEAD-ON CRASH WHICH TOTALED HER CAR. THE OTHER AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WE SPECIFICALLY PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE OF ITS SAFETY RATINGS. THE AIRBAGS IN THE OTHER PERSON'S CAR DEPLOYED BUT NOT MY WIFE'S. WE ARE VERY UPSET AND CONCERNED. MY WIFE'S MOTHER WAS HURT. *TR
THERE WAS NO PARTICULAR INCIDENT RELATED TO A CRASH. TWICE SINCE 10/08 THE DASHBOARD AIRBAG LIGHT HAS GONE ON FOR NO REASON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE HYUNDAI DEALER SAID THE FIRST TIME THAT THE WIRING WAS LOOSE FROM THE TIME OF INSTALLATION MOST LIKELY, AND THEY TIGHTENED THE WIRES. SECOND INCIDENT WAS 2 WEEKS AGO. THIS TIME THEY TELL US WE HAVE A FAULTY HARNESS AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE PART WHICH IS SUPPOSEDLY ON MANUFACTURER BACKORDER. THEY TELL US THE ISSUE IS SO UNCOMMON THAT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN IT BEFORE. JUST DOING A SEARCH ONLINE I SEE THE RECENT RECALL FOR SIMILAR AIRBAG ISSUES ON THE 01-02 ELANTRAS, SO THIS MAKES ME NERVOUS. PLEASE PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE WITH THE 08S AS WELL! THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT, ESPECIALLY WHILE WAITING FOR THE NEW HARNESS..BUT IN THE LONG RUN I WORRY ABOUT FUTURE FAILURES IF AN ACCIDENT DID OCCUR. *TR
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2008 Hyundai Elantra has 27 Air Bags complaints on file. 14 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.