2012 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
STATE INSPECTION FAILED DUE TO AIRBAG LIGHT THAT CAME ON DAY OF INSPECTION 11/1
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T TURN OFF
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESET OR GET THE AIRBAG SENSOR TO TURN OFF. IT CAME ON FOR NO REASON, I WAS NOT IN A ACCIDENT. IT IS FAULTY. THE DEALER GAVE ME A REPAIR QUOTE THAT WAS RIDICULOUS - OVER $3000. LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM (SEE ONLINE), THIS SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE I THOUGHT I WOULD SEND A MESSAGE.
ALL I DID WAS HIT A SPEED BUMP AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS REPORTING THE SAME.
AIRBAG LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REFUSES TO LOOK INTO IT, UNLESS I PAY FEE FOR ASSESSMENT. I SEE LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING 2012 ELANTRA HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SOME OF THEM HAVE OFFICIAL RECALLS, BUT MY VIN DOESN'T SHOW ANY RECALL, SO DEALER IS NOT LOOKING INTO IT WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT.
TAKATA RECALL. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFE ISSUE. IT HAVE TO BE RECALL TO FIX.
THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL CAMPAIGN ON THE CLOCKSPRING FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND OFF WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. HYUNDAI CHARGED FOR A DIAGNOSIS WHICH REVEALED A "B1346 DRIVER AIRBAG RESISTANCE TOO HIGH (1ST STAGE)" CODE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING UNDER WARRANTY. ON HYUNDAI'S OWN WEBSITE THEY DESCRIBE THE REASON FOR THE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY AS: "THE CLOCK SPRING IS AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WHICH ROTATES WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE AIRBAG UNIT. HYUNDAI'S SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WHEN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE INCREASES, WHICH CAN BE CONTRIBUTED TO BY USAGE PATTERNS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS." AND IN REGARDS TO WARRANTY EXTENSION: "HYUNDAI IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY TO 15 YEARS, UNLIMITED MILEAGE, FROM THE DATE OF ORIGINAL RETAIL DELIVERY OR DATE OF FIRST USE. THIS COVERAGE IS AUTOMATIC; THERE IS NO ACTION NEEDED ON YOUR BEHALF." I WOULD LIKE HYUNDAI OF AMERICA TO REPLACE THE PART AS PROMISED, AS I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO MORE DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES, AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY BUT IS NOT DUE TO CLOCK SPRING ISSUES AS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT AND AN AIRBAG SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT WORK IS NOT A PART OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS EXPLICITLY HYUNDAI'S RESPONSIBILITY.
IN JUNE 2012 A TRUCK MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS T-BONED BY ME IN A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE TRUCK WAS HIT SO HARD IT ROCKED OVER ONTO ITS DRIVER SIDE WHEELS BEFORE COMING TO REST ON ALL FOUR. I LEARNED LATER THE IMPACT BROKE THE REAR AXLE. THAT SAID, MY FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, ON MARCH 23, 2013, JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE I AM TO HAVE AN ANTERIOR CERVICAL DISCECTOMY AND FUSION (WHICH IS THE RESULT OF A PREVIOUS AUTO ACCIDENT) A DRUNK DRIVER RUNS A RED LIGHT. T-BONING OUR 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE IMPACT CAUSES THE 2012 ELANTRA TO SPIN THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, COMING TO REST IN ITS ORIGINAL DIRECTION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET, JUST A FEW FEET SHY OF A LARGE TREE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.
MY VEHICLE WAS IN CAR ACCIDENT ON 2/13/18, WAS HIT WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET WITH SUCH A FORCE THAT THE CAR WAS PUSHED ACROSS MEDIAN STRIP ONTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY?
TAKATA RECALL. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. LOOKED ONLINE AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE TO NOT COVER SAFETY CONCERNS AS IT IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH HYUNDAI'S MANUFACTURING.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. CLAY COOLEY HYUNDAI DEALER IN ROCKWALL, TEXAS DIAGNOSIS WAS THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDING REPLACEMENT. HYUNDAI TOLD ME "NO DEALER IN THE COUNTRY HAS THIS PART RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE PART. THE MANUFACTURER MUST MAKE NEW PARTS THAT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE 2017." I WAS SENT AWAY AND TOLD THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. MEANWHILE, MY AIRBAGS ARE DEACTIVATED AND MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH
IN MY ELANTRA 2012 THE LIGHT OF THE AIRBAG IS ON, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT SUFFERED ACCIDENTS OR STRONG BLOWS, AND HAS FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER (FOLLOWING THE MANUAL), (95K MILES). THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT MAY COME ON BECAUSE SOME OF THE SENSORS ARE DAMAGED; THE COST OF THE REPAIR CAN RANGE FROM $ 250 UP TO $ 3000. WITH THIS LIGHT ON, THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. HYUNDAI HAS A GOOD REPUTATION, AND SAFETY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE VAST MAJORITY OF ELANTRA OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. (GOOGLING). THE SOLUTION SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS A RECALL.
AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH REMAINED ON AFTER START, WENT OUT FOR SEVERAL MOMENTS THEN HAS REMAINED ON. IS REMAINING ON AFTER MULTIPLE RESTARTS.
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE CLOCKSPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES AFFECTED, NOT JUST MINE. MY FRIEND WITH A 2011 SONATA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WON'T DO A RECALL...
WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE CLOCK SPRING. TOTAL COST $429.75. *TR
2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED HAS 117,400 MILES ON IT AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF ANYMORE AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION.
AFTER OUT OF WARRANTY LIKE 1 MONTHS OR SO THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON I DO A RESEARCH ONLINE A LOT OF THE ELANTRA OWNER HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AFTER OUT OF WARRANTY SAME ISSUES COME OUT --AIRBAG LIGHT ON WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY CHANGER HUNDREDS TO JUST TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC. HYNDAI HAS SUCH A GOOD REPUTATION, SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH SAFETY LIKE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS, HARD TO BELIEVE AFTER 4 YEARS SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE.
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. COSTS $100 JUST FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, ON TOP OF ABOUT $400 FOR REPAIR ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE SOURCES WITH THE SAME ISSUE.
AT APPROX. 70,000 MILES: SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, THEN PROGRESSIVELY STEADY ILLUMINATION WHILE DRIVING. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AFTER TIGHT RIGHT-HAND TURNS, AT ANY SPEED, THEN MAY TURN OFF AGAIN WHEN COMPLETING A LEFT-HAND TURN. OVER TIME, LIGHT STAYS ON FOR MOST OF DRIVING TIME. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP; DIAGNOSTICS PERFORMED. THROWING DTC CODE B148100 DRIVER AIRBAG RESISTANCE TOO HIGH 2ND STAGE. TECHNICIAN SAID CAR NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF BOTH CLOCK SPRING AND DRIVER AIRBAG. NO COVERAGE ON WARRANTY (2ND OWNER PLUS FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRES AT 60K MILES). AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF COLLISION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MONTHS AND A WEIGHT SENSOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS REPLACED. THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE A REPAIR SOLUTION FROM THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS STUCK ON. WILL BE TAKING TO A DEALER HOWEVER HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AS USUAL WHEN STARTING, GO OFF AFTER 6 SECONDS THEN STAY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING OR GO OFF AND ON.
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A WEEK AGO FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHILE AT A DRIVE-THRU WINDOW AND WENT OFF. DRIVING DOWN A 45 MPH ROAD THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND WENT OFF JUST AS QUICKLY. CALLED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. LIGHT CONTINUED TO GO ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN AND EVEN CAME ON WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM SO THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THE LIGHT TO GO ON AND OFF. HAS BEEN DOING IT EVERYDAY SINCE I LEFT THE DEALER. I AM WAITING ON A LOANER FROM THEM SO THEY CAN KEEP THE CAR FOR LONGER THAN A COUPLE OF HOURS. HAVE TO SAY I DON'T FEEL REAL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2012 Hyundai Elantra has 94 Air Bags complaints on file. 19 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.