FaultScore

1997 Hyundai Elantra airbag problems

21 of the 196 complaints about the 1997 Hyundai Elantra are about the airbag system — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 141,000 miles.

F

21

Complaints

14

Crashes

0

Fires

9

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 13 61.9%
AIR Bags 7 33.3%
Sensor/Control Module 1 4.8%

Airbags across every Hyundai Elantra year

1994 33 2.5%
1995 38 2.8%
1996 14 1.0%
1997 21 1.6%
1999 20 1.5%
2000 40 3.0%
2001 125 9.4%
2002 72 5.4%
2003 49 3.7%
2004 116 8.7%
2005 74 5.5%
2006 60 4.5%
2007 49 3.7%
2008 42 3.1%
2009 42 3.1%
2010 46 3.4%
2011 77 5.8%
2012 124 9.3%
2013 167 12.5%
2014 32 2.4%
2015 23 1.7%
2016 26 1.9%
2017 32 2.4%
2018 12 0.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 145,000 miles Louisville, KY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

1997 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, MY CAR GOT TOTALED ON 5/18/2015,. I RECEIVED A CONCUSSION AND JOINT PAIN ALL OVER FOR MONTHS FROM A COLLISION THAT HAPPENED THIS DAY. MY AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS GOING 40 TO 45 MPH WHEN A VAN MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF ME. HER FAULT, I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE TO DO ANY GOOD. MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. I HAD NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I CONTACTED NHTSA ON 5/19/15 MADE A COMPLAINT. I CALLED HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY WHO FINALLY CAME AND LOOKED AT THE CAR BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN BY THE INSURANCE, DUE TO IT BEING TOTALED. IT WOULDN'T EVEN START. HYUNDAI TOTALLY DISMISSED IT AND CONTRADICTED THEMSELVES IN THE LETTER THEY SENT ME. THEY SAID THE CAR DID WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. REALLY? I NOW HAVE POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME. PTSD. I REPLAY THIS OVER AND OVER IN MY HEAD. THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLASS ACTION AND RECALL FOR THIS. I DON'T HAVE MY VEHICLE ANYMORE BUT THE SCARS ARE STILL THERE BECAUSE OF HYUNDAI. AN AIRBAG IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT YOU DURING A COLLISION. FAILURE TO DEPLOY IS A FAILURE AND NOT DOING WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. HYUNDAI HAS ALREADY RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OR GLITCH. IT WON'T BE TOO LATE FOR THEM. UPDATED 9/15/15 *LN UPDATED 12/10/2015

NHTSA complaint #10746386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 141,000 miles Louisville, KY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TRAVELING WEST ON ADAM SHEPHERDS PKWY, I HAD A GREEN LIGHT, LADY OPPOSITE SIDE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME, RESULTED IN COLLISION. HER FAULT. WITNESSES SAID SHE HESITATED BUT WENT ANYWAY. SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO YIELD. I COULD OF BEEN KILLED! MY FRONT DUAL AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I CAN HARDLY MOVE MY RIGHT ARM, MY BACK, MY NECK MY CHEST HURTS. I WAS TAKEN THEN TO NORTON'S EMERGENCY ROOM . I CAN'T SIT OR LAY DOWN OR STAND TOO LONG. CAN'T HOLD ON TO ANYTHING. VERY SORE, STRAINED MUSCLES AND BRUISING OF MUSCLES.

NHTSA complaint #10717302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Brownsville, KY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES FRONT DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10063450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brownsville, KY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES WHILE ON A WET SURFACE, LOST CONTROL, HIT THE BANK AND ALMOST OVER TURNED. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10029961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centralia, WA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPOY DURING A 35MPH FRONT END COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NECK AND CHEST AREA. CONSUMER STATED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FUNCTONING PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8002323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbus, GA

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. DEALER SAID IT WAS JUST THE SENSOR, BUT HAD NOT REPLACED SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #882687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cleveland, TN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. SPEED WAS 30 -35 MPH. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #876947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wallkill, NY

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #872775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Birdsboro, PA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE TRAVELING 40MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED INTO WRONG LANE, AND IT HIT THE HYUNDAI ON DRIVER'S REAR, AFTER IT HAD FISHTAILED & HIT BARRIER. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS TREATED IN EMERGENCY ROOM & RELEASED.

NHTSA complaint #864807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Vegas, NV Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 30-MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #861121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM . CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #849548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Farfax, VA

AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #849056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cleveland, OH

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICTAING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. DEALER WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE 36,000 WARRANTY PERIOD. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #847628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chantilly, VA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG MODULE FAILED CAUSING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE CONTINUALLY.

NHTSA complaint #541092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clarkesville, TN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 68MPH A LADDER FELL OFF OF A TRUCK AND FRONTAL IMPACT OCCURRED. NEITHER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY, NOT DRIVABLE. DEALER CONTACTED AND THERE HAS BEEN NOT RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES.

NHTSA complaint #827934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUFFERED A SERIOUS CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH.

NHTSA complaint #780244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Royal Palm Beach, FL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD DAMAGE TO FRONT LEFT SIDE IN FRONT OF TIRE. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE SORENESS IN NECK. SEAT BELTS WERE WORN.

NHTSA complaint #820156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kingstree, SC Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS HIT AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS THROWN OUT OF VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS BODY.

NHTSA complaint #815049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenbelt, MD Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 45-50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION, TOTALLING THE VEHICLE IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #816237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bainbridge, GA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAGS. DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, HIT HEAD-ON AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #815265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bear, DE Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN VEHICLE SMASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 50 MPH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYEMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. THE WHOLE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED.

NHTSA complaint #812520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Hyundai Elantra problems

← Full 1997 Hyundai Elantra report