NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
42 reportsClear category filter12,000 miles · Jul 10, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD TURN ON WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD. WE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE ISSUE AND IT "APPEARED" TO FIX THE ISSUE ONCE COMPLETED, BUT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE PAST FOUR YEARS. TODAY, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES AS OF JULY 5, 20…
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AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD TURN ON WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD. WE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE ISSUE AND IT "APPEARED" TO FIX THE ISSUE ONCE COMPLETED, BUT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE PAST FOUR YEARS. TODAY, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES AS OF JULY 5, 2015.
NHTSA ODI #10733106
53,500 miles · Jul 9, 2015
Air Bags
BACK IN 2011, OUR 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD STAY ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS SLID BACK. THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE SEAT WAS SLID FORWARD. HYUNDAI ISSUED A RECALL IN 2011 ADDING A COVER TO A SENSOR THAT SEEMED TO FIX THE ISSUE. NOW, JULY 2015 AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. IT…
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BACK IN 2011, OUR 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD STAY ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS SLID BACK. THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE SEAT WAS SLID FORWARD. HYUNDAI ISSUED A RECALL IN 2011 ADDING A COVER TO A SENSOR THAT SEEMED TO FIX THE ISSUE. NOW, JULY 2015 AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. IT STARTED AGAIN WHEN I: ENTERED THE VEHICLE, STARTED IT UP, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF. I THEN DROPPED TWO RENTAL DVD MOVIE CASES ON THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION, THE WEIGHT OF THE TWO MEAGER PLASTIC CASES TRIGGERED THE LIGHT TO COME ON THE INSTANT THE CASES LANDED ON THE CUSHION. IT HAS STAYED ON SINCE.
NHTSA ODI #10733056
45,000 miles · Apr 20, 2015
Air BagsSteeringCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MEDIUM CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MEDIUM CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN UPDATED 10/06/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10706592
109,000 miles · Oct 24, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System
AIRBAG SENSOR PASSENGER SEAT ASSEMBLY READS THAT THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT WHEN NO ONE IS IN SEAT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10649697
170,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Air BagsEngineStructureCrashInjury
MY VEHICLE THE ELANTRA ( APROX SP 40MPH) REAR ENDED A CHEVY TAHOE( APRX SP 30MPH) MY ELANTRA WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND MY LOWER BACK WAS INJURED AS WELL AS MY RIGHT HAND. I HAD TO BE TAKEN FROM THE VEHICLE FROM EMS AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE OCCUPANT OF THE TAHOE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY INJURY. THIS IS THE SECOND ACCIDENT IN …
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MY VEHICLE THE ELANTRA ( APROX SP 40MPH) REAR ENDED A CHEVY TAHOE( APRX SP 30MPH) MY ELANTRA WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND MY LOWER BACK WAS INJURED AS WELL AS MY RIGHT HAND. I HAD TO BE TAKEN FROM THE VEHICLE FROM EMS AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE OCCUPANT OF THE TAHOE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY INJURY. THIS IS THE SECOND ACCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . IN 2011 MY VEHICLE MOVING APROX 55MPH STRUCK 3 DEER AT ONCE ON THE PASSENGER FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, MY SON EXPERIENCE A SHOULDER INJURY WHO WAS MY PASSENGER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10592926
73,000 miles · Apr 15, 2014
Air BagsInjury
I DROVE MY 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS (5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION) INTO MY FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY, CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AFTER BEING STOPPED FOR APPRIXMATLEY 30 SECONDS I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF GEAR, PULLED UP THE HAND BRAKE, AND TURNED OFF THE CAR WITH THE KEY. AS I TURNED OFF THE CAR/PULLED OUT THE KEY, THE PASSANGER AND DRIVER SI…
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I DROVE MY 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS (5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION) INTO MY FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY, CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AFTER BEING STOPPED FOR APPRIXMATLEY 30 SECONDS I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF GEAR, PULLED UP THE HAND BRAKE, AND TURNED OFF THE CAR WITH THE KEY. AS I TURNED OFF THE CAR/PULLED OUT THE KEY, THE PASSANGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE MY PASSENGER AND I WERE SITTING IN THE FRONT SEATS. NO SEVERE INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY MY PASSENGER OR ME. HOWEVER, DAYS LATER THE LOUD EXPLOSION OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT HAS LEFT A RINGING IN OUR EARS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS NO FRONT COLLISION OR ABRUPT STOP THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED A DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STABLE ZERO SPEED. ALSO, I AM THE ORIGIONAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY PREVIOUSLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPORTED TO ME THAT THE VEHICLE COMPUTER CODES IDENTIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FRONT COLLISION, AS WELL AS A PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILURE. THE SERVICE REP AGREED WITH ME THAT THERE WAS CLEARLY NO IMPACT AND AGREED WITH ME THAT THE FRONT COLLISION WAS SOME SORT OF FALSE SIGNAL. I HAVE FILED A REPORT WITH HYUNDAI AND IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS PUBLICALLY RECORDED DUE TO THE DANGER OF THE INCIDENT. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10582953
29,560 miles · Jun 24, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND DESTROYED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES IN THE NECK, BACK, AND CONCUSSIONS IN THE WAIST. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND DESTROYED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES IN THE NECK, BACK, AND CONCUSSIONS IN THE WAIST. THE CONTACT NOW SUFFERED FROM TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDER AND MIGRAINES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE RESULTS. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO HYUNDAI. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,560. ..UPDATED 08-07-13 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10521411
40,200 miles · May 31, 2011
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE COMING TOWARD HIM; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE COMING TOWARD HIM; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,200.
NHTSA ODI #10403908
39,000 miles · Sep 1, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION ON 7/30/10. THE CAR OF THE DRIVER WHO HIT ME HAD HER AIRBAGS DEPLOY, WHILE MINE DID NOT. THE IMPACT TO MY CAR WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE RADIATOR SUPPORT HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BUMPER HEADLIGHT AND HOOD. I WAS GOING 20 - 25 MPH AND THE OTHER DIVER WAS DOING APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SPEED. …
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I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION ON 7/30/10. THE CAR OF THE DRIVER WHO HIT ME HAD HER AIRBAGS DEPLOY, WHILE MINE DID NOT. THE IMPACT TO MY CAR WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE RADIATOR SUPPORT HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BUMPER HEADLIGHT AND HOOD. I WAS GOING 20 - 25 MPH AND THE OTHER DIVER WAS DOING APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10353243
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2010
Air BagsEquipmentCrashInjury
COULDN'T STOP IN TIME TO AVOID REAREND COLLISION MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA 09 AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ,THE FRONT CLIP WAS TOTALED. HYUNDI SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR MY INJURIES WHICH IS SEVERE NECK AND BACK PAIN. I NEED SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO PROCEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326932
Official recalls
4Feb 4, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.
Feb 23, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Elantra vehicles manufactured June 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010, and 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles manufactured November 1, 2008, to April 30, 2010. The electronic power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may sense a discrepancy in the steering input signals and, as a result, disable the steering power assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will verify the proper operation of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and update the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 127.
Apr 1, 2013
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Mar 15, 2011
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY IN CRASHES IN WHICH IT SHOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONNECTOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTING TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.
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