2012 Hyundai Elantra airbags problems

Related recalls

• Recall 13V115000Apr 1, 2013186,250 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · STRUCTURE

  Hyundai Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Elantra vehicles manufactured from November 12, 2010, through March 5, 2013. A support bracket attached to the headliner may become displaced during a side curtain airbag deployment.

  Risk: If the headliner support bracket makes contact with an occupant during a crash, it may cause a laceration injury.

  Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner, free of charge. The safety recall began during April 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 109.

What owners say

1. Filed Jun 11, 2026VACrash5 injuredTowedAirbagsAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I was going down the bridge on settlers landing road the yellow school bus was in the right turning lane with right turning signal on .as I approached the light in the middle straight lane to keep toward the landing (hotel) on settlers landing Hampton va the bus some what merged back towards the middle lane and that when the bus crashed into the car it went under the bus it’s totaled the windshield and my sunroof collided the airbags did not deploy something needs to be done…

   NHTSA complaint #11743488 · source
2. Filed Mar 31, 2026101,000 miMDAirbags

   The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. Neither an independent mechanic nor a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 101,000.

   NHTSA complaint #11728339 · source
3. Filed Oct 16, 2025TNCrash1 injuredTowedAirbags

   Car accident. My car was T-boned on the passenger side, the side airbag did deploy. The impact from the accident pushed my car into on coming traffic and I hit 2 other cars. One in the front grill and the other in the left rear quarter panel. The front airbag did not deploy and my chest hit the steering wheel. My car was totaled and I was taken to the hospital and had 5 CT scans. The one for my chest showed a contusion which I continue to have pain from. I also had neck…

   NHTSA complaint #11693837 · source
4. Filed Sep 30, 2025FLAirbagsSeats & Seat BeltsVisibility & Wipers

   I have constantly had problems with the airbag light going on & off for simply no reason driving the road. Also the windshield sensor light keeps going off making it unsafe to drive at night. I am am a senior citizen & I have to work and I keep going back & forth with my mechanic paying extensive checks on top of getting the problem resolved. I don't have money like that. I live along surviving off of one income.

   NHTSA complaint #11690526 · source
5. Filed Aug 9, 2025AZCrash2 injuredTowedAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

   Seatbelt failed passenger was thrown forward hitting windshield afterwards airbag deployed throwing passenger upwards hitting roof of vehicle Issue: Delayed airbag deployment Issue: Seatbelt failure

   NHTSA complaint #11679620 · source
6. Filed Jun 17, 202580,000 miWAAirbagsBrakes

   The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the ABS and air bag warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that an unknown local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for…

   NHTSA complaint #11667394 · source
7. Filed May 18, 2023MEAirbags

   Good day i hope this finds you well. While I'm driving my air bag light comes on and off around certain corners and such..I have been told it means my air bag won't work if I'm in an accident. It definitely freaks me out knowing I could or couldn't be ok in an accident. I'm not sure what to do about this..I bought my hyundai elantra from a personal sale so there probably isn't anything I can do but I just thought someone should know. I am grateful for your time..hope you…

   NHTSA complaint #11522723 · source
8. Filed Jan 14, 2023FLAirbags

   The airbag light came on and stays on no matter what. I have read this happens a lot with Hyundai Elantra’s made during this time frame. This is a major safety issue if the airbags are not functioning properly.

   NHTSA complaint #11501734 · source
9. Filed Aug 26, 2022KSCrashAirbagsDriver Assistance & Safety TechSteering

   My steering column makes a clicking noise and the cruise control comes on when it wants to also the horn won't work on the steering wheel, and I was in an accident where I got hit in the front and the airbag didn't even deploy

   NHTSA complaint #11481374 · source
10. Filed Apr 19, 2022WAAirbags

    Airbag light came on for no reason. Took the car to the dealership. Diagnostics test revealed faulty airbag control module. Dealership recommended replacement of the airbag control module. The cost of replacement is $1,042. Hyundai warranty does not cover the airbag control module after 5 years / 60,000 miles. I am concerned about this as this is the basic safety feature of the car and the cost of replacing the unit is prohibitive. I'm also concerned about the fact that the…

    NHTSA complaint #11461370 · source
11. Filed Apr 15, 2022NYAirbags

    Airbag light stays on all the time. Many people online are complaining about the same problem. This is a major safety issue and there should definitely be a recall on these airbags.

    NHTSA complaint #11460947 · source
12. Filed Sep 6, 2021MOCrashTowedAirbags

    A pickup pulled in front of me causing my car to impact it. Despite significant frontal damage to my car the steering wheel airbag did not deploy.

    NHTSA complaint #11431883 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology