Call directly to the manufacturer to solve airbags under warranty/ extended warranty. Do not deal with dealerships; they will try to charge you in the first place. Manufacturer will deal with a dealership and will make an appointment for you at the closest one.

When a vehicle had ~131 000 miles, the check airbag light turned on. Dealerships and car repair shops quoted to fix airbags for ~$1000 which was 38.5% of the car cost at the end of 2016 according to KBB.

None of the dealerships recommended me to call directly to Hyundai customer service (1 (800) 633-5151) to find a solution for airbag check light. Nevertheless, by accident, I called directly to Hyundai Motor Company and found out that the car has a manufacturer warranty extension, which is 15 years after the car was built. In my case, I have a warranty until 2021. Hyundai representative scheduled an appointment with a closest Hyundai Service. The airbag was fixed for free; all expenses were paid to the dealership by Hyundai Motor Company. It took me six months to find a solution to fix airbags. The car had 146 000 miles when a problem was solved.

Please, do not be fooled by dealership representatives, call directly to the manufacturer and provide them with VIN of your car. They have all information to help you. If they did not help you the first time, call them in few days, maybe you will have a chance to talk to a person who cares.

I have a 2006 accent that needs a passenger seat sensor to fix the airbags. I just now learned I haven’t haven’t had airbags for 2 years.!!!! (my kids haven’t -- my sons had the car at college, driving home on the interstate for 2.5 hours - WITH NO AIRBAGS) the light is on. for 2 years. MY first mechanic never alerted me that i had to go to a dealer. my newer mechanic did - so i had to pay $80 - to the dealer - for them to tell me it will cost me $960 to fix it. now i read here http://www.carcomplaints.com/Hyundai/Accent/2006/seat_belts_air_bags/air_bags.shtml that other people have had this problem and we have all been told its a $1000 to fix. JUST the part is $700+!!!! and I read that Hyundai had that problem with 2006 Sonatas and fixed them. why not the Accent???? Why don’t they have to stand behind a faulty part on multiple cars? THIS IS MY DILEMMA: If i sell the car I hate to sell a car without airbags and I WILL NOT lie to the buyer. If i keep it i have to fix it ---for our safety. but put $1000 in a car that is ONLY worth $2500??? I'm thinking of keeping my 98 civic with 200,000 miles instead.

Update from Oct 5, 2016: I have a 2006 Accent that needs a passenger seat sensor to fix the airbag. I just learned that I haven't had airbags for two years.... well my children haven't as my 3 sons had the car at college, driving it many miles on the interstate... with no airbags. The light has been on for 2 years. The first mechanic didn't find a problem and just cleared the codes. I had it checked out twice. This year my current mechanic told me I had to take it to a dealer to diagnose. I did, and it cost me $80 for them to tell me that it will cost me $970 to fix it. And then when I considered getting a different Hyundai, they only offered me $500 trade-in "because the airbags don't work". Now I read here that many others have had this problem. That they've all been told its a $1000 fix. That there were similar problems with the Sonata and Hyundai fixed those. Why not the Accent? Why don't they stand behind this obviously faulty part? This is my dilemma. How to sell this car? I have to be honest with potential buyers and say why the airbag light is on... And if I keep it, we just drive with no airbags? How can I justify putting $1000 in a car worth $3500 at most? I have written to Hyundai and have not gotten a response yet.

Update from Oct 7, 2016: I am happy to say I reached out to Hyundai Customer care. (as well as reporting the issue to NHTSA) After two emails, and a couple phone calls, they have given me a case number to take to my dealer and get my airbags fixed at no cost.
The service rep said "we want to make this right - even though your car isn't under warranty - because this is a safety issue" I was pleased with their customer service. This is wonderful for me - but not for the other Accent owners with this problem. Perhaps others will get action by emailing Hyundai Customer Care.