This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
2004 Hyundai Elantra seat belts broke. The vehicle was hit by another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The seat belts broke and tore out. Another vehicle hit the consumer head on. The drivers side passenger front bumper sensor was inoperative.
The consumer stated she was having problems with her air bag light. She says that if someone is sitting in the passenger seat, the air bag light switch will say passenger air bag off, and if no one is sitting in the seat it says the same thing. This problem occurs 80 percent of the time the car is in use and has been going on since the purchase of the vehicle. The consumer has reported this to Hyundai and they stated it was the way the person was sitting in the seat. The dealer has received numerous complaints and the manufacturer tells them not to fix it.
My 2004 Hyundai Elantra passenger airbag is not enabled even when a passenger with twice the advertised minimum required weight occupies the seat. A Hyundai bulletin tells passengesr to sit stiff like a mannequin to activate sensors to enable the bag, but that's not practical. Hyundai also offers to reprogram the sensors to require less weight, in conjunction with deactivating (permanantly shutting off) the "passenger air bag off" light. But there's no reason to believe that lowering the programmed weight will enable the bags since it already doesn't come on with 130 pounds but is supposed to come on at 56 pounds. Disabling the "passenger air bag off" light is only an effort to make occupants unaware as to if the bags are enabled or not and thereby lessen the burden for Hyundai. Owners should not expect a solution any time soon since the technology does not exist that keeps the airbags on when an adult passenger may squirm around, cross their legs, or even sit normally at times. A positive solution would be to recall the vehicles to install a keyed switch that can be toggled by the owner, and eliminate the sensors all together. At this point, any currently offered solution by Hyundai, which includes not sitting in the seat, or using another car, or sitting perfectly still, or having the "passenger air bag off" light disabled, is only designed to benefit the company and not the consumer, nor to make the bags work as advertised. Tspault@sbcglobal.net.
Regarding: 2004 Hyundai Elantra GT this complaint is in regards to the passenger airbag. The 2004 Elantra contains a sensor in the seat that disables that passenger seat if the weight of the passenger is less than a certain weight. A "passenger air bag off" light illuminates to indicate when this is occurring. Since the date of purchase (4/29/2004), it has been found that this light illuminates with adult passenger's in this seat. This happens with a wide variety of individuals, some well over 150 lb. This problem has been in the news in the following locations that I have found: 1) June 24, 2004 edition of autotech daily (hampton autobeat llc) in an article entitled "Elantra smart airbag too smart?" 2) abc story: abcnews.go.com/business/story?id=89770&page=1 3) consumeraffairs.com: Ttp://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/hyundai_airbag.html as this is an issue that I found very troubling and unsafe, I would appreciate immediate assistance in resolving this problem. The vehicle has been taken to two (2) different Hyundai dealers for service, but according to them, the system is working as designed.
My 19 years old daughter's weight is not less than 56.4 pound. It showed displayed "passenger airbag off" while the seat was occupied. I think the alignment of OCS is off. It needed to be adjusted according to the specifics set for 56.4 or less. I think the car setting is higher than 56.4 pounds. I took my car to my dealer during the 7500 mile service and I mentioned about this problem to service manager. I got a response from them on the invoice. Invoice says "tested system out working to factory specs" I was so upset that they don't be bother to check into the details. The hyundia representative, Ms. Muara T. dowd (district parts and service manager in jamesburg, NJ) gave me an opportunity to have a mechanic to show me what he have done. What I have observed him. He just plug his computer under the driver. And showed me the computer found no problem related to the airbag. That's all he do the job and leave. Not even bother to check into this matter. Ms. Dowd told me that she have something to fax me later on. I found out that they offered me to sign the waive some specifics related to liability related to reprogramming it. I felt it is not acceptable to do that. I got a fax from you regarding OCS reprogramming authorization. I think that it is not right for getting me to authorize for reprogramming. I think it needs to make a correct adjustment according to your company's specifics to 56 pounds or less. I think it is not right and I would like it to make the correction on this part. I researched this problem. What I found.... reference to the 2004 Elantra owner's manual section "occupant classification system" (section 1 - page 36-37). If the front passenger seat is unoccupied or occupied by someone lighter than 56.4 pounds (25.G kg) the indicator "passenger airbag off" will be displayed, and the front passenger's airbag will be turned off and will not deploy in frontal crashes.
Repeated intermittent illumination of "passenger airbag off" beginning within days of purchase. Failures occur when anyone sits in passenger seat. Adults weighing 190, 170, and 140 have turned airbags off. Poodle weighing 9 lbs turned airbags on! numerous attempts at service August 04 to present, with long delays waiting for Hyundai representatives to address and delays and cancelled appointments by dealer service department. Results of service appointments included could not duplicate, told that sensor activated when passenger moves in seat, claimed to order new "upgraded" sensor, did not have "special" tool to install new sensor, nothing more that service dept could do, airbags will deploy in accident if sensor indicates airbags off, then told that district manager would have to install new sensor, svc cancelled because district manager advised service manager that new sensor would not work, told that district service representative would arrive to assess and verify issue then let me know what would be done and would have to sign waiver, district svc rep tested (compared my 04 Elantra manufactured Sept 03 and another manufactured May 04) and concluded cause was the way I sit in the seat. Light came on in both vehicles when I sat in passenger seat, and when he sat in my passenger front seat. Concluded that I was not sitting far enough back in the seat for sensor to recognize. Stated that this was not a defect but a "characteristic" of the 04 Elantra. Would return two weeks later to "reprogram" sensor to more sensitive state. This was more than one month ago. Have had three near collisions since purchase, with constant fear of passenger seat for seven and one half months of ownership.
The passenger airbag is supposed to be activated when a passenger >56.4 pounds is seated in the passenger seat. When my daughter (about 110 pounds) is seated in the passenger seat, the indicator light for the passenger airbag goes on and off when the car is moving, and she is not moving. I took the car into the dealer and I have contacted their district office and I was told there was nothing that could be done. I am worried that I will have an accident and the airbag will not be activated.
The driver was involved in a frontal collision, upon impact the passenger seat collapsed. Only the driver's air bag deployed and no one was injured. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection.
Passenger's advanced air bag system failed to work and shut off when an adult sat in the seat. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Consumer stated that while exiting the freeway onto an off ramp hit something in the street which caused him to lose control of vehicle. In an attempt to pull over he hit another vehicle. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained chest injuries.
When driving at an undetermined speed air bag warning light appeared on the dashboard. Consumer informed the dealer about this issue. However, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem.
When an adult passenger was in the front seat an indicator illuminated which stated that passenger's side air bag was off. Consumer contacted the dealer, who indicated that this vehicle was not part of NHTSA recall 03V322000 concerning air bag failure. Consumers wife who is about 130lbs experiences this issue when in the pass. Seat. Driving around corners or up hills turns the bag on and off. The dealer can not fix the issue.cw
At the time of purchase, consumer noticed the passenger air bag off light was not functioning properly. The occupant classification sensor incorrectly interpreted the absence of a seated adult when an adult in fact occupied the seat. This caused the passenger airbag off indicator to illuminate and in the even of a crash the airbag would not deploy. The consumer stated several vehicles were recall for the problem in the past. (recall #03V322000). The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer on several occasions. The first time the dealer was unable to address the problem and they stated the had to consult with the manufacturer. The second time the passenger airbag sensor was replaced and was reported to be working properly with 60lb weight in the seat. The third time the dealer received an extra sensitive sensor from the manufacturer. The fourth time the consumer contacted the dealer and stated there had been no change. The dealer informed the consumer the part was replaced with the newest that there was and there would be no further assistance.
The air bag off light illuminated when there was a passenger in the seat. The seat sensors was replaced, however it did not resolve the problem. The consumer gave the first Elantra back to the dealer and was given a replacement same model and year, but the problem existed in that cart as well.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Woodside , NY, USA