I purchased my 2006 Hyundai Elantra in Dec 06 and noticed almost immediately that the passenger air bag off light would stay on at times when there were passengers are in the front seat. On my first oil change, I reported it to the dealer and was told that since it didn't happen when they sat it the car, nothing could be done and that perhaps my passenger was not seated "correctly". I accepted the explanation at the time, but having sat in my own passenger seat when I was sleepy and my mother drove, I am disturbed that despite being seated upright with my seatbelt securely fastened, the light would still not stay off consistently. I found a technical service bulletin for this issue and brought it up to the dealer again at my last car servicing in Feb 08, but was again told that it did not happen at the service shop, so it could not be fixed. I understand this concept, but I am greatly concerned that my vehicle is not safe because the air bags may or may not deploy. The tsb states that this may occur with smaller stature adults, but I have no children or very small friends/family, and I am certainly average sized and the light still goes on and off. My concerns are only assuaged by the fact that I was told by the dealership mechanic that it is just a light sensor and that the air bags will always deploy if the seatbelt is buckled. I hope that this is true, but after reading other comments on this site about air bags not deploying, my anxiety about the safety of my vehicle has increased. I plan to write a letter to Hyundai regarding this matter but I am not sure if my concerns will be taken seriously, so I am hoping that this entry will help to bring more attention to this issue. My question is simple. Is it really just a flaky sensor/light or are my air bags unreliable?

- Fort Washington, MD, USA

- the contact stated that the 2005 Hyundai Elantra was struck by another vehicle while driving at 55 mph on the passenger's side door. The contact stated that this vehicle was traveling at AP10-15 mph at the time of the crash. The passenger's side airbag did not deploy. The crash occurred as the vehicle started through the intersection after waiting at a red light. The contact stated there was only one passenger in vehicle. There was never any maintenance or service performed on the passenger's side airbags. The failure mileage and the current mileage were both 49000. Updated 03/30/07.

- Sterling, NY, USA

I failed to turn my wheel sufficiently and hit a palm tree at four miles per hour. No air bag deployed and I hit the steering wheel. The vehicle suffered $3400 of damages from this four mile per hour crash. I do not feel this vehicle is safe.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

2006 Hyundai Elantra limited VIN: [xxx]. on Oct 13th 2006 this vehicle was involved in a accident. The speed at impact was estimated at 60 mph, and the air bags did not deploy. The front end of vehicle was crushed, and vehicle has been determined to be a total loss. Updated 07/12/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Litchfield Park, AZ, USA