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Air bagsPart report

2002 Hyundai Elantra Air bags Problems

Complaints
70about this part
Share
20%of 342 total for the year
Median mileage
71,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 70 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Hyundai Elantra, 20% of the 342 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 71,000 miles. 34 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Was traveling home at 6 pm and I was coming over a hill and a car stoped short I swerved to avoid collission and side swiped a telephone pole.the airbags went off and I was hit with a piece of sharpnal that went into my lip causing me to get stitches and has left my face disfigured.”

NHTSA complaint #10717871, filed 2015-05, 110,000 miles

“Air bag light comes on when you move the seat forward or backward. Should be covered by a recall, but when I call the dealer I am told that there are not open recalls on my vehicle. Yet, the recall list for fixing the air bag system lists 2002 Hyundai.”

NHTSA complaint #10874349, filed 2016-06, 97,000 miles

“I currently own a 2002 Hyundai Elantra. The airbag light came on one day for no apparent reason. I took it to a local Hyundai dealership service garage and they explained that the wiring underneath the front passenger seat had become disconnected due to a few items that were under the seat. …”

NHTSA complaint #10268832, filed 2009-05, 62,000 miles

“I was rear-ended at high speed and struck the car to my front with significant impact. My car is a total loss. My front end is crumpled in half, bumper completely torn off as well. My airbag did not deploy. Officers at the scene and other credible sources suggest it should definitely deployed based on the damage. I suffered compressed neck vertebrae.”

NHTSA complaint #10114206, filed 2005-03, 71,500 miles

“The airbag light illuminated. I took the vehicle to lakeland automall Hyundai, which advised that the airbags were inoperable because of a poor connection at the psab connector under the front passenger seat. Lakeland automall Hyundai repaired pin tension and verified concern was corrected. I asked whether the defect was covered under the airbags recall for this vehicle. Lakeland automall Hyundai claimed that this defect was not covered by the airbags recall. It billed me $102.72.”

NHTSA complaint #10430387, filed 2011-10, 87,800 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025314%
202412%
202366%
202244%
202122%
202052%
201921%
2018124%
2017324%
2016269%
2015239%
2014328%
201316813%
201212419%
20117718%
20104612%
20094217%
20083812%
20074617%
20065636%
20057152%
200411463%
20034821%
20027020%
200111837%
20003920%
19992016%
1998713%
19972118%
19961414%
19953531%
19943141%

Other parts of the 2002 Hyundai Elantra

Suspension
95 complaints
Brakes
34 complaints
Fuel system
31 complaints
Body and structure
27 complaints
Exterior lighting
18 complaints
Vehicle speed control
18 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
17 complaints
Seat belts
16 complaints
Steering
16 complaints
Electrical system
13 complaints
Engine cooling
11 complaints
Tires
10 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2002 Hyundai Elantra

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology