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 milesRelated recalls
- 08V533000Oct 14, 2008Hyundai is recalling certain my 2001-2002 elantra vehicles. Movement of the side impact air bag wiring harness mounted under each front seat, possibly caused…Covers: Hyundai Elantra 2001–2002
Related service bulletins
- 11032523Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province…
- 11032522Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 14% |
| 2024 | 1 | 2% |
| 2023 | 6 | 6% |
| 2022 | 4 | 4% |
| 2021 | 2 | 2% |
| 2020 | 5 | 2% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% |
| 2018 | 12 | 4% |
| 2017 | 32 | 4% |
| 2016 | 26 | 9% |
| 2015 | 23 | 9% |
| 2014 | 32 | 8% |
| 2013 | 168 | 13% |
| 2012 | 124 | 19% |
| 2011 | 77 | 18% |
| 2010 | 46 | 12% |
| 2009 | 42 | 17% |
| 2008 | 38 | 12% |
| 2007 | 46 | 17% |
| 2006 | 56 | 36% |
| 2005 | 71 | 52% |
| 2004 | 114 | 63% |
| 2003 | 48 | 21% |
| 2002 | 70 | 20% |
| 2001 | 118 | 37% |
| 2000 | 39 | 20% |
| 1999 | 20 | 16% |
| 1998 | 7 | 13% |
| 1997 | 21 | 18% |
| 1996 | 14 | 14% |
| 1995 | 35 | 31% |
| 1994 | 31 | 41% |
Other parts of the 2002 Hyundai Elantra
95 complaintsBrakes
34 complaintsFuel system
31 complaintsBody and structure
27 complaintsExterior lighting
18 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
17 complaintsSeat belts
16 complaintsSteering
16 complaintsElectrical system
13 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsTires
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