2003 Hyundai Elantra Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 48about this part
- Share
- 21%of 234 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 46,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 48 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Hyundai Elantra, 21% of the 234 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 46,000 miles. 31 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I had a wreck today on a highway where I was traveling at 40 MPH and I slammed on my brakes and hit the car in front of me when the vehicle in front of me stopped suddenly. My chest rammed into the steering wheel and the bags did not deploy.the car was totally smashed in the front and the door had a hard time opening. I was rushed to the er and had contusions to my sternum area of my chest. *I did wear seat belts.”
NHTSA complaint #11099449, filed 2018-06, 200,000 miles“Driving at 45mpd air bag light activated. Went to my repair service ram auto(ft. Pierce,fl. Tech tested with car diagnostic device. Could not find issue. Tried to delete code for air bag, light comes back on. Suggested I see if any recalls for this vehicle- no reports of air bag recalls for a Hyundai 2003 gls.”
NHTSA complaint #10724339, filed 2015-06, 65,000 miles“I had a low speed accident approximately 10-20mph in a parking lot where I hit a cement surrounding of a pole on the driver side and the airbag deployed on the passengers side causing significant damage to the windshield, busted the dash vents, locked my drivers seatbelt and shattered windshield glass all over the car.”
NHTSA complaint #10599046, filed 2014-06, 57,465 miles“Driving down the road bout 25-30 miles swerved (very sharp) didn't think it should have been such a sharp turn- anyway swerved from hitting a deer- so I did accelerate and ended up with a direct front hit- car is totaled- actually lost a piece of what holds the engine up the bolt is broken in half-hood of car can not be opened - impact through my neck and back out- no airbags.”
NHTSA complaint #10358424, filed 2010-09, 95,000 miles“My 2003 Hyundai Elantra has 64,000 miles on it & the airbag module went out & am told it will cost over 800.00 to fix & it won't deploy if I have an accident. I have Hyundai extended coverage plan of 10 years/100,000 miles & was told it covers 'everything but the sink' they tell me it won't cover this. This seems like a safety issue to me.”
NHTSA complaint #10250776, filed 2008-12, 64,000 milesRelated 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 2003 Hyundai Elantra
61 complaintsBody and structure
32 complaintsBrakes
27 complaintsEngine cooling
21 complaintsFuel system
18 complaintsSteering
16 complaintsExterior lighting
13 complaintsSeat belts
11 complaintsElectrical system
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsTires
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 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