2004 Hyundai Elantra Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 114about this part
- Share
- 63%of 182 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 17,102miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 114 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Hyundai Elantra, 63% of the 182 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 17,102 miles. 22 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 3 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Hit a telephone pole going about 40mph n the airbag went off about 5 seconds after. My neck pain has gone to my back and head n my body is becoming deformed and shutting down. I'm trying to get help but I guess I waited too long. I was injured n never treated hoping it would go away but it did not. The airbag would have definitely helped me out! Also this was in pennsylvania not ohio.”
NHTSA complaint #10716916, filed 2015-05, 110,000 miles“I noticed that the passenger air bag light was on back in may 2004. Now the light on the driver air bag is on and the passenger light for the air bag is off. I am concernrd thst neither air bags are not working. What should I do? There has been no incident so I will just put approx. Date of the air bag lights.”
NHTSA complaint #10717460, filed 2015-05, 25,000 miles“My 2004 Elantra gls has the following problems: 1 - the passenger airbag off sign stays on, even with my wife in the passenger seat. 2 - the airbag light on my dashboard is always on, and my horn is not working, for the last two / three weeks (nov / dec 2017).”
NHTSA complaint #11057833, filed 2018-01, 145,000 miles“Takata recall well I never really thought about vehicle recalls until the death of a young girl and a few others. My car has problems with it when I'm driving to work at 4am in the morning about 5 miles there and back and one of the problems is my air bag light is on has been on for about 2 weeks, my suspension is dangerous and my seat belt is not safe because it some what works. I really want to be safe and I want my family safe.”
NHTSA complaint #10854348, filed 2016-04, 17,102 miles“I was driving with my cruise control on and a car stopped in front of me. I hit the brakes and my car accelerated. This is the third time this has happened. Fortunately, I was able to slam on the brakes and the car stopped. Also the air bag light does not go off with an adult in the front seat. This is very concerning.”
NHTSA complaint #10367286, filed 2010-11, 62,000 milesRelated recalls
- 05V479000Oct 17, 2005Certain vehicles equipped with an advanced air bag system. The occupant classification system (ocs) installed in the right front seat of the vehicle may…Covers: Hyundai Elantra 2004–2005
- 05V395000Sep 12, 2005Certain vehicles equipped with an advanced air bag system. The occupant classification system (ocs) installed in the right front seat of the vehicle may…Covers: Hyundai Elantra 2004–2005
- 03V322000Aug 26, 2003On certain vehicles, if the front passenger seat is unoccupied or is occupied by someone lighter than 56.4 pounds, the passenger air bag is deactivated and…Covers: Hyundai Elantra 2004
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…
- 10019353Mar 10, 2006Airbag reprogramming guide.
- 10019171May 1, 2005Occupant classification system (ocs) reprogramming. Fix-it-right. Hyundai technet times.
- 10015826Apr 1, 2005The occupant classification system (ocs) passenger air bag off indicator light may not turn off or may switch on and off when some smaller stature adults are seated in the right…
- 10015329Feb 1, 2005Air bag control unit (acu) reprogramming procedure (service campaign 919).
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 2004 Hyundai Elantra
12 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsSuspension
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsSeats
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 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