2008 Hyundai Elantra Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 38about this part
- Share
- 12%of 315 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,819miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 38 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Hyundai Elantra, 12% of the 315 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,819 miles. 22 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 2 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.
“My 2008 Hyundai Elantra has the airbags light on for about few years. I also have a problem on my car that is recently starting to have problems starting up. It has tune up, new sensors, new coils, and etc. I bought a fuel pump oem and the pump is not 2 years old.”
NHTSA complaint #11288161, filed 2019-12, 248,800 miles“While driving on I-95 north in maryland, a motorist cut me off suddenly, when I applied the brakes to slow down, the brakes locked and car swerved to the right, crossed all lanes, and rolled over twice. The air bags did not deploy on driver or passenger side. As a result, I received a fractured sternum.”
NHTSA complaint #10226723, filed 2008-05, 170 miles“While on vacation in michigan, my spouse and I were hit by a drunk driver. We were traveling north bound on us 127 at 35mph, crossing over addison rd (in the town of addison) when the other driver crossed the road hitting us. (he was arrested at the scene of the accident.) he struck us on the driver's side and dented the front and rear door to the point that neither door could be opened, and buckled the rear fender. …”
NHTSA complaint #10229467, filed 2008-06, 2,200 miles“I had a new 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The vehicle had only 3,000 miles on it. I hit another vehicle from behind. It was a direct front hit at about 40-45 MPH. The seat belt did not tighten to hold either myself or my passenger back. The air bags for myself and my passenger did not deploy. All professional people (fire dept, mechanics, tow yard, police) stated repeatedly that there was no reason for the air bags and seat belts not to work.”
NHTSA complaint #10234116, filed 2008-07, 3,100 miles“While driving east toward home, a large SUV or pickup truck came around the curve with bright lights on, thus blinding me. I did not see a car turning left until too late to stop. Resulting in rear ending the other car. The air bags on my Hyundai failed to deploy. Also I do not think the right seat belt did not catch allowing my wife, the passenger to travel to its end and hitting her head on the dash or windshield, also injuring her right shoulder. I did not receive any recalls on seat belts or air bags.”
NHTSA complaint #10490024, filed 2012-12, 55,819 milesRelated recalls
- 11V143000Mar 15, 2011Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 elantra vehicles manufactured from july 14, 2006, through november 1, 2008. The front passenger seats in the…Covers: Hyundai Elantra 2007–2009
- 11V179000Mar 15, 2011Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 elantra vehicles manufactured from july 14, 2006, through august 29, 2007. The driver's seat track position…Covers: Hyundai Elantra 2007–2008
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…
- 10040952May 1, 2011Hyundai: 2007-2009 elantra. Airbag control unit reprogramming and installation of a protective cover over the weight classification sensor. *rm updated 9/21/11.
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 2008 Hyundai Elantra
55 complaintsBrakes
52 complaintsFuel system
45 complaintsElectrical system
31 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
29 complaintsEngine
24 complaintsExterior lighting
24 complaintsOther or unknown
24 complaintsVehicle speed control
24 complaintsEngine cooling
17 complaintsSuspension
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Hyundai Elantra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 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