Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
1997 Hyundai Elantra, my car got totaled on 5/18/2015,. I received a concussion and joint pain all over for months from a collision that happened this day. My airbag failed to deploy. I was going 40 to 45 MPH when a van made a right hand turn in front of me. Her fault, I slammed on my brakes, but it was too late to do any good. My head hit the steering wheel. I am still having problems. I had no warning indicator light before this happened. I contacted NHTSA on 5/19/15 made a complaint. I called Hyundai motor company who finally came and looked at the car before it was taken by the insurance, due to it being totaled. It wouldn't even start. Hyundai totally dismissed it and contradicted themselves in the letter they sent me. They said the car did what it was supposed to do. Really? I now have post concussion syndrome. Ptsd. I replay this over and over in my head. …
Traveling west on adam shepherds pkwy, I had a green light, lady opposite side turned left in front of me, resulted in collision. Her fault. Witnesses said she hesitated but went anyway. She was supposed to yield. I could of been killed! My front dual air bags didn't deploy. I can hardly move my right arm, my back, my neck my chest hurts. I was taken then to norton's emergency room . I can't sit or lay down or stand too long. Can't hold on to anything. Very sore, strained muscles and bruising of muscles.
While traveling 40mph another vehicle crossed into wrong lane, and it hit the Hyundai on driver's rear, after it had fishtailed & hit barrier. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. Driver was treated in emergency room & released.
Driver side and passenger side airbags failed to depoy during a 35mph front end collision. Driver sustained injuries to neck and chest area. Consumer stated that airbag light was functoning properly. Dealer has been contacted.
While traveling on highway at 68mph a ladder fell off of a truck and frontal impact occurred. Neither airbags deployed. Vehicle had to be towed away, not drivable. Dealer contacted and there has been not response to inquiries.
Consumer was driving at approximately 60 MPH, hit another vehicle consumer's vehicle had damage to front left side in front of tire. Airbag did not deploy, causing consumer to have soreness in neck. Seat belts were worn.
While driving, the frontal air bags deployed without warning. When this occurred, the consumer hit the brakes while on a wet surface, lost control, hit the bank and almost over turned.
Air bag light illuminates, indictaing a malfunction within the system. Dealer will not correct the problem because vehicle exceeded the 36,000 warranty period. Please give any further details.
Consumer was involved in a 45-50 MPH frontal collision, totalling the vehicle in which the driver's and/or passenger's air bags did not deploy. Please give any further details.
Consumer was involved in a 30-MPH frontal collision in which driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy, cause unknown. Please give any further details.
Airbag complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Hyundai Elantra, 18% of the model year's 115 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Hyundai Elantra airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1997 Hyundai Elantra, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Hyundai Elantra airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 141,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 14 crashes, 0 fires and 9 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.