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 2001 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Turning onto main street when a large oak tree fell from left side of road, catching lower drivers sidefront fiberglass bumper and tow bar. Making the car stop abruptly. Air bags deployed, passenger side shattered windshield and ripped dash area on passenger side. The bag hit my wife's right arm and shattered all the bones from her elbow to her fingers. We are 74,and 75 yrs of age. As driver my lip was split open. I was able to drive the car to my home 5 blocks away looking through a shattered windshield. But the wife had to spend 5 days in hosp. And two surgeries to put her arm back together. The air bag did all of the bad damage to my vehicle and my wife. All attempts to have legal help has been turned down saying not enough to take to court. Can you help. The air bag almost killed her. They are supposed to help not mame...thankyou
This vehicle is hazardous to be on the road. It has front end steering and suspension problems. It has a terrible vibration from 35 MPH and up. If traveling on the highway the wheel shakes so badly that your hands go numb. I have had the vehicle in for service and repeated time over a two and a half year period, and the dealership has done nothing. I have also spoken with the manufacturers on several occasions, and have done nothing. It has gotten to the point that I had an accident, because of these problems. I now have a permanent injury that I will live with for the rest of my life, and they still do not care. I have 2 small children, and I am afraid every time I leave the house that something will happen with this vehicle, and one of my children get injured. Fortunately, with my accident I was alone. …
Tl*- the contact stated that her 2001 Hyundai Elantra gl, airbag light has been on for the past three years. She stated that she took the vehicle to dealership at that time and they informed her that her vehicle was not apart of any recall, and she needed to have the airbags checked. The contact chose not to have the airbags tested. She stated that the light stayed on and she took the vehicle back to the dealership last year and they informed her that her air bags would not deploy if she crashed, and that she should have the air bags repaired. The contact stated that on 03/12/06 she had she had a crash and the airbags didn't deploy. The contact stated that she was hit from the back by another vehicle that was driving about 7 MPH. The contact stated that the owner of the vehicles insurance company sent her a copy of the recall for her vehicle on air bags. …
My son in law died in a two car crash [ frontal], his airbags did not deploy. Both vehicles were going about 50 MPH. Three people in other vehicle survived, their airbags did deploy. The seat belt was worn. The consumer crossed over a lane and possibly fell asleep, and hit a van. The driver of the vehicle May have fallen asleep at the wheel and drove into oncoming traffic. The posted speed was 55 MPH. The drive hit the front end of a full size Chevrolet van at an estimated speed of 50 MPH. This was assumed because just prior to the crash the posted speed was 25 MPH. The driver was most likely belted. According to the complainant, the coroner stated the driver sustained a lacerated aorta and a snapped neck. Photos of the vehicle submitted to odi show the damage to the front end of the driver's side offset crash. Damage to the steering wheel and the frontal airbags did not deploy. …
Tl contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. The contact was involved in a crash on August 22, 2002 and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact was struck by another vehicle and the entire driver's side of her vehicle was crushed. The contact was injured on the left side of her body. Her head struck the window and the steering wheel. She also dislocated her jaw and had to endure therapy to regain her speech. The contact had surgery on her leg because the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was repaired with $7,000 worth of damages. The contact has pictures and a police report was filed. The other occupant in the contact's vehicle was also injured, although both were wearing their seat belts. The air bags had not been serviced prior to the crash. The contact recently received a recall notice, which advised her to report the crash. The failure mileage was 9,000.
We purchased a 2001 Hyundai Elantra gt in sept. 01. Since that time, we've had problems with the air bag sensor twice. Both times it was fixed by the dealer. In our accident, a 35mph front end collision, our air bags did not deploy. We have registered a complaint with Hyundai, who says it will take approx. 30 days to decide whether or not they deem an investigation necessary. The dealership will not deal with us, they say we need to go to Hyundai. In the meantime, we are left with the choice of repairing our vehicle and having Hyundai claim they cannot make a determination of faulty merchandise because our vehicle was fixed, or paying storage fees at the body shop and renting a car until Hyundai decides. And, if Hyundai decides they will not do an investigation, there isn't even an appeal process.
I was involved in a head on collision in my 2001 Hyundai Elantra, with a Jeep wrangler, the front end of my car was badly damaged (have pictures), the damage was bad enough to for the insurance company to total my car. Yet! Neither one of my front air bags deployed in the crash. Everyone who has seen my crashed Elantra could not believe the air bags never deployed! Luckily, I was not seriously injured, so that does say something for the Elantra, but I still feel the air bags should have deployed. I'm just trying to prevent someone from getting really hurt in a crash, because of this possible defect. Will be glad to provide more details if necessary!
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While driving at 30 MPH, a vehicle abruptly moved in front of the contact. The contact depressed the brake pedal but crashed into the preceding vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed. The air bags did not deploy and the contact sustained injuries to her chest. The passenger sustained hip injuries. The vehicle was towed from the scene. The dealer advised all recall repairs related to the air bag were previously performed on the vehicle and there was nothing wrong with the air bags (NHTSA campaign id numbers: 08V532000: air bags: frontal: sensor/control module and 00V332000: air bags: side/window). Updated evoq 10/20/10
Tl contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal extended to the floor when it was depressed. The brakes were pumped several times before the vehicle came to a complete stop. A small amount of smoke appeared underneath the hood. The air bag and engine warning lights illuminated intermittently on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact exerted more effort to turn the steering wheel as if there were no power steering. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they replaced the power steering hose. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 98,000.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 50 MPH, the contact was forced off the road and crashed into a steel pipe. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts failed to properly restrain. The driver sustained crack ribs and bruises to the chest. As of October 1, 2007, the dealer and manufacturer had not inspected the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 62,000. State of michigan traffic report and photos of the defect. Updated 10/22/07
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Hyundai is recalling certain my 2001 elantra vehicles. If a liquid is spilled in the area of the cupholder on the center console, it May seep through the console opening for the parking brake lever and then drip onto the air bag control module electrical connector.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover over the vehicle's air bag control module connector. The recall owner notification began on November 30, 2008, and letters will be sent out in six mailings.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Hyundai is recalling certain my 2001-2002 elantra vehicles. Movement of the side impact air bag wiring harness mounted under each front seat, possibly caused by contact from materials placed under the seat, May result in an electrical resistance that would cause supplemental restraint system (SRS) warning light illumination.
Remedy: Dealers will install new side impact air bag wiring harness connector clips and revised side impact air bag wiring harness attachments under the driver's and front passenger's seats.
Air bags › Side/window
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The supplemental restraint system side air bag satellite sensors installed were improperly manufactured, causing the air bag warning light to illuminate and the side air bags to not deploy as intended in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the two satellite sensors.
NHTSA investigations
Air bag light illumination
In certain model year (my) 2001 and 2002 vehicles, the air bag system is susceptible to air bag light illumination and air bag non-deployment or inadvertent deployment from liquid contamination of the air bag control module.the control module is located beneath and near center console cup holders.odi is also aware of complaints regarding air bag light illumination due to loss of proper air bag electrical integrity…
Air bag light illumination
Hyundai is conducting two safety recalls to correct two safety defects described below.under safety recall 08v-532, Hyundai will install a vinyl protective shield/cover to prevent short circuits in the air bag control module cause by spills of liquids that seep into the module connector.
Airbag complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2001 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 118 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Hyundai Elantra, 37% of the model year's 315 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (39 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Hyundai Elantra airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 08V-532 (sensor/control module-inactive, Oct 14, 2008); NHTSA recall 08V-533 (sensor/control module-inactive, Oct 14, 2008); NHTSA recall 00V-332 (side/window, Oct 17, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Hyundai Elantra airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 50 crashes, 1 fire and 48 injuries and 1 death 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.