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 2004 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Vehicle 2004 Hyundai involved in accident on the street, this vehicle owner was belted when the accident occurred, the airbags deployed, this vehicle owner sustained severe injuries including fractured vertebrate of lumbar 1 and 2 and fractured ribs, note no other vehicle was involved, this vehicle owner side swiped a tree and sustained minimal damage to the front end, this vehicle owner was treated at the scene, transported to the emergency room was hospitalized for 7 days; currently, receiving out patient care with scheduled medical appointments, this vehicle owner is not cleared to return to work at this time, and for at least 9 weeks. The faulty airbags failed to keep this driver safe, and severely injured him. He suffered 2 broken back bones, a broken rib, scrapes and bruises. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Elantra. While driving at approximately 40 MPH during inclement weather, the vehicle skidded and crashed into a concrete barrier. The air bag warning light illuminated, but the air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The contact did not disclose if a police report was filed or not. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000. The VIN was unavailable.
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.
The vehicle was impacted on the driver's door and "b" pillar sufficiently to shatter the window, pop open the door and bend the b pillar. The door and b pillar impacted the driver but none of the air bags deployed......updated 05-27-15
I was taking my dad to church on Sunday he sat on seat. I notice passenger airbag off indicator did not go off . The car was driven in city and on highway thank god air bags were not needed air bag light came on dash later that day . I called broadway Hyundai on Monday they said if air bag light on dash was on airbags would not deploy. I took car in to broadway they told me airbag sensor on passenger seat was severed and part would be 1600.00 to repair. Later they called back and said they could but used seat in for 297.32. I didn't like that because same thing could happen again, but could nor afford 1600.00 for ome part. I call Hyundai and ask that I should be compensated for danger my dad and myself were put in and reinvested repair. This is poor workmanship having sharp metal rails and clips over plastic wire membrane. …
SRS (airbag) service reminder indicator came on. I went to an auto parts store and they ran an obdii report on a Bosch scanner. A b1448 oc (occupant classification) - passenger sensor mat defect came back. This is the same problem that the 2006-2008 Hyundai sonatas have a recall on. The front passenger seat sensor, to detect a child seat or adult in the seat, May recognize a small adult as a child seat. If this happens and the front passenger air bag is deactivated, the risk of injury in a crash May be increased. I went to Hyundai motor America headquarters in fountain valley, california at 3:45 on January 17, 2019 and left my contact information on a card at the front desk regarding this problem. I was told that I would be contacted but to date have had no reply from hma. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Elantra. While making a left turn out of a parking space at 5 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The driver was taken to the hospital and sustained minor injuries to the head and eyes. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer stated that the air bag sensor performed in the manner it was designed; therefore, they were not liable for repairs. The dealer was not notified. The current and failure mileages were 44,000. Updated 12/30/08. Hyundai stated the air bag performed as designed. They stated it appeared that the angular collision was hit solely by the drivers door, without and deformation of the side structure of the vehicle. …
I have contacted customer care and was told it's standard to remove a front seat and give the car back until they get parts for the recall I feel this could cause air bag systems not to be active and also without the seat the cars ability to hold up in a crash is reduced due to missing components that provide some structural support all I have requested was a rental car for the time it takes to perform my recall as I do not feel safe driving a car without a front seat I have had the dealer decline my request and said if I want it done the seat will be removed and the car given back to me is this a safe practice for a dealer to remove a seat that has one of the side air bags in it and advise the owner to drive the car as normal? …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 70 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle due to high winds. She merged into the left lane of traffic and the vehicle was struck three times on both sides. The driver's side frontal air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to her neck, back, and shoulder. The florida highway patrol filed report number 07848144. The insurance company stated that the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer took a report and stated that an investigator would go to the location where the vehicle was towed. However, the manufacturer is currently requesting that she send the proof of purchase, insurance coverage, and pictures. The current and failure mileages were 63,000.
My daughter was on the freeway in her 2004 Hyundai Elantra. Her car pulled to the left as she overcorrected, the cart went across the freeway, spun out, up the embankment, landed on the (driver's) side and slid about 50-100 feet before it landed back upright. None of the air bags deployed. The side air bags should of deployed from the impact of the car landing on the side. Her car has been declared a "total loss". After searching the internet, I found that there were recalls for the 2004 Elantra "defective air bags". We were never notified of this recall. My daughter sustained head, neck, and dual shoulder injuries. Thank god she is alive but what about those that have not survived?
Related recalls
Air bags
Certain vehicles equipped with an advanced air bag system. The occupant classification system (ocs) installed in the right front seat of the vehicle May misclassify a child restraint seat (crs) as an adult. This May occur if the crs is installed after an adult has been seated in the right front seat.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's ocs electronic control unit (ECU) to remove the feature that May cause the crs to be recognized as an adult. The recall began on November 15, 2005.
Air bags
Certain vehicles equipped with an advanced air bag system. The occupant classification system (ocs) installed in the right front seat of the vehicle May misclassify a child restraint seat (crs) as an adult. This May occur if the crs is installed after an adult has been seated in the right front seat.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's ocs electronic control unit (ECU) to remove the feature that May cause the crs to be recognized as an adult. The recall began on October 31, 2005.
Air bags
On 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 will not deploy if a crash occurs.
Remedy: The occupant classification sensor will be reprogrammed.
Airbag complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 114 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Hyundai Elantra, 63% of the model year's 182 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (34 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Hyundai Elantra airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-479 (air bags, Oct 17, 2005); NHTSA recall 05V-395 (air bags, Sep 12, 2005); NHTSA recall 03V-322 (air bags, Aug 26, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Hyundai Elantra airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 17,000 miles, and 52% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 22 crashes, 0 fires and 22 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.