1999 Hyundai Elantra Airbags Problems

I HAVE A 99 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 4 DOOR. LAST WEEK THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. MORE SPECIFICALLY, I WAS AT THE TIME IN THE HARDEE'S DRIVE THRU WHEN THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO ROLL OUT OF THE DRIVE THRU AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW MECHANICS WHO SAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MELTED ALL OF THE STEERING COLUMN, DASH, CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE HEAT, AND OTHER FIRE DAMAGE. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND UNDRIVEABLE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 KIDS AND THIS WAS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. ALSO ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD CONTACTED HYUNDAI AFTERWARDS, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS FINE AND NOT TO WORRY. I HAVE NO WAY TO SCAN MY DOCUMENTS, BUT I HAVE A POLICE REPORT AS WELL AS SEVERAL EMAILS FROM HYUNDAI FROM LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID

10913774

Incident

Sep 27, 2016

12/2/2014 MULTI-CAR/SEMI ACCIDENT. FRONT END COLLISION WITH REAR END DAMAGE. TOTAL LOSS, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. 465 S @ MM 41 NEAR PENDLETON PIKE EXIT. AT FAULT DRIVER SPUN ON ICE, CAME INTO MY LANE THAT I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH IN SO SHE WAS TRAVELING NORTH. HIT DRIVERS SIDE TO DRIVERS SIDE, SEMI TRAILER RAN OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ID

10787558

Incident

Dec 2, 2014

Mileage

99,000 mi

THE "AIR BAG" AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. BOTH DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK, BOTH MUST BE TAPED UP. CAR HAS HAD A "ELECTRIAL BURNING" SMELL OFF AND ON FOR A YEAR. THE HEADLIGHTS GOES BRIGHT WHILE DRIVING. GETTING LESS THAN 20 MPG GAS. BATTERIES FREQUENTLY GOES DEAD.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096495

Incident

Aug 1, 2002

Mileage

62,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING 35-40 MPH THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE SHOULDER BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED FROM THE ACCIDENT. THE OWNERS ARE AWARE OF (4) SIMILAR CASES OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT FAILURE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015276

Incident

Apr 25, 2001

IN A FRONTAL IMPACT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8019135

Incident

Sep 16, 2002

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH AIR BAG COVER POPPED OFF, BUT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *YD

NHTSA ID

8005568

Incident

Feb 25, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMERS VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER HIT HIS HEAD ON WINDSHIELD, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 5500.00. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

8001949

Incident

Dec 9, 2001

VEHICLE WAS GOING 60MPH ON EXPRESS WAY WHEN CONSUMERS VEHICLE REARENDED A STALLED VEHICLE, DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, PASSENGER WAS INJURED, CONSUMER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING MANUFACTURER. *AK *YD

NHTSA ID

897122

Incident

Sep 15, 2001

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION (I HIT THE BACK BUMPER OF A PICKUP TRUCK). ALTHOUGH NO DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE TRUCK, MY CAR ENDED UP WITH ALMOST $5,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. NEITHER MY AIR BAGS NOR SHOULDER RESTRAINTS WORKED. I ENDED UP HITTING MY FOREHEAD ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSING SOME MODERATE TO SEVERE NECK TRAUMA. I REPORTED THE FAILURE TO HYUNDAI AND SEEM TO BE GETTING NO HELP. THEY INSIST THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I STILL CAN SIT IN MY CAR AND MOVE MY CHEST FORWARD AGAINST THE SHOULDER RESTRAINTS AS FAST AS I CAN AND NEVER HAVE THE EVEN SLOW ME DOWN. HOWEVER, IF I USE MY HAND TO MOVE THE STRAPS FORWARD, THEY LOCK UP IMMEDIATELY AS THEY SHOULD. I SPOKE AGAIN TO HYUNDAI (1-800-633-5151 FILE #[XXX]) AND THEY INSIST THAT IT IS NORMAL TO MOVE FORWARD LIKE MY RESTRAINTS DO. ALL I KNOW IS THAT MY SHOULDER RESTRAINTS DO NOTAND DID NOT MOVE FORWARD IN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE DRIVEN IN. SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER AS I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT HAS PROVEN TO ME TO BE UNSAFE. I LOOK FORWARD TO ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER. SINCERELY, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR

NHTSA ID

745782

Incident

Apr 20, 2001

CONSUMER WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER CAR AT 15MPH AND BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

881294

Incident

Feb 21, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

737235

Incident

Nov 29, 2000

HEAD-ON COLLISION,SPEED 35 MPH, BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WOULD NOT SPEAK TO CONSUMER REGARDING AIRBAGS. HYUNDAI COMPANY WILL NOT TALK TO CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID

875751

Incident

Aug 5, 2000

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MAJOR AND MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

871059

Incident

Sep 14, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND AIR BAGS DID NOTDEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID

868316

Incident

Jul 27, 2000

IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT ABOUT 40 MPH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

866780

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A TOLL STOP, PROCEEDED TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER CAR WHICH PULLED IN FRONT. CONSUMER HAD PUT ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER, CONSUMER HIT SIDE RAILING AT ABOUT 40, AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER FELT AS THOUGH AIRBAGS WERE TOO FORCEFUL, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF RIGHT EYE BUCAUSE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

856142

Incident

Oct 20, 1999

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED PARTIALLY AND DID NOT PROTECT THE DRIVER. PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE PASSENGER IN THIS CRASH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

854249

Incident

Nov 6, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 30MPH THERE WAS A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER BROKE WINDSHIELD WITH HER FOREHEAD, AND THEN HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH FOREHEAD. DRIVER WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL WITH ONLY MINOR CONCUSSION/BRUISES AND CUTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

848824

Incident

Sep 27, 1999

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

850790

Incident

Oct 8, 1999

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING AT 55 MPH, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. CONSUME R HIRED AN APPRAISER WHO SAID THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAV E DEPLOYED, BUT THE HYUNDAI CLAIMED THART AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ID

842755

Incident

Apr 2, 1999