2012 Hyundai Elantra Airbags Problems

I was going down the bridge on settlers landing road the yellow school bus was in the right turning lane with right turning signal on .as I approached the light in the middle straight lane to keep toward the landing (hotel) on settlers landing Hampton va the bus some what merged back towards the middle lane and that when the bus crashed into the car it went under the bus it’s totaled the windshield and my sunroof collided the airbags did not deploy something needs to be done about that that was dangerous.I got glass in my face my right hand had glass my head hit the steering wheel my body jerked. I hit my legs my whole body is hurting and very sore all over I can’t hardly walk my hand is swollen. Liability suit of airbag default needs to happen

NHTSA ID

11743488

Incident

Jun 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. Neither an independent mechanic nor a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 101,000.

NHTSA ID

11728339

Incident

Mar 17, 2026

Mileage

101,000 mi

Car accident. My car was T-boned on the passenger side, the side airbag did deploy. The impact from the accident pushed my car into on coming traffic and I hit 2 other cars. One in the front grill and the other in the left rear quarter panel. The front airbag did not deploy and my chest hit the steering wheel. My car was totaled and I was taken to the hospital and had 5 CT scans. The one for my chest showed a contusion which I continue to have pain from. I also had neck sprain or strain and had physical therapy to assist with the pain. When I was released from the hospital ER I was taken to the lot where my car was towed to get my belongings and took photos of my car. The photos show where they cut the side airbag out and the broken window. You can also see the front airbag did not deploy. I believe the insurance adjuster inspected my car after it was towed. I received reimbursement from the insurance company. There were no warning lamps or messages regarding the airbags prior to the accident.

NHTSA ID

11693837

Incident

Mar 25, 2025

I have constantly had problems with the airbag light going on & off for simply no reason driving the road. Also the windshield sensor light keeps going off making it unsafe to drive at night. I am am a senior citizen & I have to work and I keep going back & forth with my mechanic paying extensive checks on top of getting the problem resolved. I don't have money like that. I live along surviving off of one income.

NHTSA ID

11690526

Incident

Dec 5, 1960

Seatbelt failed passenger was thrown forward hitting windshield afterwards airbag deployed throwing passenger upwards hitting roof of vehicle Issue: Delayed airbag deployment Issue: Seatbelt failure

NHTSA ID

11679620

Incident

Sep 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the ABS and air bag warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that an unknown local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11667394

Incident

Jun 17, 2025

Mileage

80,000 mi

Good day i hope this finds you well. While I'm driving my air bag light comes on and off around certain corners and such..I have been told it means my air bag won't work if I'm in an accident. It definitely freaks me out knowing I could or couldn't be ok in an accident. I'm not sure what to do about this..I bought my hyundai elantra from a personal sale so there probably isn't anything I can do but I just thought someone should know. I am grateful for your time..hope you have a great day

NHTSA ID

11522723

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

The airbag light came on and stays on no matter what. I have read this happens a lot with Hyundai Elantra’s made during this time frame. This is a major safety issue if the airbags are not functioning properly.

NHTSA ID

11501734

Incident

Sep 1, 2022

A 2015 ford car hit me and the passenger airbags deployed, but did not inflate due to a hole in the airbag at the seam

NHTSA ID

11484489

Incident

Sep 7, 2022

My steering column makes a clicking noise and the cruise control comes on when it wants to also the horn won't work on the steering wheel, and I was in an accident where I got hit in the front and the airbag didn't even deploy

NHTSA ID

11481374

Incident

Jul 7, 2022

Airbag light came on for no reason. Took the car to the dealership. Diagnostics test revealed faulty airbag control module. Dealership recommended replacement of the airbag control module. The cost of replacement is $1,042. Hyundai warranty does not cover the airbag control module after 5 years / 60,000 miles. I am concerned about this as this is the basic safety feature of the car and the cost of replacing the unit is prohibitive. I'm also concerned about the fact that the essential feature such as airbag control unit can fail for no apparent reason.

NHTSA ID

11461370

Incident

Mar 4, 2022

Airbag light stays on all the time. Many people online are complaining about the same problem. This is a major safety issue and there should definitely be a recall on these airbags.

NHTSA ID

11460947

Incident

Apr 15, 2022

Airbag light on on. DTC code B1346 , Driver airbag resistance too high ( 1st stage)

NHTSA ID

11443529

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

A pickup pulled in front of me causing my car to impact it. Despite significant frontal damage to my car the steering wheel airbag did not deploy.

NHTSA ID

11431883

Incident

Sep 3, 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the air bag warning light was illuminated and turned off after 6 seconds. The contact also stated that the tire pressure system warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. The contact stated on August 26, 2021, while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11430584

Incident

Aug 23, 2021

As with many people have reported my 2012 airbag light has come on. It appears to be the clock spring as other's have mentioned and airbag won't deploy unless fixed.

NHTSA ID

11428719

Incident

Aug 11, 2021

We purchased the four (4) weeks ago. On July 25, 2021 about 5:53 P.M. My step daughter was driving about 10 miles per hour making a left turn and the driver and passenger airbags deployed without a collision or impact of any kind. I contacted Hillsborough County Sheriff and we after inspection, the airbags deployed and the seat belts were locked. Therefore, we had to park the car at the Hillsborough Sheriff Office, located at 7202 Gunn Hwy, Tampa, FL 33625, Phone number (813) 247-0330. As per the officer advise we could not drive the car. The dealer has been notified of the incident. We can be reached at [XXX] [XXX]

NHTSA ID

11426398

Incident

Jul 25, 2021

For no reason, the driver-side airbag light has come on (and stays on) in our 2-door 2012 Hyundai Elantra. It puts our daughter and son at risk, as the two drivers of the car, because the airbag may be defective and not deploy in the event of an accident. That is unacceptable. This is an auto-maker safety issue, and the consumer should NOT be responsible for having to get this repaired on their dime. Yet everything I read online is other Hyundai drivers have gotten this and the dealers are gouging them on the repairs. We will take it into the dealer, but in no way, shape or form should we have to pay for this repair! Please pay attention - many Hyundai drivers are reporting this same issue online, even if they are not reporting it directly to you at NHTSA!

NHTSA ID

11420568

Incident

Jun 7, 2021

AFTER I TURN MY CAR ON, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF EXCEPT FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT. IT CONTINUOUSLY STAYS ON WHETHER THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR IN ANY FORM OF MOTION. OCCASIONALLY, IT WILL GO OFF FOR A SECOND OR TWO WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED BUT IT ALWAYS COMES BACK ON AND REMAINS LIT.

NHTSA ID

11404103

Incident

Dec 1, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT WARNING STAYING ON

NHTSA ID

11398845

Incident

Feb 23, 2021

Mileage

970,200 mi

1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR BRAKES MESSED UP THEN RODORS THEN BEARINGS. AIRBAG AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEEL LIGHT. I PUT OVER 1000 AND $200 IN THIS CAR WITHIN FOUR MONTHS

NHTSA ID

11397115

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

184,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME THAT SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE SEAT OR A PERSON. IT COMES ON AND OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING OR SITTING AT THE LIGHT. MOST OF THE TIME, IT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN I FIRST START THE VEHICLE. IT WAS REPAIRED ONCE SEVERAL YEARS AND THAT WAS $350.00. THAT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME. I THINK IT IS A MFG DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

11396523

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

2 mi

I LIVE IN MISSOURI WHERE THEY STILL HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTIONS TO RENEW TAGS FOR LEGALLY DRIVING. GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND STARTED IT I THEN TRY TO USE THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS TO CHANGE RADIO STATION WOULD NOT WORK THEN TRIED THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A PHONE CALL AND IT WOULDN'T WORK THEN I TRIED THE HORN AND IT WOULD NOT WORK. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM AND WHAT I FOUND IS THAT IT'S WHATS CALLED THE AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING SO THERE FOR THE AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT I HAVE RESEARCHED THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE AND WITH THIS ISSUE IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION IN MY STATE

NHTSA ID

11396101

Incident

Sep 15, 2020

Mileage

145,000 mi

WHEN I TURNED ON MY CAR ON IN SEP. 19 2018, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED AND STAYED LIT. NOW, I HAVE THE ISSUE OF MY AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY WHEN IN A ACCIDENT. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT EVER, AND NOW I HAVE THIS PROBLEM THAT IT CAN BE ONE OF TWO THINGS. THE COCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE RESET OR A COMPUTER BOARD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT AND REPROGRAMMED. ALSO, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IS NOT SAFETY CONCERN TO NEITHER THE HYUNDAI MANUFACTURE OR NHTSA. IN REGARDS TO THAT, WHEN I HAD A 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT IT HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD THAT TURNED ON. ALSO, WHEN TOOK MY ACCENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE COST RELATED TO THAT WAS $2,800 TO FIX THE ISSUE. I FEEL THAT IF IT HAPPENED TO MORE THEN ONE HYUNDAI CAR MODEL THE ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESS AND FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11390623

Incident

Sep 19, 2018

Mileage

45,000 mi

ONE DAY I NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND IT WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE. ONE ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A MINOR ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION (BECAUSE MY FLAT TIRE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR YEARS AND I NEVER KNOW WHEN I REALLY HAVE A FLAT), SO I IGNORED IT UNTIL I WENT TO USE MY HORN TO ALERT AN APPROACHING VEHICLE OF MY PRESENCE, AND IT DIDN'T WORK. IT HASN'T WORKED PROPERLY SINCE. IF I USE MY KEYS TO LOCK THE DOOR IT WILL BEEP, BUT IF I ATTEMPT TO USE THE HORN ITSELF I GET NOTHING.

NHTSA ID

11389466

Incident

May 1, 2020