2016 Hyundai Elantra Airbags Problems

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic, who informed the contact of a Manufacturer's Extended Warranty Coverage for the failure and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under the extended warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 53,600.

NHTSA ID

11712649

Incident

Jan 12, 2026

Mileage

53,600 mi

On [XXX] I was struck by a OVI driver at 50mph the side airbags deployed however the front airbag never deployed. The vehicle was totaled out my insurance company. The vehicle had no record or open recalls for the airbag and had been given a multiple point inspection in November 2024 with no issues noted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11703406

Incident

Sep 23, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her daughter attempted to adjust the front driver's side seat while the vehicle was turned off, the front Driver-side air bag had independently deployed. No warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact's daughter's left arm was injured on impact with the air bag. Medical attention was sought, and further medical diagnosis will be scheduled. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11700504

Incident

Nov 20, 2025

Mileage

160,000 mi

No incident as of yet, however there are multiple Hyundai vehicle owners whose air and lights have come on after having the vehicle for at least 5 years. Other manufacturers have issued recall notices on this matter, but not Hyundai.

NHTSA ID

11693779

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

Clockspring Failure. 2016 hyundai elantra, 123k miles. Airbag light on, horn does not function. Likely unavailable for inspection due to being replaced soon. Inability to use horn to alert reckless drivers swerving into my lane. Airbag will not deploy if needed in an accident. The dealership seemed aware that the clocksprings go out in Hyundai's and is confident this is the issue. Warning lamp prior/at the same time as the horn stopped working.

NHTSA ID

11549425

Incident

Oct 8, 2023

My daughter and friend were in an accident, traveling 50 miles an hour and hit the center barrier on the highway. The air bags didn’t employ. The Minnesota Department of Transportation came up on the accident right away and got them safely off the highway so they wouldn’t get hit by other cars. They have provided us with the video of the accident. My daughter and friend had no protection due to air bags not deploying. She has been seen by a doctor for whip lash, neck and headache pains as symptoms. As well as being traumatized by the incident me lack of protection. We have sent the pictures and video to the insurance and they are reviewing to determine if the vehicle can be repaired of totaled. Although, question as to whether they would fix it with what appears to be defective air bags. We will not put her back on the vehicle if repaired without some air bag inspection. Traffic control told her not to call police at accident site due to danger of being on the highway. We did extensive research on the car before buying and we don’t show any recalls as of today. We are very lucky they weren’t seriously injured and don’t want this to happen to anyone else.

NHTSA ID

11458363

Incident

Mar 22, 2022

The airbags did not deploy when the other driver did not comply with the stop sign, which led to him getting off the road in front of me and destroying the entire front of the car, knowing that the airbags did not deploy now. I suffer from a neck injury

NHTSA ID

11437959

Incident

Oct 10, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed him that the air bags were defective. The mechanic then referred him to a dealer for assistance and informed him that there might be a recall on the vehicle for the air bags. The contact's wife called the dealer and the manufacturer and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11433967

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

Mileage

90,000 mi

DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN CAR WAS HIT AT SPEED (ON THE PASSENGER SIDE) IN INTERSECTION BY ANOTHER VEHICLE RUNNING A RED LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11385651

Incident

Dec 4, 2020

Mileage

55,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL AT A STOP SIGN AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHEN A TRUCK CRASHED INTO HER FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES ON HER LEFT ARM AND HAD BACK PAIN. THE CONTACT STATED AN AMBULANCE TRANSFERRED HER TO A HOSPITAL TO SEEK MEDICATION ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11354402

Incident

Jun 3, 2020

AIRBAG IN DRIVER SEAT IS BULGING INSIDE THE SEAT MAKING THE SEAT UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNSAFE. IT JUST HAPPENED FROM USE OF THE CAR SITTING IN THE DRIVERS SEAT.

NHTSA ID

11323016

Incident

Apr 15, 2020

Mileage

72,000 mi

CAR PURCHASE BRAND NEW FROM DOTHAN HYUNDAI. NOTICED REDLIGHT LOOKED LIKE BABY IN A SEATBELTS. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND TOLD IT WAS NOTHING. HD CAR SERVICES AT HYUNDAI IN ALBANY GA AND TOLD IT WAS NOTHING.. HAD LIGHT LOOKED AT BY ANOTHER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AIR BAG NOT FUNCTIONING AND IF I WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT MY AIR BAG WOULD NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

11310664

Incident

Oct 12, 2015

THE RED LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE PURCHASE AND HYUDAI SERVICE HAS BEEN SAYING IT IS NOTHING BRUSHING IT OFF. I

NHTSA ID

11310662

Incident

Oct 12, 2015

NOTHING SO FAR. JOE 12/13/2019

NHTSA ID

11288837

Incident

Dec 13, 2019

2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER STATES THAT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAGS AND THE SEATBELT MAY NOT HAVE OPERATED AS DESIGNED A CRASH. *JS

NHTSA ID

11258133

Incident

Aug 27, 2018

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED ON DASH

NHTSA ID

11246519

Incident

Aug 24, 2019

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER ROOMMATE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CURB AND INTO A POLE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AT THE CRASH BUT NO REPORT WAS MADE. THE OTHER DRIVER HAD INJURY TO HER HEAD. THE POLICE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A TOW AWAY LOT AT HELMS & HILL TOWING (649 S MAPLE AVE, MONTEBELLO, CA 90640 (323) 889-4900). THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE DAMAGES WERE UNKNOWN AT MOMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *DSY *JS *TR 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID

11221017

Incident

Jun 16, 2019

ON MARCH 19, 2019, MY 16 ELANTRA GT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A MAJOR ROAD IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE FULL FRONT END WAS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS NOT A FUTURE PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI AIR BAGS.

NHTSA ID

11191239

Incident

Mar 19, 2019

Mileage

15 mi

ANOTHER CAR HIT MY CAR THE IMPACT CAUSED ME TO HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS OVER $10,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. I WAS PULLING OUT OF WALMART PARKING LOT ENTERING INTO THE LANE

NHTSA ID

11173542

Incident

Nov 21, 2017

Mileage

32,000 mi

ROUTE 120 ST MARYS PA 15857 ABOUT 7:15AM TRAVELING AT 45MPH HIT GUARD RAILS HEAD ON PUSHED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR IN DID OVER $8100.00 DAMAGE. THE IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH IT PUSHED THE ENGINE BACK HAD MY SEAT BELT ON WAS UNINJURED OTHER THAN SPRAINS AND STRAINS AND ABRASIONS TO MY FACE I HIT MY HEAD OFF OF I DON'T KNOW WHAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HYUNDAI TOLD ME THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE BUT WOULD TELL ME IF THEY FIND ANYTHING OR NOT. I ASKED SPECIFICALLY FOR A REPORT SO I WOULD KNOW IF MY AIR BAGS FAILED OR DID NOT AND THEY TOLD ME ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! DO I HAVE A RECOURSE TO GET THIS FROM THEM OR CAN YOU DEMAND IT FROM THEM? I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH FAULTY AIR BAGS. THANK YOU (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11157299

Incident

Nov 16, 2018

Mileage

16,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT FROM VAN HORN HYUNDAI IN SHEBOYGAN WI ON 8/18/17. IT WAS SOLD AS CERTIFIED PRE OWNED - NO ACCIDENTS. THE AUTO CHECK REPORT THEY PROVIDED SHOWED A CLEAN HISTORY. I BEGAN EXPERIENCING WHAT SEEMED TO BE SUSPENSION ISSUES- CAR WOULD SKIP SIDEWAYS ON BUMPS AND HAD THE FEELING THAT IT WANTED TO FISHTAIL. I ORDERED A CARFAX REPORT AND IT SHOWED THE VEHICLE WAS IN 2 ACCIDENTS, AND AFTER MORE DIGGING, I FOUND IT WAS SOLD BY INSURANCE AUTO AUCTIONS TO JOE VAN HORN CHEVROLET IN PLYMOUTH WI. WHEN I PRESENTED THE DEALERSHIP WITH WHAT I HAD DISCOVERED, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A MISTAKE AND THAT THEY HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED BY ONE OF THEIR OTHER DEALERSHIPS. THEY DID, HOWEVER, SHOW ME THE VEHICLE CHECK LIST FROM JOE VAN HORN WHICH SHOWS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING FRAME REPAIRS AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THEY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK FROM ME FOR WHAT I PAID AND I GOT A DIFFERENT VEHICLE THAT ACTUALLY DID CHECK OUT. THIS WAS A CLEAR CASE OF FRAUD BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY KNEW THEY WERE FOUND OUT. I AM HAPPY THAT THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY GRIEF ABOUT RETURNING THE VEHICLE, MOST DEFINITELY TO AVOID A LAWSUIT! HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS NOW LISTED FOR SALE AGAIN 2 DAYS AFTER I RETURNED IT WITH NO DISCLOSURE IN THE LISTING AS TO IT'S HISTORY. I BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PREVENT IT FROM EVER BEING PROPERLY ALIGNED TO DRIVE SAFELY.

NHTSA ID

11055846

Incident

Dec 18, 2017

Mileage

27,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS AND SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER THEY WERE LATE AND DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE DRIVER'S HEAD HAD HIT THE WINDOW. THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TBONED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR BY A TRUCK GOING OVER 20MPH. THE DRIVER HEAD HIT WINDOW AND SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, NO SEATBELT DEPLOYMENT, THE CAR SPUN OUT AND UP ONTO MEDIAN AT WHICH POINT SEAT SEATBELT ENGAGED AND CAR HIT TREE HEAD ON. NO FRONTAL AIRBAGS EVER DEPLOYED. CAR HAD A 2-4" INVERSION. DRIVER HAD 7MIN LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND SUFFERED CLOSED HEAD INJURY.

NHTSA ID

11020236

Incident

Jun 5, 2017

Mileage

35,000 mi

2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH INVOLVED IN INJURY ACCIDENT 07/18/2015 WITH FAILURE OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CURTAIN DEPLOYING. VEHICLE'S OWNER WAS MAKING LEFT TURN WHEN STRUCK IN THE CENTER PILLAR DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 M.P.H. CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE PUSH SIDEWAYS APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET. THE DRIVER HAD TO EXIT VEHICLE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO DOORS AND SUB FRAME. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO BOTH FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS AS WELL AS DOOR SUB FRAME REQUIRING CUTTING AND RE-WELDING IN NEW DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SUB FRAME, REPLACEMENT OF DOOR HINGES AND BOTH FRONT AND READ DOORS DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CURTAIN DID NOT DEPLOY AND COMPLAINT WAS FILED DIRECTLY TO HYUNDAI AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A HYUNDAI ENGINEER AND WAS NOT TOUCHED BY THE BODY SHOP AS PER HYUNDAI'S INSTRUCTIONS. HYUNDAI ENGINEER TOOK MEASUREMENTS, PHOTOS AND DOWNLOADED BLACK BOX DATA BUT THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED TO VEHICLE OWNER. HYUNDAI HAS REFUSED TO TALK TO VEHICLE OWNER AND PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION AS TO RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION, TO HONOR WARRANTY REPAIRS OR PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AS OF 07/05/2017 .

NHTSA ID

11003115

Incident

Jul 18, 2015

Mileage

500 mi

ON 10/15/16 I WAS IN A MULTI IMPACT ACCIDENT. AFTER HITTING A CURB, SMALL TREE, TOOK A STOP SIGN OUT, MY CAR LANDED INTO A TREE IN BETWEEN TWO 10 IN. BUSHES. AS THE CAR SEEMED TO SETTLE I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED A CHEMICAL ODOR. I THEN SAW A SMALL WHITE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS PAPER APPEAR ON THE INNER STEERING WHEEL, SUDDENLY BLOOD WAS POURING DOWN MY FACE WHERE I COULD BARELY SEE. I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THE SMELL. IT DID NOT SMELL LIKE GAS BUT MORE LIKE SULFUR. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO UCI TRAUMA CENTER WHERE I STAYED FOR FOUR DAYS. MY CAR HAD 6 AIRBAGS AND ALL FAILED EXCEPT FOR THE ONE I SAW WHEN MY CAR SETTLED. SINCE I BOUGHT THE ELANTRA I REPORTED TO HYUNDAI THAT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WHEN I WOULD TURN LEFT THE CAR WOULD STOP, THEN ACCELERATE FULL SPEED. I HAVE THE WORK ORDER. THIS ACCELERATION WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. I HAVE SEVERAL WITNESSES WHO HAVE BEEN WITH ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT I RESTART IT, IT JUST STOPS THEN ACCELERATES. IT HAS DONE THIS THREE OR FOUR TIME A MONTH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10946816

Incident

Oct 15, 2016

Mileage

11,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EMITTED FIRE DURING THE DEPLOYMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,999.

NHTSA ID

10906014

Incident

Sep 11, 2016

Mileage

9,999 mi