VehicleVerdict

1997 Hyundai Elantra airbags problems

The 1997 Hyundai Elantra has 21 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

21

Airbags complaints

11%

Share of year

14

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Elantra airbags complaints by model year166 complaints1994: 33 complaints1995: 38 complaints1996: 14 complaints1997: 21 complaints1998: 7 complaints1999: 20 complaints2000: 40 complaints2001: 125 complaints2002: 72 complaints2003: 49 complaints2004: 116 complaints2005: 74 complaints2006: 60 complaints2007: 49 complaints2008: 42 complaints2009: 42 complaints2010: 46 complaints2011: 77 complaints2012: 124 complaints2013: 166 complaints2014: 32 complaints2015: 23 complaints2016: 26 complaints2017: 31 complaints2018: 11 complaints2019: 2 complaints2020: 5 complaints2021: 2 complaints2022: 3 complaints2023: 6 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 2 complaints
Elantra airbags complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPOY DURING A 35MPH FRONT END COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NECK AND CHEST AREA. CONSUMER STATED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FUNCTONING PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *JB”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · January 11, 2002 · crash

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 1997 Hyundai Elantra have?

NHTSA has 21 complaints about the 1997 Hyundai Elantra airbags — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.