VehicleVerdict

2001 Hyundai Elantra airbags problems

The 2001 Hyundai Elantra has 125 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 28% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

125

Airbags complaints

28%

Share of year

54

Crash-involved

3

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.

Related recalls

08V532000AirbagsOctober 14, 2008 · 78,369 units

Defect

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001 ELANTRA VEHICLES. IF A LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE AREA OF THE CUPHOLDER ON THE CENTER CONSOLE, IT MAY SEEP THROUGH THE CONSOLE OPENING FOR THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER AND THEN DRIP ONTO THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE SPILLED LIQUID MAY CONTAMINATE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND ITS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY AFFECT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS AND MAY PREVENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR. NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS AIR BAGS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR. THE RECALL OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2008, AND LETTERS WILL BE SENT OUT IN SIX MAILINGS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

08V533000AirbagsOctober 14, 2008 · 150,541 units

Defect

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001-2002 ELANTRA VEHICLES. MOVEMENT OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS MOUNTED UNDER EACH FRONT SEAT, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY CONTACT FROM MATERIALS PLACED UNDER THE SEAT, MAY RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE THAT WOULD CAUSE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS AND MAY PREVENT SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR. NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS AIR BAGS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CLIPS AND REVISED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS ATTACHMENTS UNDER THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2008, AND WILL BE SENT OUT IN SIX MAILINGS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

00V332000AirbagsOctober 17, 2000 · 972 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM SIDE AIR BAG SATELLITE SENSORS INSTALLED WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED, CAUSING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Consequence

NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING A CRASH WHERE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS INTENDED.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO SATELLITE SENSORS.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON A SERVICE ROAD RAMP AND WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND, CAUSING A COLLISION AND A CHAIN REACTION OF MULTIPLE VEHICLE PILE UP ON THE HIGHWAY. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · October 6, 2003 · crash

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 2001 Hyundai Elantra have?

NHTSA has 125 complaints about the 2001 Hyundai Elantra airbags — 28% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra airbags?

Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the airbags: 00V332000, 08V532000, 08V533000.

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.