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2003 Hyundai Elantra air bags problems

49 complaints about air bags have been filed for the 2003 Hyundai Elantra, which is 16% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
49 16% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
46,000 miles 36 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
32 and 0
Injuries and deaths
29 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When air bags problems show up

Air bags complaints by mileage, 2003 Hyundai Elantra Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 46,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 8 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 8 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 6 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 6 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 3 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 2 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 2 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 1 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 46,000 miles
Based on 36 complaints that include mileage. 61% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles8
20k to 40k miles8
40k to 60k miles6
60k to 80k miles6
80k to 100k miles3
100k to 120k miles2
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles2
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles1

What the data shows

Of the 36 air bags complaints that report mileage, the median is about 46,000 miles, and 61% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 32 crashes, 29 injuries.

What owners wrote

The vehicle was taken to the dealer four times because it was not stopping when braking. On 9/9/2003, while trying to stop at a stop sign, the brakes failed. The vehicle hit a truck and the front air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained injuries to the pelvic area and bruises on the upper legs. Front passenger's head broke the windshield, and passenger suffered seizures. Child in the rear, age 11, sustained arm bruises. Driver and passengers were transported to the emergency room for treatment.

Reported at 12,333 miles, September 2003 CrashInjury

Driving down the road bout 25-30 miles swerved (very sharp) didn't think it should have been such a sharp turn- anyway swerved from hitting a deer- so I did accelerate and ended up with a direct front hit- car is totaled- actually lost a piece of what holds the engine up the bolt is broken in half-hood of car can not be opened - impact through my neck and back out- no airbags.

Reported at 95,000 miles, September 2010 Injury

Other problems reported for the 2003 Hyundai Elantra

Air bags problems in other years

Air bags problems across all Hyundai models