2002 Hyundai Elantra Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/12/2026

40Air Bags complaints

11.7%Of all 342 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS40 · 11.7%

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM29 · 8.5%

SUSPENSION:FRONT27 · 7.9%

SUSPENSION27 · 7.9%

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL22 · 6.4%

Share of the 342 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2002 Hyundai Elantra overview page.

What owners report

“DT: THE CONSUMER STATES SON PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND WHEN HE TRIED TO GET INTO THE CAR HE HEARD A LOUD BANG, ALL…”NHTSA complaint 10141415 — filed 11/01/2005

“CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.”NHTSA complaint 10063121 — filed 03/12/2004

“WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 TO 30 MPH AND GOING DOWN AND A CURB THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RESPOND AND REMAINED IN THE SAME POSITION…”NHTSA complaint 10056077 — filed 01/29/2004

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Hyundai Elantra have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the most-reported problem area on the 2002 Hyundai Elantra: 40 of 342 complaints on file (11.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2002 Hyundai Elantra have in total?

342 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 58 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 40 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.