Front Air Bag Sensor Control problems of the 2004 Hyundai Elantra - part 1

The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Elantra. While starting the vehicle the air bag light came on and then turn off. The failure occurred intermittently. She stated that the air bag remained illuminated when she took the vehicle to an authorized dealer. The dealer advised her that the driver's side seat sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired. The estimated repair cost was $500. The failure mileage was 52,000 and the current mileage was 64,000. Updated 03/24/lj updated 03/31/11.

Passenger air bags does not work. I have given the car for 2 update fixes but the problem continues. The passenger air bags goes off even when someone is sitting in the car. The last time I showed it to the dealer, he said that there was no fix to it.

Passenger side airbag occupant classification system disables airbag for adult passengers. Issue occurs regularly or intermittently with at least three adults weighing more than 130 lbs, two females aged 23 and 28 and one 25-year old male. 6/7/06 problem reported to fucillo Hyundai, schenectady, NY. Reprogrammed OCS in accordance with Hyundai campain 073 and informed issue resolved. Issue subsequently observed (CA. Dec 2006) 1/23/07 complained to connolly hyundau, natick, MA 4/18/07 seat removed and sent to Hyundai for reprogramming. Issue not resolved 5/29/07 Hyundai district service manger (kevin cleary) verifies problem with 130 lb. Female passenger at mirak Hyundai, arlington, MA Hyundai has offered a settlement in accordance with class action. Settlement stipulates mileage offset for buyback or replacment will be based on CA lemon law, which specifies the mileage used for the offset is that of the first complaint. Hyundai offers offset based on 27,500 miles (date seat removed), not mileage at first complaint (20,573).

- the contact stated that she received her recall letter in 2005 for campaign # 03v322000, and she had the recall repaired at the dealership on 03/22/06. 1 week after the repair she had to contact the dealership and inform them that the air bag sensor light was still not working properly. The contact has call the manufacturer and was told after the recall that they will replace her vehicle or refund her purchase price. As of 1/12/07 the issues has not been address and the manufacturer has not responding to her complaint. The contact gave manufacture complaint # 994795. The contact stated that her airbag doesn't recognize anyone sitting on the passenger side of the vehicle.

I have a 2004 Hyundai Elantra. It had a recall on the airbag sensor. I have taken it back two times to be fixed. This will be the third. It comes on and off regardless if anyone is in the seat or not. Each time I take it back they say it is fixed. I am afraid if I am in a wreck it will not work if someone is sitting there.

2004 Hyundai Elantra passenger air bag off light remains on. The vehicle was taken tot he dealer regarding recall campaign #073 concerning the occupant classification system of the right front passenger seat for air bag deployment. The passenger air bag off light remained on no matter who sat in the seat. The technician told the consumer that the air bag off light may be illuminated because the passenger may not be seat squarely in the seat with feet on the floor.

Passenger air bag sensor incorrectly detecting passemger 50 pounds or more. Passenger air bag "off" ligth stays on even is a passenger 100 pounds or more are seated properly.

Ongoing failure since car was purchased. Passenger airbag is off almost constantly no matter who sits in my car. 150 lb girlfriend can not get the passenger airbag off light to turn off, no matter how she sits. 145 lb female friend only gets the airbag off light to turn off about 10% of the time. Hyundai dealer says it operates as designed.

With a passenger in the right front seat the air bag light off is displayed quite frequently.

Since I purchase the car in aoril of 2004, the passenger air bag indicator continues to read air bag off when a passenger is seated in the front seat who weighs over 56. 4 pounds through about 160 pounds. This is recall number 03v322000, Hyundai recall no. 062. The manufacuturer will not fix the problem unless I sign a release which does not incidate anything about the air bag working with someone seated in the front passenger seat weighing more than 56. 4 pounds. They want me to waive my rights, not telling me the parameters they will reset the computer to activate the passenger air bag if necessary. I have a copy of the agreement they want to to sign. Along with a letter I sent them dated 10/18/2004. According to the dealer service manager, this is a problem on all their 2004 models. Please help me.

Passenger's air bag should be turned on when sensor reads weight over 56. 4 pounds. However, air bag is turning on after reading 160 pounds. Dealer can reprogram air bag sensor at consumer's expense.

The front airbag off light stays on even when the front passenger, usually my niece who weighs 130 pounds, occupies the seat. There was a recall on the airbags, but it did not specify this problem. So many complaints about this sensor should be looked in to.

Consumer noticed that the passenger side srs light appeared on the dashboard when some was seated in the passenger's seat. Consumer contacted the dealer, and was informed that there was nothing that they could do to fix it. Cause has not been determined.

Consumer's was experiencing the same exact thing that was described on the internet only for rent a car business. Front air bag sensor indicator light came on, indicating that no one was sitting in the seat, even though there was someone there.

The vehicle was parked in my apartment's parking lot. My wife and I entered the vehicle. I started the engine. We both buckled our seatbelts and I took off the parking brake. As I was reaching for the gearshift, the driver's side air bag deployed without warning.

2004 Hyundai Elantra, when a passenger is riding the light on the dash keeps comming on with the message "passenger airbag off" the car was taken into the dealer, and he says the person is not heavy enough for the seat sensor to pick up. The person weighs 140-155 pounds. When the light is on the air bag will not deploy.

The air bag seat sensor kept showing no passenger in the seat, which indicated the air bag will not deploy in an accident. Manufacturer stated the consumer should make contact to have the bag deactivated. Consumer did not wish to have this done.

Frontal air bag sensor in the passenger seat failed to operate when a passenger was seated. Also, sensor failed to activate. Dealer was notified.

The air bag sensor works intermittently. When sitting in an upright position with feet placed flat near the engine compartment the sensor will activate. However, if consumer moves feet the sensor will deactivate, and the light will illuminate.

Nhtsa recall 03v322000 concerning air bag sensor . This vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN. However, the sensor on the air bag was not turning on when the passenger got into the vehicle.

I bought a new Hyundai elentra in June 20th, 2004. Every since I got it, the passenger air bag sensor control system has not worked. I am a fully grown adult female who weighs 128lbs. When I am sitting in the passenger seat, the air bag system is turned off meaning that it will not deploy in a crash. I have taken the car into the dealer several times for this issue with no results. Hyundai keeps telling me that the sensor system is working properly and that there is nothing wrong with the car. The dealer however, admits that they realize that this is a problem but that they can not address the issue unless Hyundai America gives them permission. This issue really concerns me because it is a real safety problem that could lead to deaths. Please note that everytime someone sits in the passenger seat of the vehicle, the sensor has failed.

The passenger air bag is not activated when my wife of 120# is seated in my 2004 Hyundai Elantra. This has occurred from the time I acquired the vehicle. I took the car in and was given the run-around in that there was not a fix. On your site you state that the remedy is a re-programing by the dealer. The maintenance supervisor at the dealer has not heard of that. I acquired this car as a result of my 2001 Elantra being totaled in an accident that activated both of the front air bags, which I consider prevented serious injury to me and my wife. My last conversation with the supervisor at the dealer stated that there is a posible fix in that the air bag deployment would be modified to enable deployment at all times. He also stated that I would have to sign a waiver if they were to do so. This is beyond me. I don't know how anyone could design a system without the means to calibrate it for people with narrow rears. The air bag sensor is supposed to be enabled for weights greater that 56# as stated in the owner's manual. A 60# individual is not very wide.

My husband bought a 2004 Hyundai Elantra end of February and since then we have been having problems with the passenger side air bag sensor. When I am sitting in the seat (I weigh approx 120 lbs) the light indicating the passenger airbag is off is illuminated 99% of the time. When we noticed it I tried to be aware of the way I was sitting and also had others sit there instead of me. When reading the owners manual about the sensor weight being 56 lbs and noticing the problem persisiting no matter how still or correct I sat we called the dealer. The first time they physically looked at it to "diagnose" they said everything was ok (6/04) and I wasn't sitting right; of course it still occured. So we had to go down and demonstrate that I sat in the seat exactly like you are supposed to and the light never went off. This prompted them to order a new sensor. It took approx 40 days for the part to arrive and we just received the vehicle back yesterday and it is still malfunctioning.

Since we got the 2004 Hyundai Elantra in December 2003, there has been a recurring problem with the airbag off light remaining illuminated even though there is a person sitting in the front passenger seat.

While driving 55 mph air bag light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic placed the vehicle on diagnostic machine. Then, determined that computer registered the vehicle as not working properly. And problem could not be resolved.

After picking up my new 2004 hyndai Elantra on Friday April 30, 2004 I noticed that the passanger side airbag on/off light was not working properly. When I sat in the seat, in any and every position with my seatbelt on, and the seat in all different positions the indicator light would say passanger side air bog off. I am a female that wieghs 160 lbs . I brought the car back to the dealer the next day and they said that they would take care of it. I brought the car to their service department on Monday may 3rd they called me on Tuesday afternoon and told me that they could not replicate the problem, so they could not fix it. I went there that day and sat in the seat in all the positions, I sat in the seat exactley as they say you should and the indicator light still displayed passenger side air bag off. They took the vehicle back in to be repaired. They called me on Wednesday afternoon and told me that they chekced all of the sensors and that the computer says that everything is working properly and at this point there is nothing they can do to help me. They handed me a copy of Hyundais techinical service bulletin from febuary 2003 and told me that this is the way that the car is supposed to work. They told me that this system was required in new cars by NHTSA and that they can not fix the problem nor will they refund or replace my vehicle. When I called Hyundai consumar affairs they said that they are not aware of any problem of this kind. They refered me to NHTSA saying that it is you who reqquires this system and I should talk to you with any concerns. The dealer insits that this is the way the airbag system should work for a adult who wieghs 160lbs, and are going to give me back a car that does not have a working passenger side airbag for a 160 lb female.

Regarding: 2004 Hyundai Elantra gt this complaint is in regards to the passenger airbag. The 2004 Elantra contains a sensor in the seat that disables that passenger seat if the weight of the passenger is less than a certain weight. A "passenger air bag off" light illuminates to indicate when this is occurring. Since the date of purchase (4/29/2004), it has been found that this light illuminates with adult passenger's in this seat. This happens with a wide variety of individuals, some well over 150 lb. . Read more...

Air bag light remained illuminated while driving. Vehicle had been to dealeron three separate occasions, and dealer stated that nothing was wrong with vehicle.

Passenger air bag intermittenly is enabled/diabled with proper eight passenger sitting properly in the seat.

Repeated intermittent illumination of "passenger airbag off" beginning within days of purchase. Failures occur when anyone sits in passenger seat. Adults weighing 190, 170, and 140 have turned airbags off. Poodle weighing 9 lbs turned airbags on! numerous attempts at service August 04 to present, with long delays waiting for Hyundai representatives to address and delays and cancelled appointments by dealer service department. Results of service appointments included could not duplicate, told that sensor activated when passenger moves in seat, claimed to order new "upgraded" sensor, did not have "special" tool to install new sensor, nothing more that service dept could do, airbags will deploy in accident if sensor indicates airbags off, then told that district manager would have to install new sensor, svc cancelled because district manager advised service manager that new sensor would not work, told that district service representative would arrive to assess and verify issue then let me know what would be done and would have to sign waiver, district svc rep tested (compared my 04 Elantra manufactured sept 03 and another manufactured may 04) and concluded cause was the way I sit in the seat. Light came on in both vehicles when I sat in passenger seat, and when he sat in my passenger front seat. Concluded that I was not sitting far enough back in the seat for sensor to recognize. Stated that this was not a defect but a "characteristic" of the 04 Elantra. Would return two weeks later to "reprogram" sensor to more sensitive state. This was more than one month ago. Have had three near collisions since purchase, with constant fear of passenger seat for seven and one half months of ownership.

Passenger air bag off indicator comes on with 108 lb adult riding in car. Happened 10 times in an hour. Passenger was seated according to Hyundai service bulletin # 04-90-003. Dealer says that is normal.

I purchased a new 2004 Elantra in April 2004. After I bought the car and having driven it for a few miles, I realized that the passenger airbag was disabled. Since the day I purchased the car, I have ridden in the passenger seat several times, and regardless of the position, the airbag remains disabled. When the odometer read 1,000 miles, I took the car in for service and I requested a check of the passengers airbag sensor. When I picked up the car, I was told that everything looked normal; however, the service manager explained to me that this feature was part of the design for the new 2004 model. He offered me to test drive a brand-new Elantra to compare it to mine. The other car had the same design flaw. I am disappointed and frustrated. I do not consider the car to be safe. On July 14/04 I sent a letter to the dealer and to this date I have not been contacted by them.

"passenger air bag off" indicator comes on an inconsistent basis while riding. Passenger is a 120lb adult female who sits as instructed in owners manual. Manufacturer and dealer claim they can do nothing to prevent this. They blame you for rules laid down regarding sensors. Has happened numerous times since purchasing car Feb 23 2004. Date listed below is latest occurence.

Numerous incidents where passenger airbag sensor does not work . It is defective. Still does not work. Dealer, Hyundai manufacturer, were notified and claimed they can't find anything related to this. Was in repair shop twice. Nothing done to correct this. Car is unsafe. Passenger is at great risk or serious injury or death due to air bag not deploying while adult is in passenger seat. No one returns our calls. We made numerous attempts to no avail.

The consumer noticed that while someone was occupying the passenger seat air bag light appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to dealer for inspection numerous times, and mechanic was not able to duplicate the problem. Two mechanics had driven the vehicle, with the consumers wife in the passenger seat, as the light stayed on, goes off, then had come on again. The problem have not been corrected.