YearToAvoid

2005 Hyundai Elantra Airbags Problems

NHTSA has 71 owner complaints about airbag problems in the 2005 Hyundai Elantra, 52% of all 137 complaints for this model year. That is #4 highest airbag complaint count among 21 Elantra model years. These complaints report 23 crashes and 20 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 35,500 miles.

Airbags complaints
71
52% of 137
Crashes reported
23
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
20
Median mileage
35,500 mi
Related recalls
2

When 2005 Hyundai Elantra airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 14, 2005, latest Nov 3, 2024.

2005 Hyundai Elantra airbags complaints: complaints filed per quarter52005 Q12006 Q42009 Q12011 Q42013 Q42016 Q22018 Q3
71 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q1 to 2024 Q4; peak 2005 Q2 (5).

Airbags recalls for the 2005 Hyundai Elantra

  1. NHTSA 05V479000Oct 17, 2005Airbags2,105 vehicles

    Air bags

    Certain vehicles equipped with an advanced air bag system. The occupant classification system (ocs) installed in the right front seat of the vehicle may misclassify a child restraint seat (crs) as an adult. This may occur if the crs is installed after an adult has been seated in the right front seat. If there has not been a 'key on' ' key off' cycle with the right front passenger seat empty prior to installation of the crs.

    Risk: The possibility of misclassification of a crs as an adult may allow the right front airbag or side impact airbag to deploy in a crash and could result in injury to the right front occupant.

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's ocs electronic control unit (ecu) to remove the feature that may cause the crs to be recognized as an adult. The recall began on november 15, 2005. Owners may contact hyundai of puerto rico at 1-800-981-0188.

  2. NHTSA 05V395000Sep 12, 2005Airbags231,160 vehicles

    Air bags

    Certain vehicles equipped with an advanced air bag system. The occupant classification system (ocs) installed in the right front seat of the vehicle may misclassify a child restraint seat (crs) as an adult. This may occur if the crs is installed after an adult has been seated in the right front seat. If there has not been a 'key on' ' key off' cycle with the right front passenger seat empty prior to installation of the crs.

    Risk: The possibility of misclassification of a crs as an adult may allow the right front airbag or side impact airbag to deploy in a crash and could result in injury to the right front occupant.

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's ocs electronic control unit (ecu) to remove the feature that may cause the crs to be recognized as an adult. The recall began on october 31, 2005. Owners may contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

Airbags complaints by Elantra model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200571 (52%)
  2. 200656 (36%)
  3. 200746 (17%)
  4. 200838 (12%)
  5. 200942 (17%)
  6. 201046 (12%)
  7. 201177 (18%)
  8. 2012124 (19%)
  9. 2013168 (13%)
  10. 201432 (8%)
  11. 201523 (9%)
  12. 201626 (9%)
  13. 201732 (4%)
  14. 201812 (4%)
  15. 20192 (1%)
  16. 20205 (2%)
  17. 20212 (2%)
  18. 20223 (3%)
  19. 20236 (6%)
  20. 20241 (2%)
  21. 20253 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Hyundai Elantra have airbag problems?
NHTSA has 71 owner complaints about the airbag in the 2005 Hyundai Elantra, 52% of all complaints for this model year, including 23 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 35,500 miles.
Which Hyundai Elantra year has the most airbag complaints?
The 2013 Hyundai Elantra has the most airbag complaints (168), compared with 71 for the 2005.
Is there a airbag recall for the 2005 Hyundai Elantra?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2005 Hyundai Elantra concern the airbag: 05V479000 and 05V395000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.