YearToAvoid

2011 Hyundai Elantra Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 77 airbag complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra, 18% of that year's 432 total complaints. These reports involve 12 crashes and 7 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 99,000, but no related recall exists for this issue.

Airbags complaints
77
18% of 432
Crashes reported
12
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
7
Median mileage
99,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy during frontal or head-on crashes at various speeds, including low-speed impacts.
  • Airbags do not deploy during side-impact or T-bone collisions, even when the vehicle sustains major structural damage.
  • Some owners report airbags deploying but only after a delay following the initial impact, contributing to head and facial injuries.
  • Airbag non-deployment has coincided with other system issues, such as brake failure or reduced engine power right before a crash.
  • Vehicles have been totaled after crashes where none of the airbags deployed, including cases with dashboard airbag and engine warning lights active.

When 2011 Hyundai Elantra airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 31, 2012, latest Jan 12, 2026.

2011 Hyundai Elantra airbags complaints: complaints filed per quarter72012 Q32014 Q42017 Q12018 Q32019 Q42021 Q32023 Q3
77 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q3 to 2026 Q1; peak 2017 Q1 (7).

Airbags recalls for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

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

How many airbag complaints does the 2011 Hyundai Elantra have?
NHTSA lists 77 airbag-related complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra, making up 18% of the 432 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra airbags?
No. NHTSA's data shows no related recalls linked to the airbag complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra.
At what mileage do airbag problems tend to show up?
The median mileage at failure among reported airbag complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra is 99,000 miles.
Have airbag problems led to injuries or crashes?
Owners reported 12 crashes and 7 injuries connected to airbag complaints on the 2011 Hyundai Elantra, according to NHTSA data.
How does 2011 compare to other Elantra years for airbag complaints?
The 2011 Elantra's airbag share was 18% of complaints that year, lower than 2012 (19%) but higher than 2010 (12%) and most years from 2014 onward, which ranged from 1% to 9%.

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.