Jan 12, 2026AirbagsCrash
Vehicle: 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring Date of Crash: [XXX] Location of Crash: Duluth, MN Description of Incident: I was driving my 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring straight through an intersection when another driver ran a stop sign and T‑boned the passenger side of my vehicle. The impact was severe enough that the vehicle was totaled, with significant structural intrusion into the passenger compartment. No airbags (side torso or curtain) deployed, although the strike was a direct side impact at approximately 30+ mph. I expected at least the side curtain or side torso airbags to deploy. My insurance adjuster noted that the lack of deployment was unexpected given the severity and nature of the crash. Outcome: Vehicle declared totaled No airbags deployed No serious injuries, but a significant safety concern INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI 11710538
Jun 17, 2019AirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED AS THE BRAKES HAD BEEN APPLIED HOWEVER, THE WHEELS SPUN UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED RESULTING INTO A CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS HAD NOT DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT SENT NOTIFICATION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V871000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) AS OF DECEMBER 21ST, 2015 SO THE OWNER WAS NOT AWARE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN ABOVE MID 20 TO 5 MPH WITH A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE LOCATION OF THE FAILURE AND PARKED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED YET. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE EXPERIENCED RELATED TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
NHTSA ODI 11220632
May 8, 2019SteeringAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)2 injuries
THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF REGULARLY FOR SOME DAYS, THEN FINALLY IT STAYS ON PERMANENTLY. THE STEERING WHEEL LIGHTS DOESN'T COME ON WHEN I TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CAR BOUNCES AND SWAY TO THE SIDE EACH TIME I HIT A POTHOLE NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE POTHOLE IS.
NHTSA ODI 11206161
Feb 9, 2019AirbagsCrash1 injury
YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH 2019, AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 AM, MY GIRLFRIEND HAD A HIGH SPEED IMPACT (SPEED LIMIT IN THIS AREA OF ALASKA IS 65MPH) WITH A MOOSE. IT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT ON THE BUMPER/HOOD/WINDSHIELD/ROOF, OCCURING ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON THIS INITIAL IMPACT. ADDITIONALLY, AS THE CAR LEFT THE ROAD, THERE WAS A SECOND FRONTAL IMPACT INTO A HARDENED, PLOWED SNOWBANK, IN WHICH THE AIRBAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS YEAR AND MODEL IS BELIEVED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS, WHICH ALL FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, AND HAS NO OTHER ACCIDENTS OR REPAIRS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. WE DO NOT KNOW AS OF YET IF A STATE TROOPER REPORT WAS FILLED, WE WILL BE CHECKING MONDAY. HOWEVER, WE HAVE PHOTOS THAT WILL BE ATTACHED THAT CLEARLY SHOW THE,AIRBAG FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI 11175931
Jan 18, 2017AirbagsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR CAUSING THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI 10945891
Apr 29, 2016AirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING AND REQUIRED A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V871000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA ODI 10862166
Jan 27, 2015AirbagsSeat beltsSeatsCrash2 injuries
DRIVER OF OUR CAR, THE HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING, SLOWED TO ABOUT 20-25 MPH TO LET A CAR IN FRONT OF US TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY. DRIVER OF A HONDA CRV TRAVELING BEHIND US AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH DID NOT SLOW AND SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF US. FRONT SEAT PASSENGER HIT HER HEAD ON THE DASHBOARD RESULTING IN A BRUISE AND BLACK EYE AND WHIPLASH BECAUSE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER'S SEAT SLID BACKWARDS, LOOSENING HIS SEATBELT. HE HIT HIS HIP AND KNEE ON THE DOOR AND EXPERIENCED WHIPLASH. POLICE ON SCENE LOOKED AT SEATBELTS ON BOTH SIDES AND DETERMINED THERE WERE NO "STOP MARKS" INDICATING THE SEATBELTS HAD ENGAGED. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10679331
Dec 19, 2014AirbagsCrash
I WAS HIT BY AN UNLICENSED, ILLEGAL DRIVER DRIVING FAR PAST THE SPEED LIMIT IN A NO-CROSSING ZONE. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO MAJOR HARM, BUT MY SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND MY HEAD SLAMMED AGAINST THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. NO ONE CONTACTED ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10667298
Oct 27, 2014AirbagsCrash
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE I WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER AND THEN WAS SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE BACK OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL, THEN JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A TREE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE WINDOW OR THE CENTER POST, NOT SURE. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10650505
Aug 28, 2014Electrical systemAirbagsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE LEG INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND A RIGHT KNEE REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,092. UPDATED 10/8/14*CN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. SHE WAS INFORMED, IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. UPDATED 10/15/14 ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI, THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. THEY STATED THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS WERE NOT INTENDED TO DEPLOY DURING EVERY IMPACT THAT WAS GENERALLY DIRECTED AGAINST THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END. FRONTAL AIR BAS WERE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY WHEN A VEHICLE SUSTAINED A SUFFICIENT FORWARD DECELERATION TO TRIGGER THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE AIR BAG SENSOR REACTED TO EXTREME DECELERATION OF THE VEHICLE'S FORWARD MOVEMENT. BASED UPON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, IT APPEARED THE VEHICLE WAS HIT AT AN ANGULAR IMPACT INVOLVING LATERAL FORCES. UPDATED 11/26/14 UPDATED 12/17/14. *JB LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CLIENT. UPDATED 01/16/15.*JB UPDATED 02/24/15*LJ UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT
NHTSA ODI 10629085
Jul 16, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury
2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. *SMD PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, AND CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. THE LAWYER FIRST BECAME AWARE OF A RECALL, AFTER READING AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. *JB
NHTSA ODI 10610408
Jan 23, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED MUCH LATER THAN THE CRASH OCCURRED AND CAUSED HIM TO SUFFER BLEEDING TO THE BRAIN AND A BROKEN NOSE DUE TO MAKING CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI 10561165
Sep 3, 2013SuspensionAirbagsBody & structureEngineCrash
FRONT OF ELANTRA TRAVELING AT 40 MPH HIT ANOTHER CAR ENTERING 4 LANE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE.(T-BONED") THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. NONE OF THE HEAD , FRONT OR SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA ODI 10538585
Aug 27, 2013AirbagsBrakesCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 22 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
NHTSA ODI 10537457
Mar 4, 2013AirbagsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI 10501263
Jul 31, 2012AirbagsCrash
VEHICLE SPUN AND HIT GUARD RAIL ON INTERSTATE 90 HEAD ON , THEN ALSO ON RIGHT SIDE BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED!!! WE HAD PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS INVOLVING BOTH A 2005 SONATA AND 2007 ELANTRA IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN FACT, THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE 2005 ACCIDENT SPENT ALMOST $10,000 TO REPAIR THE CAR RATHER THAN TOTAL IT AND SPECIFICALLY STATED TO ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TOTALED THE VEHICLE HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10468446