The defect
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, IF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED OR IS OCCUPIED BY SOMEONE LIGHTER THAN 56.4 POUNDS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED AND WILL NOT DEPLOY IF A CRASH OCCURS. HOWEVER, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR MAY INCORRECTLY INTERPRET THAT A SEATED ADULT IS AN INFANT SEAT AND DEACTIVATE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IF SOMEONE HEAVIER THAN 56.4 POUNDS WHO IS SEATED WITH ONE LEG RESTING ON THE OUTBOARD OR INBOARD EDGE OF THE SEAT; WITH LEGS SPREAD; OR POSITIONED OFF-CENTER TOWARD THE CENTER CONSOLE AND WITH HIS OR HER ARM LEANING ON THE CONSOLE.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER.
The remedy
THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR WILL BE REPROGRAMMED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra | 2004 |
Components: AIR BAGS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra | 2004 | 182 | 5 |
Other air bags recalls in 2003
10 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the air bags; HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY filed 48 campaigns in all.
| 03V426000 29 Oct 2003 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 03V421000 24 Oct 2003 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 03V356000 29 Sept 2003 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 03V321000 26 Aug 2003 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V150000 25 Apr 2003 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 03V144000 9 Apr 2003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V082000 6 Mar 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER MANUFACTUR INTERNATIONAL |
| 03V061000 27 Feb 2003 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003