What the Airbag Light on a Hyundai Elantra Means
Your Hyundai Elantra airbag light indicates a malfunction with your car’s airbag system. Get it checked ASAP to keep yourself and your passengers safe.
Written by John Davis
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
The airbag light on your Hyundai Elantra indicates a problem with the car's supplemental restraint system—i.e., the airbags. If this light appears on your dash, you should visit a professional mechanic as soon as possible.
As a Hyundai Elantra owner, you should be aware of the implications of an airbag warning light and how to deal with it. Luckily, we'll cover everything you need to know in this article. So, even if you're a
car repair
novice, you can feel comfortable and informed behind the wheel.Don't get ripped off!
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What does the airbag light mean on a Hyundai Elantra?
Your Hyundai Elentra's airbags are important safety features designed to reduce the severity of injuries in the event of a crash. However, the airbags cannot properly protect you and your passengers if there's a malfunction. The
airbag light
illuminates when your car's computer detects a fault in the airbag system. The airbag light usually looks like a person wearing a seatbelt with an inflated airbag in front of their face. If there's a problem with your airbag system, you might also notice the letters "SRS," which stands for "supplemental restraint system." Because of this, the airbag light is sometimes referred to as the "supplemental airbag light."
While a variety of reasons can cause the airbag light to illuminate, these are the most common causes for your Hyundai Elantra:
- Seat belt problems. Modern vehicles have sensors installed in the seatbelts. If one of these sensors malfunctions, it can trigger your Elantra's airbag light.
- Issues with the front seat sensors. The front seat sensors detect when a person is in the seat. If there's a problem with the wiring harnesses or the sensors, your airbag light may illuminate.
- Clock spring malfunction. If your airbag light flickers or turns on and off when you move your steering wheel, there's a good chance there's a problem with the clockspring. The clock spring is located inside the steering wheel and is responsible for providing electricity to the driver's side airbag.
- Faulty airbag sensors/module. Crash sensors in your Elantra tell theairbag control modulewhen to deploy the airbags. If thesesensors are faulty or malfunctioning, your airbag light may illuminate.
- Low battery voltage. If you have battery problems, you might encounter an airbag light, especially afterjumpstarting your vehicle. Your car's 12-volt battery supplies power to the airbag module, and if the voltage drops below nine volts, you might notice your SRS light appear on the dash.
The issues above aren't the only reasons your Hyundai airbag light might illuminate. If you don't know the exact reason your airbag light is on or you're unable to reset the light on your own, the smartest move is to take your Elantra to a professional mechanic for diagnosis and repair.
Alternatively, if you own or have access to an OBDII scan tool with SRS compatibility, you can
check for error codes
associated with the supplemental restraint system. What you need to know about the Hyundai Elantra airbag recalls
The Hyundai Elantra is plagued with airbag recalls over the past decade. There are separate recalls for model years 2007-2009, 2011-2013, and 2017.
The first two model-year groups faced recalls for malfunctioning sensors and a faulty bracket that can cause injury when the airbags deploy. The 2017 recall is for airbags that underinflate during a crash, causing harm to the occupants.
If you own a Hyundai Elantra produced during those years and have not had these issues fixed, you should take the car to your local dealership to find out if you and your passengers are at risk. If so, the dealership should replace the faulty parts free of charge.
How to reset the airbag warning light on a Hyundai Elantra
If your airbag light is on, the smartest move is to take a trip to your local mechanic. However, sometimes you can turn the light off yourself. You can do this using an OBDII scanner or by following these steps:
- Turn the ignition key to the "ON" position, but do not start the engine.
- When the airbag light appears, quickly turn the ignition to the "OFF" position.
- Wait three seconds, then turn the ignition back to the "ON" position.
- Repeat these steps three times.
Once you complete steps 1-3 three times, the light should disappear. If the light turns back on, you can try the process again. However, if it continues to appear on your dash, you should take your Elantra to a professional.
Is it OK to drive with the Hyundai Elantra airbag light on?
You can drive your Hyundai Elantra with the airbag light on—but it is highly unsafe to do so for an extended period.
The airbag light’s purpose is to warn you if there's a problem with your car's airbag system, which could mean that the airbags won't deploy if you're in an accident—or they may deploy at the wrong time or with the incorrect amount of force, potentially injuring or killing you and your passengers.
This is a serious issue that should not be taken lightly. And because of these reasons, you should not ignore the airbag light if it appears on your dash.
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