2004 elantra passenger airbag

My wife said she heard something on the radio during a news segment that the
2004 elantra has an airbag problem. She said that the report stated that
there was a problem with the passenger airbag not deploying unless there was
over 150 lbs of weight in the seat. They hadn't issued a recall, but some
attorney generals office was issuing an investigation they said.

I can't seem to find anything about this on the web, did anyone else hear
anything about this?

Thanks,

Scott

 

I haven't heard anything about this. The '04 Elantra has a seat sensor
which is intended to turn off the passenger air bag when a person weighing
less than 50 lbs. (or no one at all) is in the right front seat. When it
does this, there is a message lamp on the dash that says "Passenger Air
Bag Off." Hyundai has made specific mention that passengers must sit flat
in the seat with their back against the backrest in a normal position.
I've been told that if the weight distribution does not cover a large
enough area, that the seat sensor will turn the passenger air bag off.

 

I think this article is what you are referring to...

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Business/US/hyundai_airbag_040623-1.html

 

This is it exactly, she said it was ABC news. Thanks for the link.

Scott

 

I wouldn't get overly worked up over it. See my post in the related
thread above.

 

Well given the track record of the news services I would be
suspicious of any test they do. I remember the rigged SUV roll over
test and the rigged Ford pickup exploding fuel tank exposes they did .

 

The airbag problem IS a real issue, but the risk has definitely been
overblown in the press.