Hyundai Admits Major Airbag Problem
By Andrew Colton
ABCNEWS.com

F O R T L A U D E R D A L E, Fla., June 23, 2004— Hyundai Motor
Company admits that its most popular vehicle has a serious airbag flaw
that it doesn't know how to fix.

The problem, in the company's 2004 Elantra, is a sensor system
intended to prevent the airbag from deploying while a child sits in
the front seat. But it's also preventing the airbag from activating
for adults who weigh less than roughly 150 pounds and don't position
themselves in the center of the chair.

"I'm worried. I'm seriously concerned that this isn't a safe car,"
said Charlotte Kramer, 28, a hairdresser from Fort Lauderdale who
purchased her 2004 Elantra late last year. "It's a risk every time
someone sits in the car as to whether their passenger side airbag is
going to be activated or not."

Kramer became concerned when she saw a warning light appear on her
dashboard that read: "Passenger Airbag Off." The light stayed on when
an adult weighing less than 150 pounds sat in the passenger seat
off-center — meaning that the airbag would not deploy for the
passenger in the event of an accident.

Kramer sought help at the dealership where she purchased the car. But
she was told there's no way to fix the problem, which could mean the
airbag would not have deployed in an accident.

Mike Anson, a Hyundai spokesman, said the only thing passengers not
heavy enough to activate the airbag can do now is sit somewhere else.

"Either move to the back seat or move to another Hyundai vehicle," he
said.

Complicated Instructions

In a technical service bulletin obtained by ABC News, Hyundai advises
service technicians to tell customers to try the following in an
attempt to activate the airbag: "Turn the vehicle off, place the seat
back in the full upright position, sit upright in the seat, centered
on the seat cushion, with legs comfortably extended. Restart the
vehicle and have the person remain in this position for about 30
seconds."

Agreeing that the instructions may be a bit too much for many
customers to remember, Anson suggested that new customers take his
company's cars for a long test drive before making a purchase.

"Before you buy the vehicle, put the people in the front passenger who
will be in there to make sure they're compatible," he said. "That way
you won't have a problem."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which now requires
some new cars to use a sensor system for passenger-side airbags, is
investigating Hyundai's problem and response. They said they need to
investigate more before determining whether there's a need for a
recall of the vehicles.

Hyundai said it has sold 50,000 2004 Elantras.

"George" <_george@excite.com> wrote in message
news:b411569f.0406231339.7f5cdf0e@posting.google.c om...

That's a problem? They should leave it alone. The way it is, it will
probably SAVE many lives. Too many lives are being lost in low-speed
collisions where the airbag removes the head of smaller adults. If you're
less than 150 pounds, it would probably be safer to sit in the back seat so
you don't get your head blown off in a minor collision. That is, unless you
own an Elantra. Then you apparently are safe no matter where you
it. -Dave

George wrote:


blah, blah, blah...

cant satisfy the safety nazis.

bullshit. unfortunately,we will never know about all the countless kids
who have been saved, even when in the front seat, unbelted, etc.

if you want to really be safe, put your kid in the back seat.

"George" <_george@excite.com> wrote in message
news:b411569f.0406231339.7f5cdf0e@posting.google.c om...

I believe if you RTFM it tells you that you need to be centered in the seat
to activate the bags.
But, in this non-reading society, I guess that it is too much to ask.

In article <b411569f.0406231339.7f5cdf0e@posting.google.com>,
_george@excite.com says...

the government is partially to blame for allowing these killer airbags
in the first place. They designed them to restrain unbelted adult males
of average size. That means anyone smaller is probably going to be
injured instead of helped by the air bag. This pretty stupid since they are
supposed to be supplemental restraints, not primary.
-------------
Alex

In article <2juj91F163sp8U1@uni-berlin.de>, mdupre@sff.net says...


Of course it is. If the stupid things were not designed to restrain
unbelted males of average size they would not be killing smaller persons.


No, it will probalby kill smaller passengers who are wearing their seat
belts. Air bags don't save lives, seatbelts do. They might lessen injuries,
but the seatbelt is what does most of the restraining. I'll take a good
seat belt over an airbag any day.


Sure, can you explain how to drive from the back seat? The real stupidity
is that there is no easy way to disable the airbags in your car. If you want
to disable them you have to jump through hoops and pay large amounts of
money.
----------
Alex

I just can't believe that you're all siding with Hyundai. Their
system is defective and probably won't deploy if an under 150 lb
passenger is in the seat. We all have kids and relatives (and maybe
spounses) who weigh less than that. Come on - Hyundai goofed big
time. I only hope it's fixed before people die. Yes, the defective
design may save someone, just like not wearing a seatbelt sometimes
saves someone. But by and large, an air bag deploying as expected can
be a real God-send.

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004, SoCalMike wrote:


Nope. True and documented.


Er...no such kids exist. US-spec airbags, even the later-model "depowered"
ones, are required to be calibrated so as to "save" a 50th-percentile
(size and weight) adult male UNbelted test dummy. The force and speed
required to do that job are absolutely incompatible with "saving unbelted
kids". It just doesn't happen.

Having an opinion is fine, but when you express an ignorant and uninformed
one like "Countless kids have been saved by airbags", your opinion doesn't
count for anything and you just expose yourself to ridicule.

-DS

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004, Alex Rodriguez wrote:


Don't know where you get that idea. I've disabled the airbags in several
cars and it's never been very difficult or taken more than an hour or so
and basic hand tools.

DS