NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Engineering Analysis EA08-012: AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA08-012 on July 10, 2008, the day it closed Preliminary Evaluation PE08-017, whose summary cites it, and closed it on November 14, 2008. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2001–2002 Hyundai Elantra for it and links recalls 08V-532 and 08V-533 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- EA08-012 (also written EA08012)
- Investigation type
- Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
- Status
- Closed November 14, 2008
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Hyundai Motor America
- Components
- Air Bags; Air Bags — Frontal; Air Bags — Frontal — Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
- Recalls linked by NHTSA
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2001–2002 Hyundai Elantra
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA08-012.
try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.
HYUNDAI IS CONDUCTING TWO SAFETY RECALLS TO CORRECT TWO SAFETY DEFECTS DESCRIBED BELOW.UNDER SAFETY RECALL 08V-532, HYUNDAI WILL INSTALL A VINYL PROTECTIVE SHIELD/COVER TO PREVENT SHORT CIRCUITS IN THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE CAUSE BY SPILLS OF LIQUIDS THAT SEEP INTO THE MODULE CONNECTOR. THIS ACTION APPLIES TO 78,369 MY 2001 VEHICLES (BUILT THROUGH 4/26/2001).
THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR IN MY 2001 VEHICLES BUILT AFTER 4/26/2001 IS COVERED BY THE CARPET.TO IMPROVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS, HYUNDAI WILL INSTALL NEW CLIPS AND REVISE THE WIRING HARNESS ATTACHMENTS UNDER SAFETY RECALL 08V-533.
THIS APPLIES TO 150,541 MY 2001 THROUGH MY 2002 VEHICLES (BUILT THROUGH 12/18/2001).
HYUNDAI UPGRADED THE WIRING HARNESS ROUTING/CONNECTOR CLIP ON MY 2002 VEHICLES BUILT AFTER 12/18/2001.
HYUNDAI DESIGNED THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (UNDER SAFETY RECALL 08V-532) SUCH THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE CENTER CONSOLE CUP HOLDERS.SPILLAGE OF LIQUID FROM CUPS PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDERS MAY CONTAMINATE THE CONTROL MODULE AND THE CONNECTOR AND PREVENT PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS.IN ADDITION, IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES UNDER SAFETY RECALL 08V-533, HYUNDAI LOCATED A WIRING HARNESS FOR THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS UNDER EACH FRONT SEAT.MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT OR PLACEMENT OF OBJECTS UNDER THE SEAT MAY DISTURB THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING CIRCUIT.FOR EACH OF THE ABOVE DESCRIBED CONDITIONS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM DETECTS A FAULT.THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED SEVERAL CRASH REPORTS (TWO FATAL AND 17 CRASH REPORTS RESULTING IN NINE INJURY REPORTS) THAT INCLUDED ALLEGATIONS OF PRIOR AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION AND NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS, WHICH ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED (SEE RECALLS 08V-532 & 08V533).
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA08-012. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Hyundai
All Hyundai recallsWhat an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Hyundai VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for EA08-012
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.