2004 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 182 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 24 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 26 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bagsOct 17, 2005
CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY A CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT (CRS) AS AN ADULT. THIS MAY OCCUR IF THE CRS IS INSTALLED AFTER AN ADULT HAS BEEN SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. IF THERE HAS NOT BEEN A 'KEY ON' ' KEY OFF' CYCLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EMPTY PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE CRS.
THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF A CRS AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG OR SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO REMOVE THE FEATURE THAT MAY CAUSE THE CRS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ADULT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
Campaign 05V479000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsSep 12, 2005
CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY A CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT (CRS) AS AN ADULT. THIS MAY OCCUR IF THE CRS IS INSTALLED AFTER AN ADULT HAS BEEN SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. IF THERE HAS NOT BEEN A 'KEY ON' ' KEY OFF' CYCLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EMPTY PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE CRS.
THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF A CRS AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG OR SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO REMOVE THE FEATURE THAT MAY CAUSE THE CRS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ADULT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 05V395000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsJul 30, 2004
DURING AN INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) OFFSET FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FUEL TAN DAMAGE COULD OCCUR. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP THAT IS LOCATED NEAR THE FUEL TANK MAY NOT BE POSITIONED PROPERLY AND COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE.
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EARS AND CORRECTLY POSITION THE CLAMP, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
Campaign 04V370000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMay 3, 2004
DURING AN INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) OFFSET FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUEL SPILLAGE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF FUEL TANK DAMAGE CAUSED BY CONTACT BETWEEN A VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR AND THE FUEL TANK. THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR WAS FOUND TO BE MISPOSITIONED AND FACING TOWARD THE FUEL TANK.
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE COULD CAUSE THE MISPOSITIONED CLAMP TO PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP AND CORRECTLY POSITION THE CLAMP, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 04V208000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsAug 26, 2003
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.
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER.
THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR WILL BE REPROGRAMMED.
Campaign 03V322000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
6 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Nov 29, 2010
WHILE DRIVING TO FLORIDA ON I95 USING CRUISE CONTROL TRAFFIC BEGAN TO BACK UP IN THE RICHMOND AREA SO THE WIFE HIT THE BRAKES. CAR DID NOT DISENGAGE BUT RATHER SPED UP TO THE CONTROL SETTING. REPEATEDLY HITTING THE BRAKES HAD NO EFFECT SO WE HAD TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE UNIT. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER OF PURCHASE AS WELL AS TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER WITH NO RESOLUTION OTHER THAN TO PAY FOR THEM TO HUNT DOWN THE PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO FIND THAT THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALL BRAKE LIGHTS AND WILL TEMPORARILY FIX ITSELF IF I HIT THE WIRING HARNESS IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS.. IT IS NOT DUE TO A FAULTY BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH. THIS WAS REPORTED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIPS WITH THE SAME RESULT THEN TO HYUNDAI USA ON NOV 4, 2010 CASE NUMBER [XXX]. HYUNDAI MAINTAINS IT IS A SERVICE ISSUE AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT MY ONLY RECOURSE IS TO PAY THE DEALER TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. I INFORMED THEM THAT IF THEY GOOGLE HYUNDAI BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEMS THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE REPORTING LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS WHO MAY BE UNAWARE THAT THEIR CRUISE CONTROL MAY DISENGAGE. THEY HAVE CLOSED THE CASE SO I AM REQUESTING THAT THIS BE PUT ON RECORD. CONDITION STILL EXISTS AFTER 6 ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR.. IS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE HARNESS CONNECTOR I BELIEVE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jan 31, 2006
ON 3/4/2005, WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE CAR STALLED AND WOULDN'T IMMEDIATELY START. IT DID START LATER. I WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHICH REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ON 4/21/2005, I GOT TO MY PARKED CAR TO FIND THAT IT WOULDN'T START FOR 10-15 MINUTES. THE SYMPTOMS WERE VERY SIMILAR TO THE MARCH 4 INCIDENT, WITHOUT THE STALLING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY TO PREFACE IT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, WHERE THEY TESTED THE CAR BUT MADE NO REPAIRS. I WROTE HYUNDAI. A REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED ME AND ASKED THAT HYUNDAI HAVE AN ATTEMPT TO FULLY INVESTIGATE. I HAD AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM, AND THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED THEM TO COORDINATE EXAMINATION OF THE CAR. THE DEALER HAD ONE OF THEIR TOP ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS PEOPLE EXAMINE THE CAR IN CONSULTATION WITH THE REGIONAL OFFICE ON 5/7/2005. THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. ON 1/3/2006, THE CAR STALLED OUT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND WOULDN'T START IMMEDIATELY. A DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ON 1/13/2006, THE CAR STALLED OUT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND WOULDN'T START IMMEDIATELY. A DEALER EXAMINED IT AND CONSULTED WITH HYUNDAI TECH LINE BUT DID NOTHING. I SENT HYUNDAI ANOTHER LETTER. THEY ASKED TO BE ABLE TO SEND A REGIONAL TECHNICIAN TO LOOK AT IT. A DEALER REPLACED THE POWER CONTROL MODULE AND CHECKED CONNECTIONS PER DIRECTIONS OF THE REGIONAL TECHNICIAN. HYUNDAI DEEMED THE CAR OKAY BECAUSE THE TECHNICIAN WENT FOR A 15 MILE TEST DRIVE; THE CAR HAS HAD THREE POTENTIALLY FATAL INCIDENTS IN 22,491 MILES. A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE REGIONAL OFFICE SAID THE THEY REPLACED THE POWER CONTROL MODULE BASED ON INCIDENTS IN OTHER CARS, WHERE THE ERROR CODE FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS COME UP. HE SAID THIS WAS A "PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE," THAT THE TECHNICIAN WASN'T ABLE TO VERIFY THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED, AND COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WASN'T SUGGESTED EARLIER. *JB
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Oct 21, 2005
HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS 2004 (1) NO EVENTS LED UP TO FAILURES (2) BETWEEN 15000-20000 MILES IGNITION STOPPED WORKING - FIXED BY HYUNDAI AFTER WE SEVERELY NAGGED THEM FOR DAYS - CAR IS LESS THAN 18 MONTHS OLD HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT NOW CLUTCH DISK IS SUPPOSEDLY BURNED OUT- I HAVE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH BURN OUT ON ME OR ANYONE I KNOW MUCH LESS AT A MERE 32,000 MILES WANT TO CHARGE ME 300 TO SEE IF WARRANTY MIGHT COVER IT; HOWEVER IF IT DOESN'T THEY WILL CHARGE ME 800 OR SO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM CAR GRINDS WHEN TURNING- HYUNDAI WILL NOT CHECK IT OUT, SUPPOSEDLY WARRANTY ALSO DOES NOT COVER THIS. STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY FALLING APART VANITY MIRROR COVER FELL OFF YES, ALL THIS HAPPENED WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. I AM NOW COMPLETELY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. THE GEARS DO NOT CATCH WELL AND ARE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE REASON I BOUGHT THIS CAR WAS FOR ITS AMAZING WARRANTY. COME TO FIND OUT THE WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER ANYTHING AT ALL. HYUNDAI DID REPLACE MY VANITY MIRROR. NOW IF ONLY THE FREAKING CAR WORKED! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HYUNDAI. *NM
Electrical system, Oct 17, 2005
(1) CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME WITHOUT WARNING. MAY GO FOR WEEKS, DAYS, OR MINUTES BEFORE RECURRING. (2)ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. MUST SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO RESTART. NOT EASY TO DO WHEN DOING 65 MPH ON RT 30, TO SUDDENLY HAVE NO POWER OR POWER STEERING AND A SEMI IS ON YOUR TAIL. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST TIME IN WET, DRY, FAST SLOW, OR IDLE. (3) 1ST TIME WIGGLE WIRES. IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN IN THE SHOP. REPLACED FUSE BOX, WE REFUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN DUE TO FEAR FOR OUR LIVES. SINCE THERE IS NO WARNING AND IT CAN BE WEEKS BETWEEN HAPPENINGS YOU CAN'T PREPARE FOR IT. *NM
Electrical system, Sep 28, 2005
DT: A WIRING BURNING SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THIS HAPPENED EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL IN THE DASHBOARD TURNED OFF. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED ON JUNE 20, 2005. THE PROBLEM USUALLY HAPPENED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. LATELY, IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical system, Mar 2, 2005, fire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE SMELLED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. VEHICLE BRAKES WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND HER AND THE PASSENGERS GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN SECONDS OF FLAMES. *TC