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: suspension
7 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Feb 1, 2024
Rapid rusting of rear subframe cross member. Car rarely gets driven in snow or even bad weather. Went from minimal signs of rust to looking pretty rotted within the past year. Saw recalls on similar Hyundai vehicles. Maybe possible the same steel was used, or same lack of corrosion preventative.
Suspension, Air bags, Seat belts, Apr 8, 2016
"TAKATA RECALL " WELL I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT VEHICLE RECALLS UNTIL THE DEATH OF A YOUNG GIRL AND A FEW OTHERS. MY CAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH IT WHEN I'M DRIVING TO WORK AT 4AM IN THE MORNING ABOUT 5 MILES THERE AND BACK AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, MY SUSPENSION IS DANGEROUS AND MY SEAT BELT IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE IT SOME WHAT WORKS. I REALLY WANT TO BE SAFE AND I WANT MY FAMILY SAFE.
Suspension, Air bags, Structure, Engine, Mar 29, 2014, crash
FROM STOP SIGN PROCEEDED TO CROSS INTERSECTION, WAS STRUCK ON FRONT END OF DRIVERS SIDE PANEL AND BUMPER, SPUN AROUND AND HIT AGAIN ON DRIVER BACK SIDE PANEL AND REAR WHEEL, RIPPED HALF OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND CRUSHED DRIVERS FRONT SIDE AGAINST ENGINE , NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TR
Suspension, Feb 4, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE DONE ON HIS VEHICLE, HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT ALL FOUR STRUTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Suspension, Power train, Apr 30, 2011
KNOCKING SOUND STARTED IN RIGHT FRONT WHEN TURNING RIGHT. NOT MUCH BUT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER & LONGER ON ALL TURNS. THE FRONT TRANSAXLE SHAFT BASICALLY WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG W THE BALL JOINTS IN FRONT END.5 SPEED *TR
Suspension, Tires, Sep 9, 2005
STRONG STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION ON 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER 5 TIMES, IN WHICH THEY HAVE ROTATED WHEELS, BALANCED TIRES, ROAD FORCE BALANCED TIRES, WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. NUMEROUS OTHER ELANTRAS FROM 2001-2005 SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM AS A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL YIELD MANY. HYUNDAI WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE. WILL FILE FOR LEMON LAW IF NOT FIXED ON 6TH ATTEMPT. *NM
Suspension, Nov 15, 2004
STABILIZER BAR SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISH TAIL. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK