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: vehicle speed control
7 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jul 25, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR FAILED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. UPON DECELERATION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT DESCRIBED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HAVING A "DEAD SPOT", THUS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ON ONE OCCASION, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RMPS THAT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE WORN POSITION SENSOR. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY REPLACED THE POSITIONING SENSOR. MILLENNIUM HYUNDAI (265 NORTH FRANKLIN ST, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Nov 23, 2010
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ON AND A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE BRAKES AND MY CAR ACCELERATED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STOPPED. ALSO THE AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF WITH AN ADULT IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 1, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY REVERSING WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER TO PREVENT FURTHER ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT WHEN SHE TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT, THE PROBLEM CORRECTED ITSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 2, 2010
MY VEHICLE REVS ON IT'S OWN. STARTING AND STOPPING THROUGH TOWN IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS I HOLD THE BRAKE DOWN THE CAR CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE AS IF MY FOOT IS ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR REVS IN PARK, NEUTRAL, DRIVE, AND REVERSE. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. HE CLEANED OUT THE FUEL THROTTLE AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK AND CAME BACK. I TALKED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE HAD NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE IT. HE TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY A DEFECT. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Aug 2, 2010
VEHICLE ACCELERATION. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Jun 23, 2005
DT: 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING TOUCHED, CONSUMER FIRST TRIED THE BRAKES WHICH DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO RIDE THE BRAKES UNTIL SHE COULD GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE FREEWAY, SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN A VARIETY OF POSITIONS, FOR EXAMPLE DRIVE, PARK, AND NEUTRAL THE ENGINE STILL RACED, CONSUMER EVEN TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP RACING, CONSUMER APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF TWO OR THREE TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME, THE DEALER FIXED THE VEHICLE THE FIRST TIME, AND REPLACED THE THROTTLE SENSOR, THIS OCCURRED ON NOV. 18, 2004; THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN ON JUNE 2, 2005, THE DEALER STATES THAT BY REPLACING THE ENGINE CHECK MODULAR THAT IT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE CHECK MODULAR, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SMELLED OF A BURNING SMELL AFTER THE SECOND TIME . *JB UPDATED 12/27/2005. *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Sep 9, 2004
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND ROLLED BACK WHEN ON THE FLAT SURFACE. CONSUMERTOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK