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
182 reports, newest first.
Suspension, Nov 15, 2004
STABILIZER BAR SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISH TAIL. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Air bags, Nov 15, 2004
THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURE IS SENDING FORMS FOR THE CONSUMER TO SUBMIT. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS VEHICLE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR ACCIDENTS. *SC
Air bags, Nov 14, 2004
REPEATED INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" BEGINNING WITHIN DAYS OF PURCHASE. FAILURES OCCUR WHEN ANYONE SITS IN PASSENGER SEAT. ADULTS WEIGHING 190, 170, AND 140 HAVE TURNED AIRBAGS OFF. POODLE WEIGHING 9 LBS TURNED AIRBAGS ON! NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AT SERVICE AUGUST 04 TO PRESENT, WITH LONG DELAYS WAITING FOR HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVES TO ADDRESS AND DELAYS AND CANCELLED APPOINTMENTS BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. RESULTS OF SERVICE APPOINTMENTS INCLUDED COULD NOT DUPLICATE, TOLD THAT SENSOR ACTIVATED WHEN PASSENGER MOVES IN SEAT, CLAIMED TO ORDER NEW "UPGRADED" SENSOR, DID NOT HAVE "SPECIAL" TOOL TO INSTALL NEW SENSOR, NOTHING MORE THAT SERVICE DEPT COULD DO, AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT IF SENSOR INDICATES AIRBAGS OFF, THEN TOLD THAT DISTRICT MANAGER WOULD HAVE TO INSTALL NEW SENSOR, SVC CANCELLED BECAUSE DISTRICT MANAGER ADVISED SERVICE MANAGER THAT NEW SENSOR WOULD NOT WORK, TOLD THAT DISTRICT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WOULD ARRIVE TO ASSESS AND VERIFY ISSUE THEN LET ME KNOW WHAT WOULD BE DONE AND WOULD HAVE TO SIGN WAIVER, DISTRICT SVC REP TESTED (COMPARED MY 04 ELANTRA MANUFACTURED SEPT 03 AND ANOTHER MANUFACTURED MAY 04) AND CONCLUDED CAUSE WAS THE WAY I SIT IN THE SEAT. LIGHT CAME ON IN BOTH VEHICLES WHEN I SAT IN PASSENGER SEAT, AND WHEN HE SAT IN MY PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. CONCLUDED THAT I WAS NOT SITTING FAR ENOUGH BACK IN THE SEAT FOR SENSOR TO RECOGNIZE. STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A DEFECT BUT A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE 04 ELANTRA. WOULD RETURN TWO WEEKS LATER TO "REPROGRAM" SENSOR TO MORE SENSITIVE STATE. THIS WAS MORE THAN ONE MONTH AGO. HAVE HAD THREE NEAR COLLISIONS SINCE PURCHASE, WITH CONSTANT FEAR OF PASSENGER SEAT FOR SEVEN AND ONE HALF MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. *JB
Air bags, Nov 9, 2004
AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALERON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK
Air bags, Seats, Nov 9, 2004, crash
THE DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, UPON IMPACT THE PASSENGER SEAT COLLAPSED. ONLY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *JB *SC
Air bags, Oct 22, 2004
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD WHEN SOME WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO TO FIX IT. CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
Air bags, Oct 20, 2004
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THE CONSUMER HAD TO WIGGLE THE INSTRUMENT IN ORDER TO MAKE IT GO OFF. THE DEALER STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS.*AK *JB
Air bags, Oct 19, 2004
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DISABLED LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH ADULTS OF MINIMUM OF 100 POUNDS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. *AK
Air bags, Oct 12, 2004
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS SUPPOSED TO BE ACTIVATED WHEN A PASSENGER >56.4 POUNDS IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WHEN MY DAUGHTER (ABOUT 110 POUNDS) IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG GOES ON AND OFF WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING, AND SHE IS NOT MOVING. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND I HAVE CONTACTED THEIR DISTRICT OFFICE AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I AM WORRIED THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG WILL NOT BE ACTIVATED. *NM
Air bags, Oct 6, 2004
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR FAILED TO FUNCTION. WHEN A PASSENGER WHO WEIGHT MORE THAT THE CLASSIFIED 50 LBS WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR STILL READ OFF. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE.*AK
Air bags, Sep 24, 2004
THE AIR BAG SENSOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN SITTING IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH FEET PLACED FLAT NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE SENSOR WILL ACTIVATE. HOWEVER, IF CONSUMER MOVES FEET THE SENSOR WILL DEACTIVATE, AND THE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. *AK
Air bags, Sep 24, 2004
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY APARTMENT'S PARKING LOT. MY WIFE AND I ENTERED THE VEHICLE. I STARTED THE ENGINE. WE BOTH BUCKLED OUR SEATBELTS AND I TOOK OFF THE PARKING BRAKE. AS I WAS REACHING FOR THE GEARSHIFT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK
Air bags, Sep 22, 2004
PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. WHEN AN OCCUPANT WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS OFF. THIS SHOULD ONLY OCCUR IN THE UNOCCUPIED SEAT. RECALL O3V322000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Air bags, Sep 20, 2004
CONSUMER'S WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT THING THAT WAS DESCRIBED ON THE INTERNET ONLY FOR RENT A CAR BUSINESS. FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SOMEONE THERE.*AK
Air bags, Sep 15, 2004
2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, WHEN A PASSENGER IS RIDING THE LIGHT ON THE DASH KEEPS COMMING ON WITH THE MESSAGE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" THE CAR WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER, AND HE SAYS THE PERSON IS NOT HEAVY ENOUGH FOR THE SEAT SENSOR TO PICK UP. THE PERSON WEIGHS 140-155 POUNDS. WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Air bags, Sep 14, 2004
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS NOT ACTIVATED WHEN MY WIFE OF 120# IS SEATED IN MY 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THIS HAS OCCURRED FROM THE TIME I ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND IN THAT THERE WAS NOT A FIX. ON YOUR SITE YOU STATE THAT THE REMEDY IS A RE-PROGRAMING BY THE DEALER. THE MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR AT THE DEALER HAS NOT HEARD OF THAT. I ACQUIRED THIS CAR AS A RESULT OF MY 2001 ELANTRA BEING TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT ACTIVATED BOTH OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS, WHICH I CONSIDER PREVENTED SERIOUS INJURY TO ME AND MY WIFE. MY LAST CONVERSATION WITH THE SUPERVISOR AT THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS A POSIBLE FIX IN THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WOULD BE MODIFIED TO ENABLE DEPLOYMENT AT ALL TIMES. HE ALSO STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SIGN A WAIVER IF THEY WERE TO DO SO. THIS IS BEYOND ME. I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE COULD DESIGN A SYSTEM WITHOUT THE MEANS TO CALIBRATE IT FOR PEOPLE WITH NARROW REARS. THE AIR BAG SENSOR IS SUPPOSED TO BE ENABLED FOR WEIGHTS GREATER THAT 56# AS STATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. A 60# INDIVIDUAL IS NOT VERY WIDE.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 13, 2004
OIL FILTER GASKET WAS STUCK TO THE ENGINE CLOCK. AS A RESULT, A LEAK DEVELOPED, AND OIL BEGAN TO SPRAY ALL OVER THE VEHICLE, AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. *AK
Air bags, Sep 10, 2004
PASSENGER'S ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO WORK AND SHUT OFF WHEN AN ADULT SAT IN THE SEAT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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
Air bags, Sep 8, 2004
FRONTAL AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN A PASSENGER WAS SEATED. ALSO, SENSOR FAILED TO ACTIVATE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED
Air bags, Aug 28, 2004
I BOUGHT A NEW HYUNDAI ELENTRA IN JUNE 20TH, 2004. EVERY SINCE I GOT IT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED. I AM A FULLY GROWN ADULT FEMALE WHO WEIGHS 128LBS. WHEN I AM SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF MEANING THAT IT WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE WITH NO RESULTS. HYUNDAI KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THE SENSOR SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DEALER HOWEVER, ADMITS THAT THEY REALIZE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT THAT THEY CAN NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE UNLESS HYUNDAI AMERICA GIVES THEM PERMISSION. THIS ISSUE REALLY CONCERNS ME BECAUSE IT IS A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO DEATHS. PLEASE NOTE THAT EVERYTIME SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, THE SENSOR HAS FAILED. *JB
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 26, 2004
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HESITATED THEN STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
Air bags, Aug 24, 2004
WHEN AN ADULT SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ADVANCED AIR BAG WOULD SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Air bags, Aug 19, 2004
THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IF A PERSON'S WEIGHT WAS OVER 50 LBS. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON AS LONG AS THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. *JB
Air bags, Aug 6, 2004
MY HUSBAND BOUGHT A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA END OF FEBRUARY AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR. WHEN I AM SITTING IN THE SEAT (I WEIGH APPROX 120 LBS) THE LIGHT INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF IS ILLUMINATED 99% OF THE TIME. WHEN WE NOTICED IT I TRIED TO BE AWARE OF THE WAY I WAS SITTING AND ALSO HAD OTHERS SIT THERE INSTEAD OF ME. WHEN READING THE OWNERS MANUAL ABOUT THE SENSOR WEIGHT BEING 56 LBS AND NOTICING THE PROBLEM PERSISITING NO MATTER HOW STILL OR CORRECT I SAT WE CALLED THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME THEY PHYSICALLY LOOKED AT IT TO "DIAGNOSE" THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK (6/04) AND I WASN'T SITTING RIGHT; OF COURSE IT STILL OCCURED. SO WE HAD TO GO DOWN AND DEMONSTRATE THAT I SAT IN THE SEAT EXACTLY LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO AND THE LIGHT NEVER WENT OFF. THIS PROMPTED THEM TO ORDER A NEW SENSOR. IT TOOK APPROX 40 DAYS FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE AND WE JUST RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK YESTERDAY AND IT IS STILL MALFUNCTIONING.*AK