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.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 17, 2004
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR...MY CAR HAS 650 MILES AND IS 2 WEEKS OLD. MY SECOND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED THIS MORNING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PART TO HAVE GO AS IT CAUSES THE VEHICLES ENGINE TO SUDDENLY STOP, LEAVING YOU COASTING WITHOUT POWER STEERING TO "HOPEFULLY" A SAFE PLACE TO WAIT FOR THE 10-15 MINUTES IT TAKES BEFORE YOUR CAR WILL START AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NO LESS THAN 10 TIMES BETWEEN THE 2 SENSORS THAT I'VE HAD GO. EACH TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER WITHIN 24 HRS OF MALFUNCTION. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FIRST ONE, BUT THEY WERE OUT OF STOCK THIS MORNING, NOW I HAVE TO DRIVE IT FOR ANOTHER 24 HRS IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION, THE LOANER VEHICLES WERE ALREADY IN USE. A SEARCH OF THE WEB TOLD ME THAT CRANKSHAFT SENSORS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR HYUNDAI FOR MANY YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE IT AGAIN AT NO CHARGE. HAVING THIS HAPPEN IN A PLACE WHERE THERE IS NO BREAKDOWN LANE COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. *NM
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 15, 2004, crash
WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH AND TURNING TO THE LEFT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT CRASH. SEAT BELT DIDN'T HOLD THE DRIVER, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED.*AK
Air bags, Mar 5, 2004
WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT AN INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHICH STATED THAT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS OFF. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF NHTSA RECALL 03V322000 CONCERNING AIR BAG FAILURE. *AK CONSUMERS WIFE WHO IS ABOUT 130LBS EXPERIENCES THIS ISSUE WHEN IN THE PASS. SEAT. DRIVING AROUND CORNERS OR UP HILLS TURNS THE BAG ON AND OFF. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIX THE ISSUE.CW
Air bags, Feb 26, 2004
PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT SEAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SENSOR THAT ACTIVATES THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WHEN SOMEONE OVER 56 POUNDS IN WEIGHT SITS IN THAT SEATING POSITION. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM SENSOR WILL INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE CORRECTLY. CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT HER VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THE SAFETY RECALL (CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-322). *AL *MJJ
Air bags, Feb 24, 2004
THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE SEAT SENSORS WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER GAVE THE FIRST ELANTRA BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN A REPLACEMENT SAME MODEL AND YEAR, BUT THE PROBLEM EXISTED IN THAT CART AS WELL. *AK *JB
Air bags, Feb 19, 2004
AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, CONSUMER NOTICED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *LA THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR INCORRECTLY INTERPRETED THE ABSENCE OF A SEATED ADULT WHEN AN ADULT IN FACT OCCUPIED THE SEAT. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE AND IN THE EVEN OF A CRASH THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY . THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM IN THE PAST. (RECALL #03V322000). THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND THEY STATED THE HAD TO CONSULT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE SECOND TIME THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND WAS REPORTED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY WITH 60LB WEIGHT IN THE SEAT. THE THIRD TIME THE DEALER RECEIVED AN EXTRA SENSITIVE SENSOR FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FOURTH TIME THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND STATED THERE HAD BEEN NO CHANGE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PART WAS REPLACED WITH THE NEWEST THAT THERE WAS AND THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. *JB
Seats, Feb 2, 2004
BACK COVER ON PASSENGER SEAT CONTINUES TO POP OUT. WHEN CERTIFIED DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, ONE DAY LATER THE BACKING WAS AGAIN AJAR. RISK FOR FINGERS TO BE CAUGHT. HAPPENS REPEATEDLY. *JB