2005 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 137 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 21st highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 30 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 26 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lightingJul 21, 2009
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFT OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-787-999-4310.
Campaign 09V280000 on NHTSA.gov
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
Steering, linkages, tie rod assemblyApr 28, 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH THREADED PORTIONS OF THE STEERING GEARBOX ASSEMBLY'S LEFT AND RIGHT INNER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES THAT CONTAIN INTERNAL CRACKS IN THE MATERIAL STRUCTURE.
IF THE INNER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY WAS TO BREAK AS A RESULT OF THE INTERNAL CRACK, THE TIE ROD END ASSEMBLY WOULD NOT LONGER BE ATTACHED TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THIS WOULD PREVENT STEERING CONTROL OF THAT FRONT WHEEL BY THE SEPARATED TIE ROD WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEARBOX ASSEMBLIES ON THESE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE BEGINNING ON APRIL 8, 2005, AND INSTRUCTED NOT TO DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES. HYUNDAI WILL ARRANGE TO PICK UP AND RETURN THEIR VEHICLES AFTER REPAIR. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 05V187000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
71 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Feb 1, 2007
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, HATCHBACK , 5 DOOR, GT. THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE AIR BAGS. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DOESN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE DEALER CONTINUES TO RESET THE AIR BAG. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON, AND SHE HAS ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO RESET THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT READS THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS NOT ON. THE VEHICLE WAS REPROGRAMMED TWICE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF EVEN WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THEY MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE SEAT. THE MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THE CONTACT HAS TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER AGAIN. HYUNDAI STATED THAT THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE AN AGREEMENT. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 15 TIMES. *AK
Air bags, Nov 28, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERABLE. A NHTSA RECALL, #05V395000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE AIR BAG HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES SINCE THE RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.
Air bags, Nov 27, 2006, crash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED.
Air bags, Jun 13, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED AND THE OCS LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. AN NHTSA RECALL, # 05V395000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE AIR BAGS HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.
Air bags, May 14, 2006, crash
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS HIT SO HARD THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURY TO THEIR CHEST AREA FROM THE FORCE OF THE SEAT BELT STRAP HOLDING THEM BACK RATHER THAN THE AIRBAGS ASSISTING IN THE IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS A DETERMINED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *NM
Air bags, Apr 28, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS CURRENTLY ILLUMINATED. A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V395000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE AIR BAGS HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED.
Air bags, Mar 27, 2006
I RECEIVED A NOTICE ON 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAVING THE RT FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG RECALLED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WE BOUGHT FROM AND TOOK IT IN. THEY MADE AN ADJUSTMENT ON THE SENSOR ON FEB 28, 2006. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THEY SENT THE SEAT TO CALIFORNIA TO HAVE THE SENSOR ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF. WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM AND HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF IT AND IS DRAGGING THEIR FEET DECIDING WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WANT IT SOLVED. I TOLD THEM WE ARE GOING OUT OF TOWN ON APRIL 1, 2006 AND IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED THEY NEED TO PROVIDE US A LOANER. IT IS NOW MARCH 27, 2006 AND I STILL DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.*JB
Air bags, Mar 6, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE A PASSENGER WEIGHING 120-125 POUNDS IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG SENSOR IS INOPERATIVE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATES INDICATING A LACK OF PASSENGER AIRBAG PROTECTION. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS.
Air bags, Feb 21, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONTAL AIRBAG SENSOR WORKS IMPROPERLY. THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE AN ADULT OF 120 LBS. WAS SETTING IN THE SEAT. THE SENSOR ILLUMINATED FOR UP TO SIX MINUTES THEN TURN OFF. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP THE SENSOR WAS RESET. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THERE WAS A RECALL, NHTSA # 05V395000, REGARDING THE AIRBAGS. THE RECALL WAS BECAUSE THE SENSORS IDENTIFIED A CHILD AS AN ADULT WERE AS IN THIS CASE THE PROBLEM IS REVERSED.
Air bags, Feb 18, 2006
FRONT/SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR/MODULE APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. SINCE NEW OCCUPANT SENSOR WILL NOT RELIABLY CLASSIFY AN ADULT SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND MOST OFTEN TURNS AIRBAGS OFF OR TURNS ON AND OFF DURING A TRIP. I HAVE NOTED THAT THIS OCCURS WITH A VARIETY OF ADULTS WEIGHING FROM 100-150 LBS. I HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TWICE FOR REPROGRAMMING IN DECEMBER 2005. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *NM
Air bags, Dec 22, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE OCCUPANT WAS NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT PROPERLY. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY FOUND NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V395000. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE SENSOR, AND THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AFTERWARDS, THE GIRD WAS REPLACED AND THE LIGHT STILL ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT CURRENTLY BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
Air bags, Aug 4, 2005, crash
ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2005 A YOUNG MAN WAS RACING ON U.S. HIGHWAY 75 IN SHERMAN. HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER SOUTHBOUND CAR AND KNOCKED ACROSS A GRASSY MEDIAN, INTO MY CAR HEAD ON. MY AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED IMMEDIATELY, HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER BAG DID NOT DEPLOY RIGHT AWAY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO ONE OF MY PASSENGERS, TONI FOLSOM. ON INITIAL IMPACT, TONI FLEW FORWARD AND HER HEAD IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD, THE SEAT BELT THEN YANKED HER BACK AND SHE FLEW FORWARD AGAIN AND ONLY THEN DID THE AIRBAG DEPLOY. TONI HAD A BROKEN NOSE, CONCUSSION, 30 STITCHES IN HER FACE, AND A PERFORATED COLON FROM THE SEAT BELT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. MY CONCERN IS THE FACT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED LATE. I KNOW OF ANOTHER MAN WHOSE SENSOR IN HIS 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IS NOT WORKING FOR HIS PASSENGER BAG AND THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS TELLING HIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU, CHERIE ODOM . *NM
Air bags, Jul 13, 2005, crash
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN HIGH SPEED CRASH.
Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 20, 2005, crash
DT: THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON APRIL 1, 2005. DURING THE ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SEAT BELTS ALSO FAILED TO LOCK DURING IMPACT. *NM *SB
Air bags, Jun 9, 2005
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.
Air bags, Apr 25, 2005
PASSENGER'S AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY STAYED ON. PASSENGER'S WEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR THE SEAT WAS SPECIFIED IN THE MANUAL, HOWEVER, THE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG SOFTWARE. PER THE RECALL THE TECHNICIAN REPROGRAMMED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM .*AK *BF *NM
Air bags, Apr 11, 2005
PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY SINCE PURCHASE IN NOVEMBER 2004. HYUNDAI SENT TECH TO REPROGRAM AIRBAG SENSOR IN FEBRUARY 2005 AND NOW WORKS FOR MY SON WHO WEIGHTS 135 LBS, BUT STILL DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY OR CONSISTENTLY WHEN MY DAUGHTER WHO IS 19 AND WEIGHTS 105 LBS SITS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. TODAY APRIL 15, 2005 WHEN I COMPLAINED AGAIN TO HYUNDAI, I WAS TOLD THE ELANTRA CONFORMS WITH US GOVERNMENT STANDARDS. DOES THE US GOVERNMENT SANCTION OR APPROVE THE USE OF AIRBAG SENSORS THAT FAIL TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF PASSENGERS IN THE ELANTRA 2005? OR, TECHNOLOGY THAT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST PEOPLE OF CERTAIN WEIGHT? IT IS DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AROUND ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE PASSENGER AIRBARG INDICATOR LIGHT NOT KNOWING WHEN IT IS GOING TO BE ON OR OFF, PROTENCTING MY DAUGHTER OR NOT.*AK
Air bags, Apr 6, 2005
THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY. THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT CONSISTENTLY TURNS ON EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM ,AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 31, 2005, crash
CAR INVOLVED IN A LOW SPEED (20-25MPH) COLLISION. FRONT LEFT QUARTER PANEL ENGAGED REAR RIGHT OF PICKUP BED. NO HOOD DAMAGE OCCURED, MINOR BUMPER DAMAGE BUT EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT LEFT AXLE ASSEMBLE WHEN IT WAS BROKE LOOSE FROM MOUNTINGS. AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON DRIVERS SIDE. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT FAILED TO ANCHOR ON HARD BRAKE OR ON IMPACT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE FLUNG FORWARD INJURING THE DRIVERS LEFT SHOULDER AND CAUSING THE DRIVERS HAND TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS UNCLEAR WEATHER THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE ARM TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SEATBELT JAMED IN EXTENDED POSITION RAISING CONCERN BY THE BODY REPAIR SHOP AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SEATBELT UNIT. FURTURE THE BODY REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE "BURN RING" WAS NOT BURNT INDICATING THE FORCE RETRACT NEVER ENGAGED UPON AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND SEATBELT WAS NOT EVER RETRACTED AFTER THE ACCIEDENT -- MEANING THE WAY IT WAS EXTENDED IS THE WAY IT WAS AT THE TIME THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. BODY REPAIR SHOP HAS BEEN INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THE BROKED SEATBELT ASSEMBLE TO ME UP ON COMPLETION OF THE REPAIRS TO THE CAR.
Air bags, Mar 27, 2005
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON SPORADICALLY IN OUR NEW 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WHEN PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN THE SEAT. MY WIFE WEIGHS IN EXCESS ON 190 POUNDS AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AT LEAST 5 TIMES DURING A TRIP OF 124 MILES IN EARLY MARCH AND HAS COME ON ONCE OR TWICE DURING TRIPS OF 26 MILES TO THE GROCERY STORE. WE TOOKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING SINCE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Air bags, Feb 14, 2005
THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG SENSOR WILL NOT ENGAGE IF THE WEIGHT CAPACITY IS NOT MET, WHICH MEANS THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. CONTACTED THE DEALER,, AND WAS TOLD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR SIT THE PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT. *AK