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: power train
7 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Air bags, Nov 3, 2024
The air bag light came on and it is staying on
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Oct 30, 2013
VERY SPORADIC (6-8 TIMES OVER SIX MONTHS) CONTINUED ACCELERATION AT 2500+ RPM WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL. NO CODES EVER SET; NO INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ENGINE HISTORY. TEST DRIVE BY A TRUSTED MECHANIC AND A SERVICE REP FROM LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER (MOST RECENT TEST DRIVE 10/30/2013) COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE DEFECT. TEST DRIVE BY ME WITH THE SAME SERVICE REP SAME DAY NEARLY RESULTED IN SEVERE CRASH. TURNING RIGHT OUT OF DEALERSHIP ONTO MD 198 AND ACCELERATING UP TO 3300 RPM TOWARD CHANGING TRAFFIC SIGNAL, VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM PEDAL. BRAKE APPLIED WITH GREAT EFFORT AND VIRTUALLY NO RESPONSE. STEERED INTO RIGHT TURN IN FRONT OF CROSS TRAFFIC FROM LEFT AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL TO REGAIN CONTROL OF BRAKES ON RIGHT SHOULDER. ENGINE RACED IN EXCESS OF 6000 RPM WITH NO LOAD FOR 1-2 SECONDS UNTIL I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TWICE. ENGINE RETURNED TO IDLE SPEED. THIS UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION HAPPENED TWICE MORE BEFORE WE GOT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND WARRANTS A FULL INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE OURISMAN HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP ON FORT MEADE ROAD, LAUREL, MD. *TR
Power train, Engine, Apr 4, 2013
VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE IN PARK AND IN NEUTRAL TO 3000RPM. SLOWED DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL ACCELERATION. *TR
Power train, Jul 25, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE HESITATED MOMENTARILY BEFORE FINALLY SHIFTING GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PROGRESSED UNTIL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK INTO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Power train, May 31, 2008
WHILE ENTERTAINING MY GIRLFRIENDS SISTER AND FAMILY, MY 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING, AND LOCKED IN SECOND GEAR. IT HAD BEEN LOSING POWER REGULARLY, AND HYUNDAI SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT, AS THEY DID NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG. THE CAR WOULD REV EXTREMELY HARD WHILE IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE ANY FASTER. AFTER IT LOCKED UP, IT WAS TOWED BY AAA TO A DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE HYUNDAI IMPROPERLY TOLD MY GIRLFRIEND THAT MY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS INVALID ( IT WAS NOT). THE CAR HAD 26,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT IT, THE SAID THAT THE CLUTCH PAD HAD BURNED UP, WHICH, HAD FUSED THE GEAR BOX, AND CAUSED THE CAR TO LOCK UP. THEY STATED THAT THE CLUTCH PAD WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THERE WARRANTY, AS THE DAMAGE WAS A RESULT OF "RIDING THE CLUTCH" I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS FOR 34 YEARS, AND HAVE NEVER RIDDEN THE CLUTCH. AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO HYUNDAI, BOTH TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO HYUNDAI USA, I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. TO THE TUNE OF $3500.00!!! THEY HAD MY CAR FOR OVER 2 WEEKS, AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME A LONER, SAYING SINCE IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE , THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED TO GIVE ME ONE. THIS WAS AFTER HYUNDAI USA HAD TOLD ME SPECIFICALLY THAT THE CLUTCH PAD WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD GET A LONER WHILE IT WAS REPAIRED. I WAS UNABLE TO GET TO WORK FOR OVER A WEEK, WHICH COST ME A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PROBLEM, NOT TO MENTION HAVING TO PAY $3,500.00 OUT OF MY POCKET. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, AS I KNOW 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS, AND IN ALL CASES ALL HYUNDAI WOULD DO WAS SAY THEY WERE RIDING THE CLUTCH, AND MAKE THEM PAY FOR REPAIRS. AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD TALKED TO A HYUNDAI MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD HYUNDAI KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND HAD FAILED TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF IT, THAT THEY HAD REFUSED TO REPLACE ANY TRANSMISSIONS AND IN FACT THEY HAD CHANGED THEIR WARRANTY ENOUGH TO MAKE IT VAGUE. *TR
Power train, Feb 24, 2007
39892 MILES ON 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA AND TOLD CLUTCH NEEDS REPLACED FOR AN ESTIMATED $895. TOLD BY DEALER THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS IT IS WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE HAD A CAR WITH CLUTCH FOR 30 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A CLUTCH GO OUT IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. *JB
Power train, May 15, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED WHILE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. WHEN THE GEAR ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD PINGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.