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: vehicle speed control
14 reports, newest first. Show all
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
Vehicle speed control, Nov 16, 2012, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE BUT THE VEHICLE INSTEAD ENGAGED IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF A NEIGHBORING HOME. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Vehicle speed control, Nov 14, 2012, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO REVERSE UNINTENDEDLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN CRASHED INTO A NEARBY HOUSE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Vehicle speed control, Oct 16, 2012, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED ABNORMALLY AND THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SIGNS AS IF IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION WHILE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. . ..UPDATED 12/03/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED SINCE THE COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW ANY ERROR CODES. THE CONSUMER STATED, MORE RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN TO PARK, WHILE CHANGING GEARS TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE SHOT BACK AND HIT THE VEHICLE BEHIND IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN, IN OCTOBER OF 2009. UPDATED 12/07/2012*JS
Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Jan 23, 2012, crash
ON DECEMBER 10, 2011, I WAS TURNING FROM NORTHBOUND GARY AV. ONTO EASTBOUND LAWRENCE AVE. AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. WHILE I WAS TURNING MY ACCELERATOR STUCK THE ENGINE SPED OUT OF CONTROL TO AT LEAST 40 MPH. I SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A TRUCK TURNING ONTO GARY AND MY CAR WENT OVER THE SOUTH CURB.. AND MY ATTEMPTS TO BREAK WERE FAILING ALL THIS TIME... I CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE INTO SOMEBODY'S BACK YARD WENT DOWN HILL ABOUT 50 FEET AND RAN INTO A TREE. I THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INVESTIGATING BLOOMINGDALE POLICE OFFICER STARTED THE CAR AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS STILL STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION. THE BODY SHOP PERSONNEL ALSO CONFIRMED THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 19, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND EVENTUALLY IT STOPPED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION ON A SMALLER SCALE TWICE BEFORE THE LATEST FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
Vehicle speed control, Feb 24, 2010
WHILE DRIVING VERY SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT, JUST AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AND WHILE GENTLY PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT AN UNDESIRABLY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. ALTHOUGH I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND FIRMLY PRESSED THE BRAKE, THE CAR CONTINUED TO LURCH FORWARD WHILE THE RPM REVVED LOUDLY. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO PARK, AND THE CAR STOPPED MOVING AND A FEW SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE IDLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. FORTUNATELY, NO CARS OR PEDESTRIANS WERE IN FRONT OF ME, ALTHOUGH MANY SHOPPERS STANDING NEARBY STOPPED TO WATCH AS THEY HEARD THE EXCESSIVE ROAR OF THE ENGINE. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER, AND HE FOUND NO RECORD OF THE INCIDENT ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER SOFTWARE. THIS INCIDENT OF SUDDEN UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION HAPPENED THIS ONE TIME AND HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE. I AM REPORTING THIS TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO TOYOTA. *TR
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Oct 21, 2009, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 5 MPH INTO A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE TOWN BUILDING CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGES AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE CRASH SITE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, AND THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES TO THE SHOULDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE ACCUSATION OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FURTHER. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 33,419.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Aug 22, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS GOING OR IF THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO CRASH, SHE WAS BALE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME. THE VEHICLE ALSO RECEIVED POOR GAS MILEAGE. UPDATED 09/25/06. *JB UPDATED 9/27/2006 - *NM
Vehicle speed control, Aug 4, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DISENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANUALLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH WAS DANGLING BY THE REMAINING CABLE AND AVOIDED A POSSIBLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED . THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Mar 4, 2006
I AM HAVING SOME WHAT THE SAME ISSUE MY HUSBAND HAD WITH HIS 2002 ELANTRA WHICH WAS REPORTED TO YOUR ORGANIZATION, AND HAD RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. IN MY 2005 ELANTRA THE MANUFACTURER EVIDENTLY KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS IN THE 2002 AND HAS NOW MOVED THE BRAKE PEDAL .75 OF AN INCH TO THE LEFT. THIS UNFORTUNATELY ONLY SATISFIED HALF OF THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN BRAKING, STILL GOES ONE INCH BELOW THE ACCELERATOR THEREBY RESULTING IN SIMULTANEOUS BRAKING AND ACCELERATION. IF MY HUSBAND HAD NOT DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM, AND INSTALLED CORRECTIVE MEASURES, I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY CRASHED. HOWEVER, HE HAD MEASURED AND CORRECTED EVERYTHING BEFORE I WOULD TAKE MY FIRST TRIP! I FEEL SORRY FOR JOHN DOE AS PROBABLY 99% OF DRIVERS WOULD NOT REALIZE WHAT WAS THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THEIR ACCIDENT! I ALSO CANNOT BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT TAKE ACTION AGAINST HYUNDAI TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE IN ALL OF THE ELANTRA'S SO AFFECTED. YOU HAVE TO REALIZE IN MOST CASES THIS IS A BLIND ISSUE AS THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE AWARE WHAT THE ACTUAL CAUSE WAS. RECENTLY A JOHN DOE FILED A COMPLAINT LISTED ON MYCARSTATS.COM WHEREBY HE CONTINUOUSLY HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE! *NM
Vehicle speed control, Nov 28, 2005
2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTANT WILD ACCELERATION WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AS IF I HAD FLOORED THE ACCELERATOR. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THUS NO FIX. *NM
Vehicle speed control, Jul 21, 2005
TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 80MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN IT CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 15 MILES BEFORE I PUT THE VEH IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE KEY,(THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE DEALER ADVISED ME TO DO THAT).AT THAT TIME SMOKE POURED OUT OF THE ENGINE AND I THOUGHT THE VEH WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 . I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION HOWEVER THE POLICEMAN ASKED ME TO MOVE THE CAR AND WHEN I TURNED ON THE KEY IT STARTED AT FULL THROTTLE I WAS AFRAID SO I GOT OUT AND REFUSED TO MOVE THE CAR. WHEN A POLICE OFFICER MOVED THE CAR IT AGAIN STARTED AT FULL THROTTLE. THEY TOWED IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND I WANT A DIFFERENT VEH OR A REFUND.
Vehicle speed control, Feb 28, 2005, crash
OWNER OF A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA REPORTING VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *BF THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST COLLISION ENDED WITHOUT VISIBLE DAMAGE. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY IT COLLIDED INTO A FIRE TRUCK DAMAGING THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE DEALER TAKE THE CAR BACK AND REFUND THE MONEY PAID. *NM