Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
510–25K
1325–50K
2050–75K
1175–100K
13100–150K
4150K+
112 reports with mileage · 70 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 114 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
24 crash reports2 fire reports18 injury reports
What owners actually said
182 reports
Mileage unknown · May 13, 2005
Air Bags
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HER AIR BAG LIGHT. SHE SAYS THAT IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT SWITCH WILL SAY PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF, AND IF NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT IT SAYS THE SAME THING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME THE CAR IS IN USE AND HAS BEEN GOING…
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DT: THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HER AIR BAG LIGHT. SHE SAYS THAT IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT SWITCH WILL SAY PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF, AND IF NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT IT SAYS THE SAME THING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME THE CAR IS IN USE AND HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAS REPORTED THIS TO HYUNDAI AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE WAY THE PERSON WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND THE MANUFACTURER TELLS THEM NOT TO FIX IT.*JB *SB
NHTSA ODI #10120898
Mileage unknown · May 13, 2005
Seat Belts
DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LATCH. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10120891
Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2005
Air Bags
PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR INCORRECTLY DETECTING PASSEMGER 50 POUNDS OR MORE. PASSENGER AIR BAG "OFF" LIGTH STAYS ON EVEN IS A PASSENGER 100 POUNDS OR MORE ARE SEATED PROPERLY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10117874
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2005
Power Train
I BOUGHT MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN MAY 2004 AND THE CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT. I HAD A JEEP WRANGLER FOR 10 YRS AND THE CLUTCH NEVER BURNED OUT. I ALSO HAD A TOYOTA CELICA THAT WAS MANUAL THAT NEVER BURNED OUT. I WAS QUOTED $1500.00 TO GET IT FIXED EVEN WITH THE SO CALLED WARRANTY. SUPPOSEDLY THE WARRANTY ON THE CLUTCH IS ONLY FOR 12 MON…
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I BOUGHT MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN MAY 2004 AND THE CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT. I HAD A JEEP WRANGLER FOR 10 YRS AND THE CLUTCH NEVER BURNED OUT. I ALSO HAD A TOYOTA CELICA THAT WAS MANUAL THAT NEVER BURNED OUT. I WAS QUOTED $1500.00 TO GET IT FIXED EVEN WITH THE SO CALLED WARRANTY. SUPPOSEDLY THE WARRANTY ON THE CLUTCH IS ONLY FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12000 MILES.AK
NHTSA ODI #10116094
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2005
Air Bags
DEALER PERFORMED SOFTWARE REPAIR FOR PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG RECALL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10116081
150 miles · Mar 21, 2005
Seat Belts
DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT AND BOTH REAR SHOULDER BELTS ARE TWISTED, AND UNABLE TO BE RETRACTED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO D REPLACED ONE OF THE SHOULDER BELTS, AND UNTWISTED THE OTHERS. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10115481
4,500 miles · Mar 18, 2005
Visibility
ONE MORNING LAST YEAR, MY WIFE AND I DISCOVERED TWO SMALL (1/8" DIA.) POCK MARKS ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF OUR 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA'S FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE GLASS IS LABELED: KOREA AUTOGLASS LAMINATED A. WE ASSUME THAT THE MARKS WERE THE RESULT OF STONES OR SIMILAR OBJECTS WHICH FLEW UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE ONE OF US WAS …
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ONE MORNING LAST YEAR, MY WIFE AND I DISCOVERED TWO SMALL (1/8" DIA.) POCK MARKS ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF OUR 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA'S FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE GLASS IS LABELED: KOREA AUTOGLASS LAMINATED A. WE ASSUME THAT THE MARKS WERE THE RESULT OF STONES OR SIMILAR OBJECTS WHICH FLEW UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE ONE OF US WAS DRIVING. WE DID NOT WITNESS THE EVENT. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, WE NOTICED THAT A SURFACE CRACK HAD BEGUN TO "RUN" FROM ONE OF THE POCK MARKS DOWN THE WINDSHIELD - ABOUT 2 TO THREE INCHES IN LENGTH. A FEW WEEKS LATER, WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL FIX UNRELATED TO THE WINDSHIELD, WE WERE TOLD THE CRACK WAS PROBABLY THE RESULT OF THE ORIGINAL DINGS AND WAS THEREFORE NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE THE LATE 1950S. NEVER ON ANY CAR I HAVE OWNED HAVE I SEEN AN ENTIRE WINDSHIELD THREATENED BY WHAT BEGAN AS MINOR DAMAGE SUCH AS WAS SUSTAINED BY OUR ELANTRA. TO DATE, THE CRACK HAS INCREASED DOWN THE WINDSHIELD TO ABOUT 8 INCHES, AND APPEARS HEADED FOR THE LOWER WINDSHIELD FRAME. I WONDER IF ANY DRIVERS OF HYUNDAIS OR OTHER MAKES HAVE REPORTED A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH WINDSHIELD DAMAGE. I SHOULD THINK THAT A WELL-MADE QUALITY LAMINATED GLASS WOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND WHAT STARTED AS A MINOR MISHAP. THANK YOU. SINCERELY, KEN SPALDING . *AK
NHTSA ODI #10114278
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2005
Structure
HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2004 ROOF BUCKLED WHILE DRIVING. *BF WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE ROOF HAD BUCKLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THAT SOMEONE STOOD ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10113376
1,500 miles · Mar 2, 2005
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE SMELLED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. VEHICLE BR…
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VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE SMELLED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. VEHICLE BRAKES WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND HER AND THE PASSENGERS GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN SECONDS OF FLAMES. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10111051
585 miles · Mar 2, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE AT STOP AT AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT NONE OF THE 4 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TC
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER.
Remedy: THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR WILL BE REPROGRAMMED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
PE04-041 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE A FUEL LEAK INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED DURING AN INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) FRONTAL CRASH OFFSET TEST ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE.THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR WAS MISPOSITIONED AND FACING TOWARD THE FUEL TANK, WHICH ENABLED THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR TO PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL TANK TO LEAK STODDARD FLUID DURING THE IIHS CRASH TEST.ON APRIL 30, 2004, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY (HYUNDAI) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN CERTAIN MY 2004 ELANTRA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2003 THROUGH APRIL 14, 2004.THE NOTIFICATION IDENTIFIED THE MISPOSITIONING OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP, WHICH RESULTED FROM AN EARLY SEPTEMBER MANUFACTURING CHANGE AT THE SUPPLIER THAT INSTALLED THE HOSE CLAMP ON THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE, AS THE FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DEFECT.IF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP IS MISPOSITIONED SO THAT ONE OF ITS EARS IS FACING THE FUEL TANK AND THAT VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN HIGH SPEED CRASH, THE CLAMP MAY PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.HYUNDAI WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE POSITION OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP INSPECTED AND CORRECTLY REPOSITIONED, IF NECESSARY.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
PE04-041 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE A FUEL LEAK INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED DURING AN INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) FRONTAL CRASH OFFSET TEST ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE.THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR WAS MISPOSITIONED AND FACING TOWARD THE FUEL TANK, WHICH ENABLED THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR TO PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL TANK TO LEAK STODDARD FLUID DURING THE IIHS CRASH TEST.ON APRIL 30, 2004, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY (HYUNDAI) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN CERTAIN MY 2004 ELANTRA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2003 THROUGH APRIL 14, 2004.THE NOTIFICATION IDENTIFIED THE MISPOSITIONING OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP, WHICH RESULTED FROM AN EARLY SEPTEMBER MANUFACTURING CHANGE AT THE SUPPLIER THAT INSTALLED THE HOSE CLAMP ON THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE, AS THE FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DEFECT.IF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP IS MISPOSITIONED SO THAT ONE OF ITS EARS IS FACING THE FUEL TANK AND THAT VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN HIGH SPEED CRASH, THE CLAMP MAY PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.HYUNDAI WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE POSITION OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP INSPECTED AND CORRECTLY REPOSITIONED, IF NECESSARY.
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
PE04-041 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE A FUEL LEAK INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED DURING AN INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) FRONTAL CRASH OFFSET TEST ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE.THIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR WAS MISPOSITIONED AND FACING TOWARD THE FUEL TANK, WHICH ENABLED THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EAR TO PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL TANK TO LEAK STODDARD FLUID DURING THE IIHS CRASH TEST.ON APRIL 30, 2004, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY (HYUNDAI) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN CERTAIN MY 2004 ELANTRA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2003 THROUGH APRIL 14, 2004.THE NOTIFICATION IDENTIFIED THE MISPOSITIONING OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP, WHICH RESULTED FROM AN EARLY SEPTEMBER MANUFACTURING CHANGE AT THE SUPPLIER THAT INSTALLED THE HOSE CLAMP ON THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE, AS THE FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DEFECT.IF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP IS MISPOSITIONED SO THAT ONE OF ITS EARS IS FACING THE FUEL TANK AND THAT VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN HIGH SPEED CRASH, THE CLAMP MAY PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.HYUNDAI WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE POSITION OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP INSPECTED AND CORRECTLY REPOSITIONED, IF NECESSARY.
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