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2005 Hyundai Elantra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

107 reports with mileage · 30 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 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

30 crash reports3 fire reports19 injury reports

What owners actually said

137 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2008
Air Bags

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL BE ON INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS OFF. THERE WILL BE AN ADULT PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THIS OCCURS. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT STILL COMES ON WHEN THERE IS A FULL SIZE ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224366

36,000 miles · Apr 1, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND FILED A REPORT. BOTH PARTIES WERE INJURED AND …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND FILED A REPORT. BOTH PARTIES WERE INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT'S NOSE WAS FRACTURED IN THREE PLACES. SHE ALSO SUSTAINED THREE BROKEN RIBS, A PUNCTURED LUNG, A BROKEN HIP AND PELVIS, AND A FRACTURED ANKLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,000.

NHTSA ODI #10223011

42,000 miles · Jul 12, 2007
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE VEHICLE, THE SENSOR INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE PASSENGER MOVES AROUND IN THE SEAT, THIS ALSO TRIGGERS THE SENSOR TO DEACTI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE VEHICLE, THE SENSOR INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE PASSENGER MOVES AROUND IN THE SEAT, THIS ALSO TRIGGERS THE SENSOR TO DEACTIVATE. THE HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE WEIGHT FOR THE SENSOR TO ACTIVATE IS BETWEEN 115-130 POUNDS. THE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE TESTED AND APPEARED TO BE WORKING NORMALLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 43,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10196207

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2007
Latches/locks/linkagesInjury

FOR THE MOST PART I AM VERY STATIFIED WITH THE 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, 4 DOOR SEDAN. HOWEVER, THE LOCKING MECHANISM INSIDE THE TRUNK LID CAN CAUSE HEAD INJURY. I HIT MY HEAD NUMEROUS TIMES ON IT, AND I THINK THE MANUFACTURER NEEDED TO TO TAKE ACTION REDESIGN THE INNER LOCKING MECHANISM SO IT WAS OUT OF RANGE OF A PERSON BENDIN…

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FOR THE MOST PART I AM VERY STATIFIED WITH THE 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, 4 DOOR SEDAN. HOWEVER, THE LOCKING MECHANISM INSIDE THE TRUNK LID CAN CAUSE HEAD INJURY. I HIT MY HEAD NUMEROUS TIMES ON IT, AND I THINK THE MANUFACTURER NEEDED TO TO TAKE ACTION REDESIGN THE INNER LOCKING MECHANISM SO IT WAS OUT OF RANGE OF A PERSON BENDING INTO THE TRUNK AND BENDING BACK OUT OF THE TRUNK AREA. I AM A CAUCTOUS PERSON, BUT IT HURTS WHEN THE LIP OF THE INNER LOCKING MECHANISM OF THE TRUNK HITS THE HEAD. I DON'T HAVE EXACT DATES OF THE PARTICULAR INCIDENTS, BUT CAN GENERALLY SAY I HAVE HIT MY HEAD NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN 4/2006 TO THE PRESENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10193276

20,600 miles · May 27, 2007
Air BagsTiresCrash

MY 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HYDROPLANES EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS AND SKIDS VERY EASILY ON SLIGHTLY WET PAVEMENT. MY DAUGHTER HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO ME MANY TIMES. TONIGHT SHE HYDROPLANED AND WENT INTO A WOODEN POLE. SHE WASN'T INJURED AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY; HOWEVER, THE FRONT FENDER WAS DAMAGED. I AM GOING TO HAVE IT FIXED T…

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MY 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HYDROPLANES EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS AND SKIDS VERY EASILY ON SLIGHTLY WET PAVEMENT. MY DAUGHTER HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO ME MANY TIMES. TONIGHT SHE HYDROPLANED AND WENT INTO A WOODEN POLE. SHE WASN'T INJURED AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY; HOWEVER, THE FRONT FENDER WAS DAMAGED. I AM GOING TO HAVE IT FIXED THEN SEE ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE CAR. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10191826

24,000 miles · Apr 25, 2007
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED IN TINY HOLES. A NEWS BROADCAST MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM AND IT SERVED AS CONFIRMATION FOR THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS A SERIOUS FAILURE. THE HOLES MADE VISIBILITY DIFFICULT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED IN TINY HOLES. A NEWS BROADCAST MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM AND IT SERVED AS CONFIRMATION FOR THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS A SERIOUS FAILURE. THE HOLES MADE VISIBILITY DIFFICULT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE WAS ONLY ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IN A UNIFORMED, STRAIGHT PATTERN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 30,600, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.*AK UPDATED 05/23/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10188821

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2007
Air BagsCrash

WHEN PASSENGER SITS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE WEIGHING ANYWHERE FROM 100-220LBS WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE SITTING STILL THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL GO ON AND OFF, THE INDICATOR NORMALLY STATES THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A RECAL…

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WHEN PASSENGER SITS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE WEIGHING ANYWHERE FROM 100-220LBS WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE SITTING STILL THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL GO ON AND OFF, THE INDICATOR NORMALLY STATES THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL CAR, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IF THE LIGHT IS ON THEN THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY, BUT THIS CONTRADICTS WHAT IS IN THE MANUAL, AND WHAT IS STATED FROM OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. I GOT IN A WRECK ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER HAVING MY CAR, I GOT HIT FROM BEHIND FAIRLY HARD, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF, BUT THE MANUAL SAYS THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY IN MOST REAR END COLLISIONS, SO I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. THIS MAKES ME SCARED THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE A LOVED ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN A WRECK OCCURS AND THE AIR BAG IS GOING TO FAIL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187228

10,000 miles · Apr 6, 2007
Air BagsElectrical System

AFTER FINISHING DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND REMOVING KEYS FROM IGNITION THE CAR WILL DING, THE SAME DING THAT HAPPENS IF YOU LEAVE YOUR KEYS IN THE IGNITION. IF I EXIT THE VEHICLE AND TRY TO LOCK THE DOORS AND ARM THE ALARM WITH THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY THE CAR WILL NOT LOCK OR ARM THE ALARM, IF I TRY TO MANUALY USE THE KEYS TO LOC…

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AFTER FINISHING DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND REMOVING KEYS FROM IGNITION THE CAR WILL DING, THE SAME DING THAT HAPPENS IF YOU LEAVE YOUR KEYS IN THE IGNITION. IF I EXIT THE VEHICLE AND TRY TO LOCK THE DOORS AND ARM THE ALARM WITH THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY THE CAR WILL NOT LOCK OR ARM THE ALARM, IF I TRY TO MANUALY USE THE KEYS TO LOCK THE VEHICLE IT UNLOCKS THE CAR. THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN FIX THIS IS IF I TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND THEN TURN IT OFF. THIS OCCURS TOTALY RANDOMLY AND OCCURS ABOUT ONCE EVERY MONTH. IT STARTED ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS AFTER I GOT THE CAR IN MARCH 2006. ITS NOT THAT BIG OF A HASSLE NOW EXCEPT SOMETIME I MIGHT GO TO LOCK THE CAR AND THINK IT LOCKED WHEN IT DIDN'T. I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE THE START OF A BIGGER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM ALSO HAVING THE AIRBAG ISSUE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187222

28,859 miles · Mar 26, 2007
Air Bags

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA AND THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT WORKING DUE TO A DEFAULT OF SENSORS. SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY WERE WAITING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE DEALER WAS REFUSING TO GIVE THE CONTACT A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 28,859.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10186219

6,544 miles · Mar 2, 2007
StructureVisibility

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEV 2005 HYUNDAI ELECTRA'S ROOF HAD A WATER LEAK. SHE HAD REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUED TO INFORM THE CONTACT THAT THE WATER WAS COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS RAINING. SHE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUED …

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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEV 2005 HYUNDAI ELECTRA'S ROOF HAD A WATER LEAK. SHE HAD REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUED TO INFORM THE CONTACT THAT THE WATER WAS COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS RAINING. SHE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUED TO REPLACE AND RESEAL THE WINDSHIELD. SHE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOOK TO VEHICLE TO AUTO CONCEPT, AND THE COMPANY CALLED THE WATER DOCTOR. THEY INFORMED HER THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE RIVETS H POPPED IN THE ROOF . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING, SHE COULD SEE WITH THE WATER COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE FELT THAT THERE MAY BE MOLD FORMING IN THE VEHICLE. THE WATER CAME DOWN ON HER FEET, AND CAME IN ON THE GEAR SHIFT. THE CONTACT WILL BE CALLING THE MANUFACTURER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6544, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8576.*AK UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184046

Official recalls

4

09V280000 · Exterior Lighting

Jul 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

05V479000 · Air Bags

Oct 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.

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.

05V395000 · Air Bags

Sep 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.

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.

05V187000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Hyundai Elantra problems