Total Complaints
209 filings
HYUNDAI ELANTRA · model year
209 NHTSA complaints, 32 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004HYUNDAIELANTRA carries 209 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 32 crashes, 3 fires, 34 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 ELANTRA is air bags with 57 filings, followed by air bags:frontal:sensor/control module (34) and air bags:frontal (18). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2004 ELANTRA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
209 filings
Crashes Reported
32 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 57 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 34 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 18 |
| SEAT BELTS | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 7 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 |
| SUSPENSION | 6 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 5 |
| ENGINE | 5 |
| CHILD SEAT | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 3 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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.
AIR BAGS
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
AIR BAGS
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
AIR BAGS
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
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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 MIS
Rapid rusting of rear subframe cross member. Car rarely gets driven in snow or even bad weather. Went from minimal signs of rust to looking pretty rotted within the past year. Saw recalls on similar Hyundai vehicles. Maybe possible the same steel was used, or same lack of corrosion preventative.
Rapid rusting of rear subframe cross member. Car rarely gets driven in snow or even bad weather. Went from minimal signs of rust to looking pretty rotted within the past year. Saw recalls on similar Hyundai vehicles. Maybe possible the same steel was used, or same lack of corrosion preventative.
VEHICLE 2004 HYUNDAI INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT ON THE STREET, THIS VEHICLE OWNER WAS BELTED WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THIS VEHICLE OWNER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES INCLUDING FRACTURED VERTEBRATE OF LUMBAR 1 AND 2 AND FRACTURED RIBS, NOTE NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED, THIS VEHICLE OWNER SIDE SWIPED A TREE AND SUSTAINED MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, THIS VEHICLE OWNER WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE, TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 7 DAYS; CURRENTLY, RECEIVING OUT PATIENT CARE WITH SCHEDULED MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, THIS VEHICLE OWNER IS NOT CLEARED TO RETURN TO WORK AT THIS TIME, AND FOR AT LEAST 9 WEEKS. THE FAULTY AIRBAGS FAILED TO KEEP THIS DRIVER SAFE, AND SEVERELY INJURED HIM. HE SUFFERED 2 BROKEN BACK BONES, A BROKEN RIB, SCRAPES AND BRUISES. ON TOP OF THE PHYSICAL TRAUMA, HE AND HIS FAMILY, WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS, ARE SUFFERING FROM EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. THE ACCIDENT IN ITSELF, SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THIS PHYSICAL TRAUMA, THE CAR DID NOT FLIP, TURN
Mileage: 150,000
SRS (AIRBAG) SERVICE REMINDER INDICATOR CAME ON. I WENT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND THEY RAN AN OBDII REPORT ON A BOSCH SCANNER. A B1448 OC (OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION) - PASSENGER SENSOR MAT DEFECT CAME BACK. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE 2006-2008 HYUNDAI SONATAS HAVE A RECALL ON. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR, TO DETECT A CHILD SEAT OR ADULT IN THE SEAT, MAY RECOGNIZE A SMALL ADULT AS A CHILD SEAT. IF THIS HAPPENS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED, THE RISK OF INJURY IN A CRASH MAY BE INCREASED. I WENT TO HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA HEADQUARTERS IN FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA AT 3:45 ON JANUARY 17, 2019 AND LEFT MY CONTACT INFORMATION ON A CARD AT THE FRONT DESK REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE CONTACTED BUT TO DATE HAVE HAD NO REPLY FROM HMA. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V161000 AS THIS PRESENTS THE SAME DANGER TO ELANTRA OCCUPANTS AS THE SONATA RECALL, HYUNDAI SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO OFFER THE SAME REPAIR EXTENSION (15 YEARS) AS THE SONATA H
Mileage: 137,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR FAILED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. UPON DECELERATION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT DESCRIBED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HAVING A "DEAD SPOT", THUS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ON ONE OCCASION, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RMPS THAT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE WORN POSITION SENSOR. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY REPLACED THE POSITIONING SENSOR. MILLENNIUM HYUNDAI (265 NORTH FRANKLIN ST, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Mileage: 105,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR FAILED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. UPON DECELERATION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT DESCRIBED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HAVING A "DEAD SPOT", THUS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ON ONE OCCASION, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RMPS THAT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE WORN POSITION SENSOR. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY REPLACED THE POSITIONING SENSOR. MILLENNIUM HYUNDAI (265 NORTH FRANKLIN ST, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Mileage: 105,000
I HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD IT'S STANDARD TO REMOVE A FRONT SEAT AND GIVE THE CAR BACK UNTIL THEY GET PARTS FOR THE RECALL I FEEL THIS COULD CAUSE AIR BAG SYSTEMS NOT TO BE ACTIVE AND ALSO WITHOUT THE SEAT THE CARS ABILITY TO HOLD UP IN A CRASH IS REDUCED DUE TO MISSING COMPONENTS THAT PROVIDE SOME STRUCTURAL SUPPORT ALL I HAVE REQUESTED WAS A RENTAL CAR FOR THE TIME IT TAKES TO PERFORM MY RECALL AS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR WITHOUT A FRONT SEAT I HAVE HAD THE DEALER DECLINE MY REQUEST AND SAID IF I WANT IT DONE THE SEAT WILL BE REMOVED AND THE CAR GIVEN BACK TO ME IS THIS A SAFE PRACTICE FOR A DEALER TO REMOVE A SEAT THAT HAS ONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS IN IT AND ADVISE THE OWNER TO DRIVE THE CAR AS NORMAL? ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS COMPANY WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED AND TO BE CLEAR THERE IS A ACTIVE AIR BAG LIGHT ON WITH A CODE THE RELATES TO OCCUPANCY DETECTION FOR PASSANGER FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS
Mileage: 154,216
I HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD IT'S STANDARD TO REMOVE A FRONT SEAT AND GIVE THE CAR BACK UNTIL THEY GET PARTS FOR THE RECALL I FEEL THIS COULD CAUSE AIR BAG SYSTEMS NOT TO BE ACTIVE AND ALSO WITHOUT THE SEAT THE CARS ABILITY TO HOLD UP IN A CRASH IS REDUCED DUE TO MISSING COMPONENTS THAT PROVIDE SOME STRUCTURAL SUPPORT ALL I HAVE REQUESTED WAS A RENTAL CAR FOR THE TIME IT TAKES TO PERFORM MY RECALL AS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR WITHOUT A FRONT SEAT I HAVE HAD THE DEALER DECLINE MY REQUEST AND SAID IF I WANT IT DONE THE SEAT WILL BE REMOVED AND THE CAR GIVEN BACK TO ME IS THIS A SAFE PRACTICE FOR A DEALER TO REMOVE A SEAT THAT HAS ONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS IN IT AND ADVISE THE OWNER TO DRIVE THE CAR AS NORMAL? ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS COMPANY WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED AND TO BE CLEAR THERE IS A ACTIVE AIR BAG LIGHT ON WITH A CODE THE RELATES TO OCCUPANCY DETECTION FOR PASSANGER FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS
Mileage: 154,216
I HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS TOLD IT'S STANDARD TO REMOVE A FRONT SEAT AND GIVE THE CAR BACK UNTIL THEY GET PARTS FOR THE RECALL I FEEL THIS COULD CAUSE AIR BAG SYSTEMS NOT TO BE ACTIVE AND ALSO WITHOUT THE SEAT THE CARS ABILITY TO HOLD UP IN A CRASH IS REDUCED DUE TO MISSING COMPONENTS THAT PROVIDE SOME STRUCTURAL SUPPORT ALL I HAVE REQUESTED WAS A RENTAL CAR FOR THE TIME IT TAKES TO PERFORM MY RECALL AS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR WITHOUT A FRONT SEAT I HAVE HAD THE DEALER DECLINE MY REQUEST AND SAID IF I WANT IT DONE THE SEAT WILL BE REMOVED AND THE CAR GIVEN BACK TO ME IS THIS A SAFE PRACTICE FOR A DEALER TO REMOVE A SEAT THAT HAS ONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS IN IT AND ADVISE THE OWNER TO DRIVE THE CAR AS NORMAL? ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS COMPANY WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED AND TO BE CLEAR THERE IS A ACTIVE AIR BAG LIGHT ON WITH A CODE THE RELATES TO OCCUPANCY DETECTION FOR PASSANGER FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS
Mileage: 154,216
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND SUDDENLY WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE LANE THE STEERING FREEZES ON ME, THIS HAPPEN NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME.
Mileage: 112,790
THE ANTILOCK MACHINE IS LOCKING THE WHEELS SO MUCH THAT STOPS THE CAR COMPLETELY RIGHT IN THE MIDLE OF THE TRAFFIC AND THE TIRES SMELL LIKE BURNING TIRES. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TWICE. I AM SO AFRAID THAT THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY, THAT I DO NOT DRIVE THERE, ONLY THE STREETS.
Mileage: 68,000
MY 2004 ELANTRA GLS HAS THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1 - THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF SIGN STAYS ON, EVEN WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. 2 - THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD IS ALWAYS ON, AND MY HORN IS NOT WORKING, FOR THE LAST TWO / THREE WEEKS (NOV / DEC 2017).
Mileage: 145,000
I WENT TO GET A SAFETY CHECK AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I COULDN'T GET IT BECAUSE MY AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. I LIVE ON A ISOLATED ISLAND THAT DOESN'T HAVE A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THE CAR DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR ISN'T GIVING ME A CALL BACK WHILE IN THE MEAN TIME I AM RIDING AROUND WITH A EXPIRED SAFETY CHECK AND IS FEARFUL OF GETTING CITED.
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. THIS CAR SHOULD BE UNDER THE 15 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE HYUNDAI DEALER WILL NOT LOOK AT THE CAR WITHOUT A FEE.
WHILE FILLING UP THE GAS TANK THE STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK BROKE AND NOW THE GAS TANK IS HANGING DOWN.IT LOOKS LIKE THE STRAPS ARE RUSTED THROUGH.I KNOW THE CAR IS OLD BUT TO HAVE BOTH STRAPS FAIL AT THE SAME TIME IS DANGEROUS. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A DESIGN OR MATERIAL FLAW BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.
Mileage: 105,000
WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF ON PASSENGER SIDE WHILE IN MOTION
Mileage: 5
I WAS TAKING MY DAD TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY HE SAT ON SEAT. I NOTICE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR DID NOT GO OFF . THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN CITY AND ON HIGHWAY THANK GOD AIR BAGS WERE NOT NEEDED AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON DASH LATER THAT DAY . I CALLED BROADWAY HYUNDAI ON MONDAY THEY SAID IF AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH WAS ON AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I TOOK CAR IN TO BROADWAY THEY TOLD ME AIRBAG SENSOR ON PASSENGER SEAT WAS SEVERED AND PART WOULD BE 1600.00 TO REPAIR. LATER THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID THEY COULD BUT USED SEAT IN FOR 297.32. I DIDN'T LIKE THAT BECAUSE SAME THING COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT COULD NOR AFFORD 1600.00 FOR OME PART. I CALL HYUNDAI AND ASK THAT I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR DANGER MY DAD AND MYSELF WERE PUT IN AND REINVESTED REPAIR. THIS IS POOR WORKMANSHIP HAVING SHARP METAL RAILS AND CLIPS OVER PLASTIC WIRE MEMBRANE. NOT HAPPY WITH USED SEAT SAME THING COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND THIS PART COULD BE IN 1000 OF OTHER VEHICLE. A CASE WAS STARTED AND NO REPLY FOR HYUNDAI. A FAIR SETTLEM
Mileage: 15
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V322000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
"TAKATA RECALL " WELL I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT VEHICLE RECALLS UNTIL THE DEATH OF A YOUNG GIRL AND A FEW OTHERS. MY CAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH IT WHEN I'M DRIVING TO WORK AT 4AM IN THE MORNING ABOUT 5 MILES THERE AND BACK AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, MY SUSPENSION IS DANGEROUS AND MY SEAT BELT IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE IT SOME WHAT WORKS. I REALLY WANT TO BE SAFE AND I WANT MY FAMILY SAFE.
Mileage: 17,102
"TAKATA RECALL " WELL I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT VEHICLE RECALLS UNTIL THE DEATH OF A YOUNG GIRL AND A FEW OTHERS. MY CAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH IT WHEN I'M DRIVING TO WORK AT 4AM IN THE MORNING ABOUT 5 MILES THERE AND BACK AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, MY SUSPENSION IS DANGEROUS AND MY SEAT BELT IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE IT SOME WHAT WORKS. I REALLY WANT TO BE SAFE AND I WANT MY FAMILY SAFE.
Mileage: 17,102
Headliner Bracket Detachment
Side Curtain Air Bag Improper Deployment
FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS RUSTING
ENGINE STALLING - FUEL PUMP FAILURE
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.