What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2004 Hyundai Elantra

Early-defect pattern

34% of complaints about the 2004 Hyundai Elantra came in its first year of service — a higher share than 99% of the 236 2004 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is air bags (111 complaints), typically at 1.3 yr or about 25,000 miles.

Complaints
203
Median age at failure
1.8 yr
Median mileage
33,066 n=128
Crash / fire / tow
17.7% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
111 reports · 25,000 mi
1.3 yr
21.6%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

05V479000 2005-10-17
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 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.

05V395000 2005-09-12
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 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.

04V370000 2004-07-30
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.

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

04V208000 2004-05-03
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 MISPOSITIONED AND FACING TOWARD THE FUEL TANK.

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.

03V322000 2003-08-26
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 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.

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 470 mi 4 mo in service
PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT SEAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SENSOR THAT ACTIVATES THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WHEN SOMEONE OVER 56 POUNDS IN WEIGHT SITS IN THAT SEATING POSITION. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM SENSOR WILL INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE CORRECTLY. CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT HER VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THE SAFETY RECALL (CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-322). *AL *MJJ
Air bags 150 mi 6 mo in service crash / fire / tow
WHILE DRIVING ON A RAINY DAY AT 50 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE SPEED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHE HEARD A "HIT" UNDER THE VEHICLE, THEN LOST CONTROL. *SC *JB
Air bags 2,000 mi 6 mo in service crash / fire / tow
WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH AND TURNING TO THE LEFT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT CRASH. SEAT BELT DIDN'T HOLD THE DRIVER, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED.*AK

Other Elantra model years

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