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2004 Hyundai ElantraProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 182 owner complaints about the 2004 Hyundai Elantra, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

2004 Hyundai Elantra
57
CarFlaw IndexSolid year26% below the Elantra median · #20 of 31 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints18244 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage17kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 1, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: OSX, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2004 Hyundai Elantra has problems

182 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags11423
Seat belts122
Engine and engine cooling112
Vehicle speed control70
Suspension71
Power train70
Electrical system61
Service brakes, hydraulic61
Engine51
11 other systems294

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2004 Hyundai Elantra recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Air bags

Recall 05V-479 · Oct 17, 2005 · 2,105 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Air bags

Recall 05V-395 · Sep 12, 2005 · 231,160 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 04V-370 · Jul 30, 2004 · 582 vehicles

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 04V-208 · May 3, 2004 · 44,530 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE COULD CAUSE THE MISPOSITIONED CLAMP TO PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Air bags

Recall 03V-322 · Aug 26, 2003 · 75 vehicles

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.

Mileage at failure

When do air bags problems start?

17kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 67 air bags complaints. 88% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
39under 30k miles59under 100k miles8100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2004 vs. every other Elantra year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Elantra median. How we score

'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2004 Hyundai Elantra safety ratings

2004 Hyundai Elantra 5-DR Wagon w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2004 Hyundai Elantra, and the recalls they led to.

  1. POST-CRASH FUEL TANK LEAKPE04041 · closed Jul 13, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-370
In owners' words

What Elantra owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 11220188 · Jun 14, 2019 · 150,000 miles
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…
Complaint 11182497 · Feb 26, 2019 · 137,000 miles
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…
Complaint 11103705 · Jun 25, 2018 · 154,216 miles

Own a 2004 Elantra?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.