no report yet
Exterior lighting
Risk. ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
2005 Hyundai ElantraProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 137 owner complaints about the 2005 Hyundai Elantra, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 11, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Hyundai Elantra has problems
137 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
71Air bags23 crash/fire/injury
14Vehicle speed control6 crash/fire/injury
10Electrical system
9Service brakes, hydraulic
7Structure
7Power train
6Seat belts
6Exterior lighting
6Engine and engine cooling
3513 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 71 | 23 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 10 | 2 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 9 | 1 |
| Structure | 7 | 1 |
| Power train | 7 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 6 | 4 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 1 |
| 13 other systems | 35 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2005 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
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…
no report yet
Air bags
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…
no report yet
Linkages: tie rod assembly
Risk. 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.
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?
39kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 54 air bags complaints. 85% were reported before 100,000 miles.
24under 30k miles46under 100k miles8100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2005 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
2005 Hyundai Elantra safety ratings
2005 Hyundai Elantra 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Elantra owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact was made aware of various recalls for similar vehicles. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the contact was informed that the VIN…
Passenger airbag sensor registers when someone sits down, but randomly turns off and displays “Passenger Airbag Off” light for a couple minutes before turning off again. Vehicle was inspected by an authorized Hyundai service center and no codes were produced. No indicated problems prior to the…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. BEAVERTON HYUNDAI (13255 SW FARMINGTON RD, BEAVERTON, OR 97005, [PHONE]) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A SCANNER AND…
Own a 2005 Elantra?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.