Model year record

2004 Hyundai Elantra

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 209 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V479000

Air bags

Component
Air bags
Manufacturer
HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO
Vehicles affected
2,105
Reported to NHTSA
2005-10-17
Owners notified
2005-11-15

Defect description

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.

Safety 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 INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V395000

Air bags

Component
Air bags
Manufacturer
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
231,160
Reported to NHTSA
2005-09-12
Owners notified
2005-10-31

Defect description

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.

Safety 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 INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V370000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO
Vehicles affected
582
Reported to NHTSA
2004-07-30
Owners notified
2004-10-05

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP EARS AND CORRECTLY POSITION THE CLAMP, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V208000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
44,530
Reported to NHTSA
2004-05-03
Owners notified
2004-05-24

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE VAPOR TUBE HOSE CLAMP AND CORRECTLY POSITION THE CLAMP, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V322000

Air bags

Component
Air bags
Manufacturer
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
75
Reported to NHTSA
2003-08-26
Owners notified
2003-08-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer remedy

THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR WILL BE REPROGRAMMED.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags5755,271 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module34200 mi
Air bags: frontal187,500 mi
Seat belts866,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling732,060 mi
Vehicle speed control762,000 mi
Suspension699,597 mi
Air bags: side/window510,000 mi
Engine599,597 mi
Child seat4
Power train: clutch assembly433,066 mi
Electrical system310,930 mi
Fuel/propulsion system377,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip31,500 mi
Steering340,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system255,112 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine256,000 mi
Power train2114,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor2150 mi
Seat belts: rear/other2150 mi
Service brakes268,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic22,381 mi
Structure: body270,000 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs21,700 mi
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module1829 mi
Air bags: on-off switch assembly1
Electrical system: ignition1
Electrical system: wiring11,500 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1
Exterior lighting123,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump1
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)110,930 mi
Seat belts: front12,000 mi
Seats1154,216 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner1
Seats: mid/rear assembly1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor14,488 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: drum14,488 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
Steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm11,700 mi
Structure: body: roof and pillars1
Suspension: front: stabilizer bar17,243 mi
Tires1
Tires: sidewall1
Tires: valve17 mi
Unknown or other1
Visibility: windshield14,500 mi

The 2003 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2005 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.