2004 Hyundai Elantra: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 182 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (61% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2005
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 182 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Suspension · Feb 2024
“I was driving to work and suddenly while trying to change lane the steering freezes on me, this happen now for the second time.”Owner report · Steering · Feb 2018
“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).”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2017
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2017
“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.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · May 2017
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2016
“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.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Feb 2016
“"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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2016
“The vehicle was impacted on the driver's door and "b" pillar sufficiently to shatter the window, pop open the door and bend the b pillar. The door and b pillar impacted the driver but none of the air bags deployed......updated 05-27-15 *bf”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 24 of these complaints and injuries in 26 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Remedy: THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR WILL BE REPROGRAMMED.
How other years compare
Check your exact Elantra by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
NHTSA has 182 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra. The most complained-about area is air bags (61% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Hyundai Elantra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 52,792 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Hyundai Elantra have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.