2.4

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,643 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

Jun 152010

Elantra

  • 170,000 miles
While driving to Florida on I95 using cruise control traffic began to back up in the richmond area so the wife hit the brakes. Car did not disengage but rather sped up to the control setting. Repeatedly hitting the brakes had no effect so we had to manually disengage the unit. The incident was reported to the dealer of purchase as well as to the local Hyundai dealer with no resolution other than to pay for them to hunt down the problem. I was able to find that the problem is related to the disappearance of all brake lights and will temporarily fix itself if I hit the wiring harness in several locations.. it is not due to a faulty brake pedal switch. This was reported back to the dealerships with the same result then to Hyundai usa on Nov 4, 2010 case number [xxx]. Hyundai maintains it is a service issue and not a safety issue and that my only recourse is to pay the dealer to do a diagnostic check. I informed them that if they google Hyundai brake light problems there are many people reporting loss of brake lights who may be unaware that their cruise control may disengage. They have closed the case so I am requesting that this be put on record. Condition still exists after 6 attempts to repair.. is an intermittent electrical problem in the harness connector I believe. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Norristown, PA, USA

problem #2

Mar 042005

Elantra 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 10,930 miles
On 3/4/2005, while driving on an interstate highway, the car stalled and wouldn't immediately start. It did start later. I was towed to a dealer, which replaced the crankshaft position sensor. On 4/21/2005, I got to my parked car to find that it wouldn't start for 10-15 minutes. The symptoms were very similar to the March 4 incident, without the stalling out on the highway to preface it. The following day, I took the car to a different dealer, where they tested the car but made no repairs. I wrote Hyundai. A regional representative contacted me and asked that Hyundai have an attempt to fully investigate. I had an appointment at the dealer I purchased the car from, and the regional representative contacted them to coordinate examination of the car. The dealer had one of their top electrical systems people examine the car in consultation with the regional office on 5/7/2005. They could find no problems. On 1/3/2006, the car stalled out on an interstate highway and wouldn't start immediately. A dealer replaced the crankshaft position sensor. On 1/13/2006, the car stalled out on an interstate highway and wouldn't start immediately. A dealer examined it and consulted with Hyundai tech line but did nothing. I sent Hyundai another letter. They asked to be able to send a regional technician to look at it. A dealer replaced the power control module and checked connections per directions of the regional technician. Hyundai deemed the car okay because the technician went for a 15 mile test drive; the car has had three potentially fatal incidents in 22,491 miles. A representative at the regional office said the they replaced the power control module based on incidents in other cars, where the error code for the crankshaft position sensor has come up. He said this was a "precautionary measure, " that the technician wasn't able to verify the component that failed, and could not explain why the power control module wasn't suggested earlier.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #1

Jul 242004

Elantra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,000 miles
(1) can happen anytime without warning. May go for weeks, days, or minutes before recurring. (2)engine shuts off while driving. Must shift into neutral to restart. Not easy to do when doing 65 mph on rt 30, to suddenly have no power or power steering and a semi is on your tail. It has happened at least 20 times since the first time in wet, dry, fast slow, or idle. (3) 1st time wiggle wires. It would not happen in the shop. Replaced fuse box, we refuse to drive the car again due to fear for our lives. Since there is no warning and it can be weeks between happenings you can't prepare for it.

- Hot Springs, AR, USA