10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
16 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
16 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,447 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 #57

Jun 032019

Elantra

  • 150,000 miles
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 owner side swiped a tree and sustained minimal damage to the front end, this vehicle owner was treated at the scene, transported to the emergency room was hospitalized for 7 days; currently, receiving out patient care with scheduled medical appointments, this vehicle owner is not cleared to return to work at this time, and for at least 9 weeks. The faulty airbags failed to keep this driver safe, and severely injured him. He suffered 2 broken back bones, a broken rib, scrapes and bruises. On top of the physical trauma, he and his family, wife and two daughters, are suffering from emotional trauma. The accident in itself, should not have caused this physical trauma, the car did not flip, turn over, or impact any other vehicles. The driver was not on a highway, but a common street, so he was not traveling over 40 mph. The injuries sustained are a direct result of the faulty airbag deployment.

- Dyer, IN, USA

problem #56

Jan 132019

Elantra

  • 137,000 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 passenger seat sensor, to detect a child seat or adult in the seat, may recognize a small adult as a child seat. If this happens and the front passenger air bag is deactivated, the risk of injury in a crash may be increased. I went to Hyundai motor America headquarters in fountain valley, California at 3:45 on January 17, 2019 and left my contact information on a card at the front desk regarding this problem. I was told that I would be contacted but to date have had no reply from hma. NHTSA campaign id number 08V161000 as this presents the same danger to Elantra occupants as the sonata recall, Hyundai should be required to offer the same repair extension (15 years) as the sonata has.

- Fountain Valley, CA, USA

problem #55

Apr 192018

Elantra

  • 154,216 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 that provide some structural support all I have requested was a rental car for the time it takes to perform my recall as I do not feel safe driving a car without a front seat I have had the dealer decline my request and said if I want it done the seat will be removed and the car given back to me is this a safe practice for a dealer to remove a seat that has one of the side air bags in it and advise the owner to drive the car as normal? any assistance with this company will be much appreciated and to be clear there is a active air bag light on with a code the relates to occupancy detection for passanger front and side air bags

- Graham, WA, USA

problem #54

Nov 012017

Elantra

  • 145,000 miles
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).

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #53

Oct 252017

Elantra

  • miles
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.

- Kapaa, HI, USA

problem #52

Sep 082017

Elantra

  • miles
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.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #51

Jan 012004

Elantra

  • 5 miles
Warning light comes on and off on passenger side while in motion

- Sandiego, CA, USA

problem #50

May 012017

Elantra

  • 15 miles
I was taking my dad to church on Sunday he sat on seat. I notice passenger airbag off indicator did not go off. The car was driven in city and on highway thank god air bags were not needed air bag light came on dash later that day. I called broadway Hyundai on Monday they said if air bag light on dash was on airbags would not deploy. I took car in to broadway they told me airbag sensor on passenger seat was severed and part would be $1600 to repair. Later they called back and said they could but used seat in for $297.32. I didn't like that because same thing could happen again, but could nor afford $1600 for ome part. I call Hyundai and ask that I should be compensated for danger my dad and myself were put in and reinvested repair. This is poor workmanship having sharp metal rails and clips over plastic wire membrane. Not happy with used seat same thing could happen again and this part could be in 1000 of other vehicle. A case was started and no reply for Hyundai. A fair settlement of $1600 for correct part if need in future and danger we were put in. I feel this should be checked out there could 1000 of this danger on road today and some people may not take airbag light seriously. See attach photo take by repair technician jeff

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #49

Aug 292016

Elantra

  • miles
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.

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #48

Feb 012016

Elantra

  • 17,102 miles
"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.

- Pasadena, TX, USA

problem #47

May 012014

Elantra

  • 25,000 miles
I noticed that the passenger air bag light was on back in May 2004. Now the light on the driver air bag is on and the passenger light for the air bag is off. I am concernrd thst neither air bags are not working. What should I do? there has been no incident so I will just put approx. Date of the air bag lights.

- Quartz Hill, CA, USA

problem #46

Jan 202012

Elantra

  • 110,000 miles
Hit a telephone pole going about 40mph N the airbag went off about 5 seconds after. My neck pain has gone to my back and head N my body is becoming deformed and shutting down. I'm trying to get help but I guess I waited too long. I was injured N never treated hoping it would go away but it did not. The airbag would have definitely helped me out! also this was in Pennsylvania not Ohio.

- Junction City, OH, USA

problem #45

May 082015

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
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

- Kuna, ID, USA

problem #44

Apr 232015

Elantra

  • 48,000 miles
It is 2004 Hyundai Elantra GT. The car is never been any accident but the air bag light is on. The same year car has recall for airbag light but not for this model. I think Hyundai should recall this model (2004 Hyundai Elantra GT) and fix the airbag before any major accident happen to any owner.

- Norcross, GA, USA

problem #43

Jan 262015

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 64,000 miles
The air bags light does not come on meaning the module is not functioning. I had the car inspected and it failed due to this issue. Records show a recall was registered in 05. Well here it is 10 years later and the problem was not resolved and something overlooked. It's a safety hazard regarding my life and others as well not knowing if these air bags deploy or not while I'm on the road. I need this resolved quickly. They never fixed the problem the first time so why's it happening again?

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #42

Jan 162015

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
Car slid on snow hit tree at approximately 10 mph. Neither front air bag deployed!!!! passenger hit and shattered windshield. Driver hit steering wheel. Car total loss!!!!.....updated 02-03-15

- Medina, MN, USA

problem #41

Jan 122015

Elantra

  • 131,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Elantra. While driving at approximately 40 mph during inclement weather, the vehicle skidded and crashed into a concrete barrier. The air bag warning light illuminated, but the air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The contact did not disclose if a police report was filed or not. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Exton, PA, USA

problem #40

Mar 282014

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 99,597 miles
From stop sign proceeded to cross intersection, was struck on front end of drivers side panel and bumper, spun around and hit again on driver back side panel and rear wheel, ripped half of the front bumper and crushed drivers front side against engine, no air bag deployed.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #39

Jun 142012

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 96,681 miles
The Elantra was stopped at a red light. The light turned green and when in the intersection was T-boned by a tractor tailor who ran the red light at est 25 mph. The impact spun the car 180+ degrees, lightly clipping a telephone pole and hit back into the truck where the car stopped. The side impact airbags nor frontal airbags did not deploy. The seat belt did lock and the injuries were whip lash, concussion, and cuts and contusions.

- Scranton, PA, USA

problem #38

Nov 022009

Elantra

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Elantra. While the vehicle was parked the air bag deactivation light illuminated on the instrument panel whenever someone was in the front passenger seat. The dealer was contacted and stated that a diagnostic test needed to be performed. The dealer also stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA recall campaign id number: 05V395000 (air bags) and previously had recall repairs performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

- College Park, GA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »