Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 Hyundai Elantra problems
Owners filed 182 complaints about the 2004 Hyundai Elantra with NHTSA between Feb 2004 and Feb 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (114).
Complaints
182
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
24
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
26
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags114
- Seat belts12
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Suspension7
- Vehicle speed control7
- Power train7
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Electrical system6
- Engine5
- Steering5
- Child seat4
- Seats3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Structure3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
67
31
13
8
7
0
11
10
5
3
3
9
2
5
5
2
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 67 |
| 2005 | 31 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
114 reports22 crashes3 related recalls
“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…”
Seat belts
12 reports2 crashes
“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”
Engine and engine cooling
11 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A CRANK SHAFT SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Suspension
7 reports1 crash
“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.”
Vehicle speed control
7 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR FAILED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. UPON DECELERATION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT DESCRIBED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HAVING A "DEAD SPOT", THUS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ON ONE OCCASION, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RMPS THAT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE WORN POSITION SENSOR. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY REPLACED THE POSITIONING SENSOR. MILLENNIUM HYUNDAI (265 NORTH FRANKLIN ST, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.”
Power train
7 reports
“KNOCKING SOUND STARTED IN RIGHT FRONT WHEN TURNING RIGHT. NOT MUCH BUT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER & LONGER ON ALL TURNS. THE FRONT TRANSAXLE SHAFT BASICALLY WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG W THE BALL JOINTS IN FRONT END.5 SPEED *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.