2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra. This model year has 182 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Airbag Malfunctions.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2004 Hyundai Elantra Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbag Malfunctions
Engine Problems
Seat Belt Issues
Considering a 2004 Hyundai Elantra?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 114 | 22 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 16 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 12 | 2 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 6 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 6 | — | 1 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 182 most recent complaints
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 corrosi…
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 INV…
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 RECA…
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 A…
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 M…
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND SUDDENLY WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE LANE THE STEERING FREEZES ON ME, THIS HAPPEN NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME.
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 TH…
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).
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 AR…
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.
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 FLA…
WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF ON PASSENGER SIDE WHILE IN MOTION
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 …
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 FAIL…
"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…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, SIDESWIPED A TREE, AND CRASHED INTO A SMALL DITCH. THE …
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 AP…
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 A…
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
SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR I HAVE MAY PROBLEMS WITH ENTERING FUEL IN MY VEHICLE. IT TAKES AT LEAST 20 MINUTES TO FILL THE GAS TANK. I PUMP KEEP SHUTTING OFF AFTER PUTTING AT LEAST .50 IN. I CALLED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL BUT OF COURSE THERE IS NOT ONE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra.
Recalls for 2004 Hyundai Elantra
5 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2004 Hyundai Elantra — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Hyundai Elantra reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2004 Hyundai Elantra has 182 NHTSA owner complaints, 24 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Airbag Malfunctions (114 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Hyundai Elantra?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (114 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (16 complaints). #3: Seat Belt Issues (12 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Hyundai Elantra?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2004 Hyundai Elantra?▾
The 2004 Hyundai Elantra has 24 crash-related complaints and 2 fire reports out of 182 total NHTSA complaints. 26 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2004 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?▾
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2004 Hyundai Elantra. The largest issue: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2004 Hyundai Elantra?▾
The 2004 Hyundai Elantra has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Airbag Malfunctions issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Elantra reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2004 Hyundai Elantra
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.