2004 Hyundai Elantra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Elantra years
- Fewer complaints than other years 19th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 182 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Hyundai Elantra. That ranks 19th out of 32 Elantra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (114 complaints, 63%), typically at around 17,102 miles. Complaints mention 24 crashes, 2 fires, 26 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 182owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 24complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 Hyundai Elantra problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 114 | 63% | 17,102 | “air bag” (66%) | — |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 7% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 6% | 55,556 | — | — |
| Power Train | 7 | 4% | 33,066 | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 4% | 99,597 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 4% | 73,750 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 3% | 7,465 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 3% | 4,488 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 3% | 99,597 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 3% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 2% | 91,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 2% | 154,216 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 2% | 84,799 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 2% | 7 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | 1,700 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 4,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 Hyundai Elantra recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags
Problem: 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.
Risk: The possibility of misclassification of a crs as an adult may allow the right front airbag or side impact airbag to deploy in a crash and could result in injury to the right front occupant.
Fix: 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.
Air bags
Problem: 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.
Risk: The possibility of misclassification of a crs as an adult may allow the right front airbag or side impact airbag to deploy in a crash and could result in injury to the right front occupant.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash, damage to the vehicle could cause the mispositioned clamp to puncture the fuel tank causing fuel leakage. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Air bags
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the air bag may not deploy, possibly resulting in serious injury to the right front passenger.
Fix: The occupant classification sensor will be reprogrammed.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Post-crash fuel tank leak (PE04041) — opened Apr 16, 2004, closed Jul 13, 2004, led to recall 04V208000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
Other Hyundai Elantra years
← 2003 Elantra · 2005 Elantra →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Elantra | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 Elantra | 22 | 0 |
| 2024 Elantra | 54 | 1 |
| 2023 Elantra | 99 | 2 |
| 2022 Elantra | 102 | 5 |
| 2021 Elantra | 132 | 6 |
| 2020 Elantra | 254 | 3 |
| 2019 Elantra | 251 | 1 |
| 2018 Elantra | 283 | 0 |
| 2017 Elantra | 768 | 4 |
| 2016 Elantra | 293 | 2 |
| 2015 Elantra | 262 | 3 |
| 2014 Elantra | 386 | 2 |
| 2013 Elantra | 1,314 | 4 |
| 2012 Elantra | 653 | 4 |
| 2011 Elantra | 433 | 5 |
| 2010 Elantra | 380 | 3 |
| 2009 Elantra | 254 | 4 |
| 2008 Elantra | 314 | 7 |
| 2007 Elantra | 267 | 6 |
| 2006 Elantra | 155 | 1 |
| 2005 Elantra | 137 | 4 |
| 2004 | 182 | 5 |
| 2003 Elantra | 234 | 5 |
| 2002 Elantra | 342 | 6 |
| 2001 Elantra | 315 | 6 |
| 2000 Elantra | 197 | 1 |
| 1999 Elantra | 128 | 2 |
| 1998 Elantra | 55 | 0 |
| 1997 Elantra | 115 | 3 |
| 1996 Elantra | 100 | 3 |
| 1995 Elantra | 112 | 1 |
See all Hyundai Elantra problems by year, every Hyundai model, or the Hyundai VIN decoder.
Similar Hyundai models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Hyundai Elantra?
Owners most often report air bags, seat belts, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 114 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Hyundai Elantra?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 Hyundai Elantra a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Elantra model years, the 2004 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.