Hyundai Elantra Complaints (2005)

137 consumer complaints on file.

#11717163February 11, 2026
STEERING, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNKNOWN On January 24,2026, I was thankfully traveling only about twenty mph a block from my home and something happened in the front drivers side suspension that caused me to almost hit three parked cars. Once I got stopped, the car couldn’t get get pushed forward, won’t roll at all forward, like it’s in park, but in neutral we were able to push it backwards to the house. It seems that it could be what is described in recall 069. However when I put my vin in it said zero recalls. I see a letter to the original owner of this car, but I don’t see any info with the recall being repaired. The car hasn’t been worked on yet as we had a huge snowstorm the night the car broke and have since had sub zero temps and I’ve not found anyone to work on it in front of my home in this weather. How should I proceed? How can I get more info in regards to if this recall was remedied on this car?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11689993September 26, 2025
SUSPENSION
I have a 2005 hyundai elantra that the front and rear subframe/ suspension crossmembers are completely rotted out. There is a safety recall that I found online for 2003 elantras for this same problem, but I can't seem to find anything for a 2005 model. They are the same body style and it's the same exact crossmember used on these years. Hyundai knew there was an issue and they never fixed it for the 2005 model year. The rear crossmember rotted right through on mine and the back tires almost fell off of the car. Luckily I was right down the road from my house when it happened. After I replaced the rear crossmember, I noticed that the front was just as bad and there's a Crack and as soon as I pushed on it with my fingers, they went right through the metal and now there's a baseball sized rust hole right by the lower control arms on both sides of the front suspension crossmember. The car has just over 100,000 miles and now it's not drivable. There are dozens of reports online with people reporting the same exact issue. Myself or another driver could have been killed if this happened on the highway. The body is in nice shape on the car, so it's not like the whole car is rusted out. I looked for a new crossmember on multiple elantras in the junkyard and they all have the same issue, the body's are in good shape but both crossmembers are completely rotted away. This was an issue that hyundai had a recall on and never fixed for this year. There are many of these models still on the road that are an accident waiting to happen as well. Apparently from what I've read, the crossmembers and control arms never had any drain holes in them and they would rot from the inside out. Here's a link to the same issue for the 2003 year. I'll upload pictures of the crossmember and the underside of the car showing that the car isn't all rusted out, it's just the crossmembers. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11644457February 24, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STEERING, SUSPENSION
As I was driving about 25-30 mph when the front drivers side lower control arm snapped, resulting in loss of control and steering, which could’ve caused a major accident if driven on a highway/interstate at a higher rate of speed. The damage revealed the control arm had rotted from the inside and had broken from the bushing connected to the frame, with no indication of rust in the outside, which has been something that has documented with other same generation Hyundais. I have not been able to bring it to a dealer or mechanic to have it checked
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11623311November 3, 2024
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN
The air bag light came on and it is staying on
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11519419April 28, 2023
STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and released; however, the brake light remained illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V280000 (Exterior Lighting). Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became stiff while making a turn. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V187000 (Steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11488414October 7, 2022
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact was made aware of various recalls for similar vehicles. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in an air bag recall. The dealer was made aware of the failure and confirmed there was no active recalls on the vehicle for the air bags. The contact scheduled a service appointment for the vehicle to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11461088April 17, 2022
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
Passenger airbag sensor registers when someone sits down, but randomly turns off and displays “Passenger Airbag Off” light for a couple minutes before turning off again. Vehicle was inspected by an authorized Hyundai service center and no codes were produced. No indicated problems prior to the first incident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457220March 18, 2022
SEAT BELTS
THE CLIP END WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE RECEIVER BY PRESSING THE RED RELEASE BUTTON,,,,,,SAFETY PROBLEM...WHEN ALONE IN CAR I CAN PUT BELT CLIP IN PASSENGER RECEIVER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11331672June 30, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AT INSPECTION, MECHANIC NOTED SEVERE AND DANGEROUS RUST TO SUBFRAME AND SUBFLOOR IN MULTIPLE AREAS OF VEHICLE. REAR PORTION OF SUBFRAME WAS ALMOST COMPLETED RUSTED THROUGH. ADDITIONALLY NOTED ISSUES WITH RP BRAKE LIGHT, PLATE LIGHT AND FP TURN SIGNAL. ONGOING ISSUE WITH FUSSES AND BULBS CONTINUALLY BLOWING/GOING OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327016June 2, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE SLOWING DOWN AFTER DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OR STOPPING AT AN TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR STALLS AND LOSES POWER STEERING. NEEDS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART BUT IF STOPPING AT ANOTHER LIGHT, IT DIES AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11320418April 7, 2020
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
SUB FRAME IS ROTTING BROUGHT CAR TO MECHANIC FOR SERVICE NOT RELATED AND HE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM HE SAID IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF NOT ADDRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290990December 23, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE LOW BEAM LIGHT TURNING ON ONLY HIGH BEAMS WORK. AROUND 7:00 PM DRIVING HOME LIGHTS JUST COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ME DOWN THE FREEWAY. CHANGED OUT THE BULBS AND AGAIN WENT OUT AFTER 2 WEEKS AROUND 6 TRAFFIC HOUR WITCH ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION WHEN OTHER DRIVER MERGED INTO MY LANE DUE TO NO LIGHTS TO SHOW A VEHICLE WAS TO HIS RIGHT. I HAVE ALSO SEEN ITS A HUGE ISSUE WITH OTHER ELANTRA OWNERS THE SAME YEARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11287130December 5, 2019
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. BEAVERTON HYUNDAI (13255 SW FARMINGTON RD, BEAVERTON, OR 97005, (877) 812-0866) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A SCANNER AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 166,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11270264October 22, 2019
AIR BAGS
I CALL A DEALER LAST YEAR (LEE HYUNDAI) FLORENCE, SC. AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I WANT TO HAVE IT FIXED THAT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT 500 DOLLARS, I ALSO THOUGHT THAT I HAD MADE A REPORT WITH NHTSA BEFORE AND THEN WHEN IT CAME ON TV, IT WAS SAID THAT HYUNDAI WAS LIABLE FOR FIXING IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217358June 2, 2019
AIR BAGS
MY AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO AWAY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11207224May 13, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF WHICH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO FUNCTION AS WELL AS THE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS AN INTERNAL ELECTRONIC FAULT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,510.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11130735September 22, 2018
AIR BAGS
TALKED TO DEALER (HYUNDAI LEE), AND WAS TOLD RECALL WAS CLOSED AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAID TO HAVE FIXED. I BROUGHT THIS CAR FROM DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11122043August 24, 2018
AIR BAGS
JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND THE AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT WENT ON. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $140 TO DIAGNOSE INFORMING ME THAT THE SEAT SENSORS NEED REPLACEMENT ADDING THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT ASSEMBLY MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THIS IS A FAILURE OF HYUNDAI'S RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLUS QUALITY CONTROL OF A MAJOR SAFETY SYSTEM DEVICE. ITS REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE FREE BASED ON THIS. AS A NOTE THE LIGHT COMES ON IMMEDIATELY AT START AND WHILE DRIVING, STAYS ON CONSTANTLY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11076318March 5, 2018
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND I NEED SAFETY IN THE CAR,WONDERING IF RECALL HAS BEEN REPORTED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073900February 20, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BOX METAL FRAME IS COMPLETED RUSTED THRU WITH A LOT OF THE FRAME RUSTED AWAY UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BY FRONT DOOR AREA.I FOUND THIS OUT WHEN I WENT TO JACK UP THE CAR AT THE FRAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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