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2005 Hyundai Elantra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

107 reports with mileage · 30 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

30 crash reports3 fire reports19 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

71 reports
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130,000 miles · Jul 27, 2017
Air BagsSeats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCS MAT FAILED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCS MAT FAILED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION HYUNDAI MALL OF GEORGIA (3445 BUFORD DR NE, BUFORD, GA 30519) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #11011135

22,850 miles · Feb 16, 2017
Air Bags

23,000 ORIGINAL MILES. NEVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH. FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATES AIR BAG OFF EVEN WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER SEATED AND BELTED IN THE SEAT. INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT A TIME, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY. HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. CAUSE F…

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23,000 ORIGINAL MILES. NEVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH. FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATES AIR BAG OFF EVEN WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER SEATED AND BELTED IN THE SEAT. INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT A TIME, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY. HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. CAUSE FOR SERIOUS CONCERN FOR SAFETY OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10955101

72,000 miles · Sep 17, 2016
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP ON COMING AND GOING OFF

NHTSA ODI #10907399

200,000 miles · May 26, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR HIGHER, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED AND THE DOOR FRACTURED ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES, ARM PAINS, BRUISING TO THE HIPS, AND …

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR HIGHER, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED AND THE DOOR FRACTURED ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES, ARM PAINS, BRUISING TO THE HIPS, AND A PULLED MUSCLE IN THE RIGHT LEG. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISING TO THE LEFT EYE, HIP, AND HEAD. THE CHILD PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND ABRASIONS TO THE ARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND PARKED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V395000 (AIR BAGS), BUT DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 07/27/16*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10870948

55,104 miles · Oct 5, 2015
Air Bags

THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF AND WILL NOT DETECT A PERSON IN THAT SEAT AND TURN THE "PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT OFF. THIS HAS BEEN A REOCCURRING PROBLEM IN OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES AND RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. FOR SOME REASON, THE ELANTRA HAS NO…

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THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF AND WILL NOT DETECT A PERSON IN THAT SEAT AND TURN THE "PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT OFF. THIS HAS BEEN A REOCCURRING PROBLEM IN OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES AND RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. FOR SOME REASON, THE ELANTRA HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH IT USES THE SAME SYSTEM AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS ATTENTION..

NHTSA ODI #10779843

16,500 miles · May 13, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, A VEHICLE IN FRONT STALLED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO REAR END THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, A VEHICLE IN FRONT STALLED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO REAR END THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,500.

NHTSA ODI #10716223

122,769 miles · Mar 15, 2015
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AT ANY SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694393

103,000 miles · Jun 3, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWAR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 8/11/14*CN

NHTSA ODI #10595889

1,000 miles · Mar 19, 2014
Air Bags

WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT THE INSTRUMENT LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF. IT STAYS LIT FOR A FEW MILES, THEN GOES OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. THIS KEEPS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE TRIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573449

112,000 miles · Nov 19, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury

TOOK SHARP TURN RIGHT TO MISS A CAR THAT WAS HEADED FOR ME HIT A TELEPHONE POLE, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. INJURIES INCLUDED CONCUSSION, WHIP LASH, BROKEN HAND, BRUISED RIBS, GLASS AND CUTS IN HEAD FROM WINDSHIELD, LIP WAS TORN IN HALF AND BRUISED, TWO DAY HOSPITAL STAY AND A TOTALED CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552995

Official recalls

4

09V280000 · Exterior Lighting

Jul 21, 2009

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFT OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-787-999-4310.

05V479000 · Air Bags

Oct 17, 2005

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

05V395000 · Air Bags

Sep 12, 2005

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

05V187000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Apr 28, 2005

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH THREADED PORTIONS OF THE STEERING GEARBOX ASSEMBLY'S LEFT AND RIGHT INNER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES THAT CONTAIN INTERNAL CRACKS IN THE MATERIAL STRUCTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE INNER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY WAS TO BREAK AS A RESULT OF THE INTERNAL CRACK, THE TIE ROD END ASSEMBLY WOULD NOT LONGER BE ATTACHED TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THIS WOULD PREVENT STEERING CONTROL OF THAT FRONT WHEEL BY THE SEPARATED TIE ROD WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEARBOX ASSEMBLIES ON THESE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE BEGINNING ON APRIL 8, 2005, AND INSTRUCTED NOT TO DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES. HYUNDAI WILL ARRANGE TO PICK UP AND RETURN THEIR VEHICLES AFTER REPAIR. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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