IllustrationAT 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.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Elantra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
360–25K
1325–50K
2150–75K
1575–100K
16100–150K
6150K+
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
Structure complaints
7 reportsSUB 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
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME FRACTURED ALONG THE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE RUST TO THE VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME FRACTURED ALONG THE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE RUST TO THE VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
COMPLETE LOST OF CONTROL NO STEERING ABILITIES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL WHEEL RIMS PREMATURELY RUSTED WITH DETERIORATION CAUSING THE TIRES TO HAVE LOW PRESSURE, THEN SEVERAL TIMES THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE REPAIR TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE WHEEL RIMS AND…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL WHEEL RIMS PREMATURELY RUSTED WITH DETERIORATION CAUSING THE TIRES TO HAVE LOW PRESSURE, THEN SEVERAL TIMES THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE REPAIR TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE WHEEL RIMS AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (POWER OF BOWSER, 1001 CLAIRTON BLVD, PLEASANT HILLS, PA 15236) WHO PROVIDED NO SOLUTION AND FAILED TO DETERMINE A REMEDY OR REPLACEMENT PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE DEALER MIGHT PROVIDE THE REPLACEMENT PART IF THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER RECALL PROVIDING A SOLUTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,089.
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEV 2005 HYUNDAI ELECTRA'S ROOF HAD A WATER LEAK. SHE HAD REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUED TO INFORM THE CONTACT THAT THE WATER WAS COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS RAINING. SHE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUED …
Read full complaint
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEV 2005 HYUNDAI ELECTRA'S ROOF HAD A WATER LEAK. SHE HAD REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUED TO INFORM THE CONTACT THAT THE WATER WAS COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS RAINING. SHE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUED TO REPLACE AND RESEAL THE WINDSHIELD. SHE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOOK TO VEHICLE TO AUTO CONCEPT, AND THE COMPANY CALLED THE WATER DOCTOR. THEY INFORMED HER THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE RIVETS H POPPED IN THE ROOF . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING, SHE COULD SEE WITH THE WATER COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE FELT THAT THERE MAY BE MOLD FORMING IN THE VEHICLE. THE WATER CAME DOWN ON HER FEET, AND CAME IN ON THE GEAR SHIFT. THE CONTACT WILL BE CALLING THE MANUFACTURER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6544, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8576.*AK UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB
Official recalls
409V280000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.