2004 Hyundai Elantra: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2004 Hyundai Elantra: 5 recalls, 182 owner complaints and up to 26 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #03V322000 · 2003 · 75 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: In the event of a vehicle crash, the air bag May not deploy, possibly resulting in serious injury to the right front passenger.
The fix: The occupant classification sensor will be reprogrammed.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #04V208000 · 2004 · 44,530 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #04V370000 · 2004 · 582 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.
The 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #05V395000 · 2005 · 231,160 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #05V479000 · 2005 · 2,105 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 26 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (114): the most common themes are warning light on (30), fails to deploy (18).
- Seat belts (12): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Engine & cooling (11): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (4), leaks (4), warning light on (3).
- Speed control / throttle (7): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2004 Hyundai Elantra has 182 owner complaints, ranking #19 of 35 Elantra model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 249). Complaints peaked in 2004 (68 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 1 year old, at a median of 30,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2003 (234 complaints, 5 recalls), 2005 (137 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 31 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra.
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FAQ
Does the 2004 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2004 Hyundai Elantra problems?
Owners have filed 182 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (114), seat belts (12), engine & cooling (11).
What gas mileage does the 2004 Hyundai Elantra get?
EPA ratings run up to 26 mpg combined (2.0 L, Manual 5-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2004 Hyundai Elantra repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.