NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Hyundai Elantra Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2005 Hyundai Elantra has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 137 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Hyundai dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Hyundai Elantra, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2005 Hyundai Elantra owner complaints

Owners have filed 137 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Hyundai Elantra, describing incidents dated November 29, 2004 to January 24, 2026.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 71 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 14 complaints
Service Brakes 11 complaints
Electrical System 10 complaints
Engine 10 complaints
Power Train 7 complaints

Of the 137 complaints on file, 30 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 137 complaints, owners report 26 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11717163 · Filed February 11, 2026
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…
ODI #11689993 · Filed September 26, 2025
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…
ODI #11644457 · Filed February 24, 2025
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…

Read all 137 complaints

Owner-reported

2005 Hyundai Elantra mileage at failure

107 of the 137 complaints on file for the 2005 Hyundai Elantra give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Air Bags	Median 35,000 miles	Middle half 9,000–75,000 miles	Based on 53 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

STOP LAMP SWITCH

NHTSA #09V280000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported July 21, 2009 · HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO

Potentially affected: 3,011 vehicles

Hyundai campaign 91B026 · Owners notified September 2, 2009 · Vehicles built October 25, 2006 – April 30, 2007 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO RECALL NO.91B026.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

NHTSA #05V479000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice

Reported October 17, 2005 · HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO

Potentially affected: 2,105 vehicles

Hyundai campaign 073 · Owners notified November 15, 2005 · Vehicles built June 12, 2003 – September 9, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

HYUNDAI PR RECALL NO. 073.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

NHTSA #05V395000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice

Reported September 12, 2005 · HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 231,160 vehicles

Hyundai campaign 073 · Owners notified October 31, 2005 · Vehicles built June 12, 2003 – September 30, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

HYUNDAI RECALL NO. 073.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

NHTSA #05V187000 · Steering — Linkages — Tie Rod Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported April 28, 2005 · HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 277 vehicles

Hyundai campaign 069 · Owners notified April 8, 2005 · Vehicles built February 22, 2005 – March 27, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

HYUNDAI RECALL NO. 069.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2005 Hyundai Elantra 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 4

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

137 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Hyundai Elantra.

Steering; Suspension; Unknown or Other

ODI #11717163

Incident: January 24, 2026 · Filed: February 11, 2026

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?

Suspension

ODI #11689993

Incident: September 24, 2025 · Filed: September 26, 2025

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)

Steering; Suspension; Unknown or Other

ODI #11644457

Incident: February 21, 2025 · Filed: February 24, 2025

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

Power Train; Air Bags

ODI #11623311

Incident: October 5, 2024 · Filed: November 3, 2024

The air bag light came on and it is staying on

Steering; Exterior Lighting

ODI #11519419

Incident: April 7, 2023 · Filed: April 28, 2023

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.

Air Bags

ODI #11488414

Incident: October 1, 2021 · Filed: October 7, 2022

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.

Electrical System; Air Bags; Seats

ODI #11461088

Incident: July 15, 2021 · Filed: April 17, 2022

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.

Seat Belts

ODI #11457220

Incident: March 2, 2022 · Filed: March 18, 2022

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

Exterior Lighting; Structure

ODI #11331672

Incident: June 30, 2020 · Filed: June 30, 2020

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.

Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11327016

Incident: May 29, 2020 · Filed: June 2, 2020

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

Other Hyundai Elantra model years

Check your 2005 Hyundai Elantra VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Hyundai Elantra at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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