2005 Hyundai Elantra: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2005 Hyundai Elantra: 4 recalls, 137 owner complaints and up to 26 mpg combined.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Steering Vehicle recall #05V187000 · 2005 · 277 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
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.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #09V280000 · 2009 · 3,011 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: Any of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on September 2, 2009.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 26 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (71): the most common themes are fails to deploy (23), warning light on (20).
- Speed control / throttle (14): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (6).
- Electrical (10): the most common themes are fire / smoke (3), electrical failure (3), stalls / loses power (2).
- Brakes (hydraulic) (9): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (4), leaks (2).
The 2005 Hyundai Elantra has 137 owner complaints, ranking #21 of 35 Elantra model years for complaints (well below the 249 average). Complaints peaked in 2006 (18 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 50,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2004 (182 complaints, 5 recalls), 2006 (155 complaints, 1 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 2005 Hyundai Elantra.
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FAQ
Does the 2005 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2005 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 2005 Hyundai Elantra problems?
Owners have filed 137 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (71), speed control / throttle (14), electrical (10).
What gas mileage does the 2005 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 2005 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.