Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Hyundai Elantra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THE ANTILOCK MACHINE IS LOCKING THE WHEELS SO MUCH THAT STOPS THE CAR COMPLETELY RIGHT IN THE MIDLE OF THE TRAFFIC AND THE TIRES SMELL LIKE BURNING TIRES. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TWICE. I AM SO AFRAID THAT THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY, THAT I DO NOT DRIVE THERE, ONLY THE STREETS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, SIDESWIPED A TREE, AND CRASHED INTO A SMALL DITCH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE LIVER. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE LEFT LEG AND SUSTAINED A FRACTURED COLLAR BONE. IN ADDITION, BOTH REAR SEAT OCCUPANTS SUFFERED FROM SEAT BELT BURNS TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NECK AND UNDERNEATH THE STOMACH AREA. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 5. ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN FRONT OF ME REQUIRING SUDDEN APPLICATION OF BRAKES (PANIC STOP). BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. THE BRAKES WORKED PARTIALLY AFTER SWERVING AND PUMPING THE BRAKES. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE BRAKES HAD FAILED COMPLETELY UPON BACKING THE VEHICLE. A MECHANICAL INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE-BOOSTER VACUUM LINE CHECK VALVE HAD FAILED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING LEFT AT LOW SPEEDS THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE REAR BRAKES HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE REAR BRAKE SENSORS WERE BENT AND BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE TURNED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED THREE TIME FOR GRINDING IN THE REAR OF CAR WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I HAVE NEVER BEEN TOLD WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, JUST THAT THEY HAVE FIXED IT, BUT IT NEVER STAYS FIXED. FIRST TIME (10/06/04) THEY LUBED BACKING PLATES AND SANDED SHOES; SECOND TIME (04/20/05) THEY REPLACED REAR BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS; THIRD TIME (08/15/05) THEY REPLACED BOTH REAR WHEEL CYCLINDERS. I AM TREATED VERY WELL BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL, BUT, I HAVE A CAR THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE BRAKE PROBLEMS. THIS IS A BAD ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE SMELLED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. VEHICLE BRAKES WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND HER AND THE PASSENGERS GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN SECONDS OF FLAMES. *TC
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND ROLLED BACK WHEN ON THE FLAT SURFACE. CONSUMERTOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM REAR OF CAR WHEN BRAKING. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED WARPED ROTORS AND MACHINED BRAKE DRUMS AT 4,400 MILES. PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN AND EVEN WORSE AT 4,700 MILES. I WILL BE TAKING IT IN TODAY. I'M AFRAID THAT AFTER 12,000 MILES THE WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THEM ANYMORE, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND HAVE BEEN FROM THE START.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .