Overview & Reviews

This year Hyundai adds a GLS version of the five-door hatchback to the Elantra line.

• Solidly built, powerful engine for its class, long list of standard features, comfortable interior, ultralow price tag, generous warranty.

• Floaty ride on the freeway with base suspension, hard to find equipped with ABS, poor offset crash test score.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 240.00

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  Trouble From The Start - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Patti - October 1 - 8:20 pm

  Ive owned seven little old cars in the past fourteen years, many much older than this one, and this one has given me the most trouble bar none. As you probably suspected, the Toyotas and Hondas behaved perfectly. Now Im not gonna say it is all the cars fault, because Im certain its at least partially the fact that the previous owners were idiots (reversed the radiator hoses, made sure the PCV valve would never come out with the application of hardening mud). Plus, you have to consider, if idiots are buying Hyundais... yeah, that was kinda mean. But beware! Every thing I do to it, every fix, is like going down the rabbit hole, even though this car is relatively easy to work on. Let me start from the beginning. I bought the car only 4k miles ago, and with blown struts and cracked windshield and a little hitch in its shifting--I knew about all that. One week after the purchase, driving down the highway, radiator blew. So, tow bill. New radiator, and it was still overheating. This is when we realized the hoses were reversed. New thermostat, new belts while were at it. Two week long saga of getting the belts on juuuuuust right to get one or the other or all of them to stop squealing. Pro tip: tighten the alternator belt. Before I forget, let me mention that now, one of the pulleys is squeaking, will probably need to replace THAT soon. One of the back drum brakes was squeaking, tried to get that off to fix... of course its well and truly stuck, /fail. I did some research on the internet about the shifting, found a lot of people had had success with changing the transmission speed sensors. Bought them on ebay, installed, and... I think its shifting somewhat better. It doesnt do the odd shifting thing anymore... mostly. Its still not perfect, and its driving me a little insane. I think its manuals from here on out for me. But anyway, back to the car. Tried to change the PCV valve, unscrewed it from the valve cover... and the whole effing brass fitting came out of the valve cover with it, because apparently, someoned glued it in. Jammed it back in, PCV valve unchanged. Option at this point: Get really, really creative getting the PCV valve out, or new valve cover, $250. The engine was filthy, decided I was going to wash it before working on it. Wound up flooding one of the spark plugs. Couple-day saga of changing spark plugs (which were due anyway, so whatever), Heet, wires. Apparently Id fried the wire, too. Couple days after that, headlights went out. Both of them, at the same time. Odd, yes? Anyway. Theres more, I know theres more, but Im drawing a blank right at this second, so how about the good: The seats are comfortable, the sunroof still works and doesnt leak, aftermarket stereo plays Pandora. Oh! And Im beginning to suspect parts are cheap, cuz the junkyard quoted me $550 for a new (100k miles) engine. Peeves: Rear foot space is sparing, little spots of rust starting on body.

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  Zero problems - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By morahno - March 30 - 4:07 pm

  Bought with 128k miles on it. Changed the battery and windshield wipers cause they were old, thats it. After 8 months and 10k have had absolutely no problems.I get 28 mpg combined. The exterior is pretty cool comparing to other cars with same age imo, the interior of course is not good looking, in high speeds it shakes sometimes, the steering wheel shakes a little most of the time, but for the money I paid and the reliability I got, I can overlook those.

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  Bad car - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By shadow - December 1 - 1:51 pm

  This car is very uncomfortable. I bought car new and tires were bad from the start. Brought the car back to dealer several times to get different tires, and never got anywhere. Had to buy new tires myself. Then 2 sensors went out at 30,000 miles and had to go back twice. Back hatchback door wont close properly and have to spray wd-40 on that to get to close. Now brakes and rotors are totally warped and that isnt covered. The 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty is a joke. They find ways to tell you that it is "regular maintenance" so you have to pay. Getting it home tonight and putting a for sale sign in it....Very unhappy with car. Runs like crap and air is gone. 45,000 miles on it now.

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  clutch problem - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Steve - July 9 - 2:29 pm

  I have owned my 2005 Hyundai Elantra for 3 and one half years. It will be paid off in 5 months. At the 36,000 mile mark 2 weeks ago, the clutch went. I have had 5 other standard transmission vehicles which have had between 70,000 - 140,000 miles without ever having to replace the clutch. This clutch cost me $1,000 to replace and will probably cause me to look elsewhere for my next vehicle. It makes me wonder whether Hyundai spent enough time and money on this aspect of the Elantra and whether other owners have had this problem as well.

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  Many problems - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Brian - March 18 - 11:22 am

  Ive had this car for 3 years, bought it new. Have had many problems with seat back falling off, its been replaced five times and still not fixed (first happened three months after I got the car, on my second coolant leak, cylinder in clutch needed replaced, glove compartment handle fell off, cloth came off the center console, power mirror switch replaced twice, and seat frame has been replaced three times. I would not recommend buying any Hyundai. I have been going through trouble trying to get my whole seat replaced with someone from the Hyundai central office.

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  I smell lemons - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By 1carnut - January 23 - 9:24 pm

  Thank goodness for the warranty. I bought this car used with very low miles and a good service history. I have a brake problem that cant seem to be solved. On my 5th master cylinder and still have mush brake pedal. (Maybe thats not the problem guys!!) Ive also had to have the rack & pinion replaced and the noise it was making prior to replacement is back. All of this with less than 35k miles. I do not abuse this car and it should not be having these issues. I will say that the dealerships have been good about doing the repairs. I see that its on the recommended used cars list. I guess I just got a bad one but NEVER AGAIN!

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  Air Bag Did Not Deploy - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By NJCommuter - June 10 - 1:13 pm

  I had a 2005 Hyundai Elantra and stupidly rear-ended someone. After the impact I sat there staring at the “AIR BAG DEPLOYED” flashing light and wondered where the bag was. Thank God I didn’t need it. Can you imagine if I had needed it what would have happened. Beware and get this equipment checked. I’ll never own another Hyundai. The Elantra was my second and had two bad experiences. Never again.

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  Not too bad - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Not that bad - August 27 - 3:04 pm

  Bought the car for a daily commuter w/ some road trips in mind as well. Ive been pretty pleased with the car, but it is in the shop right now at 42,000 miles to get the rear brakes replaced. Seems way too early, especially since I have the manual and use my brakes sparingly. Dealer seemed mystified as to why only 1 brake pad was worn badly... Tires were completely bald by about 32,000 miles. Clutch is pretty pathetic too, definately not a sport- machine. Sloppy gearbox sometimes leads to a gear grinding here and there (roomate has the same problem with his Accent). Probably going to be my first and last Hyundai, Id rather pay a little more for better quality.

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  Hyandai Elantra - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By draggonfly76 - September 7 - 8:17 am

  The biggest problem I had with the car is the handling is slow, turns are wide, and curves you have to take slowly, mostly below the speed limit. Also the care dents very easily if you put your hand on the hood of the car and press down the metal will bend with your hand. You can have all the safety airbags in the world, but the car is made out of tin. The plus side of this car is it is great on gas I wouldnt have to fill my tank for over 2 weeks at a time.

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  2005 GLS Hatchback 5 speed - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By dtipton - January 19 - 10:56 pm

  After 3 months and 7000 miles the car has been in the shop 4 times. Three times for problems with the cruise control and once because they did not replace the drain plug properly after an oil change which caused a leak and because the paint was coming off where a bird made a deposit. I was told the warranty did not cover the paint as it was a "foreign substance". They would have covered it had I purchased their after market paint sealer. I called Hyundai Customer Care and was told, "Paint is not covered under warranty if the car is exposed to outside elements". I asked how I was expected to drive the car without exposing it to outside elements? No answer just a "its our policy sir".