There are 7 stored owner reports matching the brakes leading-label group for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 7 of 7 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)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.
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.
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
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
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
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.