Sell your 2004 Hyundai Elantra for cash

The 2004 Hyundai Elantra is a compact car that came with a 2.0L 4-cyl engine. At 22 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.

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2004 Hyundai Elantra at a glance

Body styleCompact Cars, Midsize Cars
Engines2.0L 4-cyl
TransmissionsAutomatic 4-spd, Manual 5-spd
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
FuelRegular Gasoline
Fuel economy21–24 city / 29–31 highway / 24–26 combined MPG
EPA annual fuel cost$2,600–$2,800 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles)
Tailpipe CO₂342–370 grams per mile
Versions tested by EPA3 configurations: Elantra, Elantra Hatchback
Age22 years

Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.

What affects its junk value

  • Age: at 22 years old, most of a 2004 Elantra's value comes from reusable parts and scrap metal, not resale.
  • Weight: as a compact car, it weighs less than a truck or SUV, so its value leans more on parts than on scrap weight. See how scrap prices by weight work.
  • Catalytic converter: like all gas and diesel cars, it has a catalytic converter containing precious metals, one of the most valuable parts on a junk car. An offer assumes it's still in place. More on catalytic converters.
  • Recalls: NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2004 Elantra. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking it.
  • Known problems: owners reported the most issues with the air bags, typically around 60,000 miles. If that's what failed on yours, it can still be sold as-is.

How junk car offers are calculated

2004 Hyundai Elantra recalls

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls covering the 2004 Hyundai Elantra. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.

Air BagsOct 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V479000

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'…

Risk: 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.

Air BagsSep 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V395000

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'…

Risk: 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.

Fuel System, GasolineJul 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V370000

During an insurance institute for highway safety (iihs) offset frontal barrier impact test, it was determined that fuel tan damage could occur. On certain passenger vehicles, a vapor tube hose clamp that is located near the fuel tank may not be positioned properly and could cause fuel leakage.

Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Fuel System, GasolineMay 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V208000

During an insurance institute for highway safety (iihs) offset frontal barrier impact test on certain passenger vehicles, fuel spillage occurred as a result of fuel tank damage caused by contact between a vapor tube hose clamp ear and the fuel tank. The vapor tube hose clamp ear was found to be mispositioned and facing toward the…

Risk: In the event of a crash, damage to the vehicle could cause the mispositioned clamp to puncture the fuel tank causing fuel leakage. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Air BagsAug 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V322000

On certain vehicles, if the front passenger seat is unoccupied or is occupied by someone lighter than 56.4 pounds, the passenger air bag is deactivated and will not deploy if a crash occurs. However, the occupant classification sensor may incorrectly interpret that a seated adult is an infant seat and deactivate the passenger air bag…

Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the air bag may not deploy, possibly resulting in serious injury to the right front passenger.

Common 2004 Elantra problems

Owners have filed 182 complaints about the 2004 Hyundai Elantra with NHTSA. 24 reports involved a crash and 2 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 26 injuries.

Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.

Most-reported components

  • Air Bags57
  • Air Bags34
  • Air Bags18
  • Seat Belts8
  • Engine and Engine Cooling7
  • Vehicle Speed Control7

Typical mileage when problems were reported

  • Air Bags60,000 mi
  • Air Bags8,000 mi
  • Seat Belts66,000 mi
  • Engine and Engine Cooling32,000 mi
  • Vehicle Speed Control86,000 mi

2004 Hyundai Elantra service bulletins

Manufacturers have filed 58 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2004 Hyundai Elantra. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.

Most common bulletin topics

  • Air Bags6
  • Electrical System5
  • Power Train5
  • Power Train4
  • Engine and Engine Cooling3
  • Equipment3

Recent bulletins

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsOct 2026 · 26-EM-016H TSB

    Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning pr

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsOct 2026 · 26-EM-015H TSB

    Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair proce

  • OtherApr 2026 · DTN DCS

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured

  • OtherApr 2026 · DTN DL

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver's-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin P

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA opened 1 defect investigation covering the 2004 Hyundai Elantra.

Fuel System, GasolinePE04041 · opened Apr 2004, closed Jul 2004Led to recall 04V208000

Post-crash fuel tank leak

Pe04-041 was opened to investigate a fuel leak incident that occurred during an insurance institute for highway safety (iihs) frontal crash offset test on the subject vehicle.this investigation revealed that the vapor tube hose clamp ear was mispositioned and facing toward the fuel tank, which enabled the vapor tube ho

Other Hyundai Elantra years

‹ Sell a 2003 Elantra · Sell a 2005 Elantra › · All Hyundai Elantra years

Other 2004 Hyundai models

Selling a 2004 Elantra: questions

How much is a 2004 Hyundai Elantra worth for junk?

It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. Its parts make up much of its value. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.

Can I junk a 2004 Elantra that doesn't run?

Yes. We buy 2004 Elantras that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.

Can I sell a 2004 Elantra with open recalls?

Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What paperwork do I need to sell my 2004 Elantra?

Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.

Before you sell

Sources

Data retrieved October 2026.

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