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moderate Owners of the 2005 Hyundai Elantra have filed 3 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Elantra (this page) | 3 |
| 2006 Elantra | 32 |
| 2007 Elantra | 15 |
| 2008 Elantra | 22 |
| 2009 Elantra | 3 |
Of the 3 lighting complaints filed for the 2005 Hyundai Elantra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Of the 16 model years of Hyundai Elantra we track for lighting problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (3).
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Any of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to moisture accumulation in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. The TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes, or during normal driving operation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Has an issue with the low beam light turning on only high beams work. Around 7:00 pm driving home lights just completely shut off on me down the freeway. Changed out the bulbs and again went out after 2 weeks around 6 traffic hour witch almost caused a collision when other driver merged into my lane due to no lights to show a vehicle was to his right. I have also seen its a huge issue with other…
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Based on the 3 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 118,797 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover lighting issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.