My 03 used to do that every once in awhile. My son has that car now, I
have to ask him if it ever did it.

My wife has a 2001 Elantra GLS that she bought new. Anyway, when it
was still under warranty the stereo (AM/FM/CD) began to turn itself on
all by itself. Sometimes the radio would come on, sometimes the CD
section, even if there was no CD in the slot.

This happened sporadically, with no apparent rhyme or reason. In other
words it seemed not be be caused by vibration, heat, cold, damp weather
or anything else I could think of. Luckily, Hyundai replaced the head
unit under warranty in 2002.

Flash ahead to 2007 and it's doing it again. Out of the blue. For five
years the unit functioned flawlessly (it still pays and sounds great).

I'm wondering if there is a possible design flaw inherent in the
factory head unit.

I would think that if there was something like an intermittent ground
or power connection it would lose the radio presets. Also, I would
think that one would be able to duplicate it by subjecting the car to
vibration.

Any thoughts will be appreciated.