What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2001 Hyundai Elantra

Typical pattern

10.3% of complaints about the 2001 Hyundai Elantra came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2001 vehicle — around the middle of the 216 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (124 complaints), typically at 4.8 yr or about 62,000 miles.

Complaints
427
Median age at failure
5.4 yr
Median mileage
69,000 n=287
Crash / fire / tow
25.8% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
124 reports · 62,000 mi
4.8 yr
44.4%
Suspension
84 reports · 85,956 mi
9.4 yr
14.3%
Structure
26 reports · 90,000 mi
8.4 yr
26.9%
Electrical system
21 reports · 74,513 mi
4.3 yr
9.5%
Steering
21 reports · 60,000 mi
3.6 yr
23.8%
Visibility
19 reports · 67,198 mi
3.0 yr
0%
Service brakes, hydraulic
17 reports · 42,000 mi
2.9 yr
35.3%
Power train
16 reports · 27,000 mi
4.8 yr
18.8%
Engine cooling
16 reports · 69,000 mi
2.8 yr
6.2%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09V125000 2009-04-16
Suspension:front:control arm

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 160,904 MY 2001-2003 ELANTRA AND MY 2003 TIBURON VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT USED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN THESE JURISDICTIONS MAY RESULT IN INTERNAL CORROSION AND THINNING OF THE STEEL IN THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS TO THE POINT WHERE THE LOWER CO

THE FRACTURING OF THE CONTROL ARM COULD AN OWNER'S CONTROL OVER THEIR VEHICLE THAT MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

08V533000 2008-10-14
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001-2002 ELANTRA VEHICLES. MOVEMENT OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS MOUNTED UNDER EACH FRONT SEAT, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY CONTACT FROM MATERIALS PLACED UNDER THE SEAT, MAY RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE THAT WOULD CAUSE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION.

THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS AND MAY PREVENT SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR. NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS AIR BAGS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

08V532000 2008-10-14
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001 ELANTRA VEHICLES. IF A LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE AREA OF THE CUPHOLDER ON THE CENTER CONSOLE, IT MAY SEEP THROUGH THE CONSOLE OPENING FOR THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER AND THEN DRIP ONTO THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE SPILLED LIQUID MAY CONTAMINATE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND ITS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.

THIS CONDITION MAY AFFECT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS AND MAY PREVENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR. NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS AIR BAGS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

03V496000 2003-12-03
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.

CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS MAY RESULT IN REAR BRAKE TUBE WEAR AND CORROSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

03V257000 2003-07-22
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES PASS BEHIND THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER. TWO STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO THE CROSSMEMBER. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), THE REAR BRAKE TUBES COULD CONTACT BOTH STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS. ON VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES MAY CONTACT ONLY THE LEFT MOUNTING BRACKET. CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE STEERING BRACKETS COULD CAUSE WEAR AND CORROSION THAT COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.

FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

00V332000 2000-10-17
Air bags:side/window

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM SIDE AIR BAG SATELLITE SENSORS INSTALLED WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED, CAUSING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING A CRASH WHERE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS INTENDED.

In owners’ own words

Structure mileage not reported 3 mo in service
BOTH REAR DOORS FREEZE SHUT WHEN TEMP IS BELOW 32 AND CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE TILL WARMED. CREATES SAFETY HAZARD SINCE REAR PASSENGERS MUST CLIME OVER FROM FRONT AND ARE TRAPPED IN THE REAR SEATS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE TEMP IS BELOW 32 REGARDLESS OF RAIN, CAN BE DRY FOR DAYS STILL HAPPENS. RETURNED TO DEALER THEY CAN NOT FIX. CALLED HYUNDAI THEY SAID THEY KNOW OF PROBLEM BUT CANT FIX IT.
Structure mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service
AIR BAG LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL IS ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND DETERMINED AN UNKNOWN FLUID FROM CUP HOLDER CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN AN UNKNOWN COMPONENT FOR AIR BAG SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK ABL.PCO
Structure mileage not reported 4 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS HAVE UNEXPECTEDLY BURNED OUT FOUR TIMES, PARKING LIGHTS REMAIN ON AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF, AND POWER CONTROLLED DOOR LOCKS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP INDICATED AFTER-MARKET PRODUCT WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL FAILURE.*AK
Visibility mileage not reported 6 mo in service
WHILE AIR SYSTEM IS CUT OFF OUTSIDE AIR STILL ENTERS VEHICLE. *AK OUT SIDE AIR ENTERS BOTH IN FRESH MODE AND RECIRCULATION MODE. *YH

Other Elantra model years

20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999

How to read this