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

2003 Hyundai Elantra

Typical pattern

9.8% of complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Elantra came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.6 yr in service. The most-reported system is suspension (60 complaints), typically at 9.8 yr or about 94,032 miles.

Complaints
295
Median age at failure
6.6 yr
Median mileage
66,953 n=218
Crash / fire / tow
19.3% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Suspension
60 reports · 94,032 mi
9.8 yr
0%
Air bags
49 reports · 46,000 mi
3.8 yr
67.3%
Structure
32 reports · 74,000 mi
7.0 yr
9.4%
Engine cooling
20 reports · 41,448 mi
4.8 yr
5%
Service brakes, hydraulic
17 reports · 39,000 mi
3.2 yr
29.4%
Steering
16 reports · 102,000 mi
9.4 yr
18.8%

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.

04V369000 2004-07-26
Fuel system, gasoline:storage

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY" A VALVE ON THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE ROLLS OVER AND THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

04V178000 2004-04-09
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly

SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

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.

In owners’ own words

Structure mileage not reported 3 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING FROM 45 MPH OR GREATER WITH A CROSS WIND ACROSS THE CAR (LEFT TO RIGHT) THE CAR WILL HOWL OR WHISTLE. THE SOUND IS SO LOUD THAT IT DROWNS OUT THE RADIO AND THE ROAD NOISE. OPENING THE WINDOW SEEMS TO STOP THE SOUND BUT YOU CAN'T DRIVE FOR 8 HOURS WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN IN THE RAIN OR HEAT. I HAVE TRIED THE DEALERS SUGGESTION OF USING TAPE ON THE VENTS TO QUIET THE NOISE BUT TO NO SOLUTION.*JB
Structure 5,000 mi 5 mo in service
EXTREMELY LOUD WIND NOISE WHEN DRIVING INTO OR WITH A CROSSWIND. NOISE SEEMS TO EMANATE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR. *JB
Structure mileage not reported 7 mo in service
WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH OR GREATER THERE IS A VERY LOUD HUMMING TYPE NOISE AT THE CORNERS OF THE WINDSHIELD. I NOTICED IT IS GREATLY ENHANCED WHEN THERE IS A STRONG HEADWIND. *NLM
Engine cooling 2,500 mi 5 mo in service
2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA: VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER WHILE ENTERING FREEWAY ON-RAMP. HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD TO AVOID REAR-END COLLISION WITH APPROACHING VEHICLES. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS "FIXED." A SECOND EPISODE OCCURRED AFTER VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED AND FIXED BY DEALER. *JB

Other Elantra model years

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