1998 Hyundai Elantra Problems

CAR DOWNSHIFTS END ENGINE REVS. IF PUT INTO REVERSE, FORWARD TRANSMISSION CAN THEN USUALLY BE SELECTED. CAN PUT FOOT ON GAS AND ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WILL "IDLE/REV". *TR

AFTER ENTERING A HIGHWAY MY ELANTRA CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE HIGHWAY FROM 65 MPH AND THE ENGINE DIED. I LATER HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES AND WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE SIDE I SWERVED INTO AND I'M SURE THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I HEARD A WOMAN COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SAME SITUATION THAT HAPPENED TO HER TWICE TO A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WHILE SHE WAS HAVING THE TRANSMISSION ON HER ELANTRA CHECKED OUT. I THINK THIS PROBLEM RESULTS FROM THERE BEING NO LOCK ON THE SHIFTER BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. IT TAKES VERY LITTLE EFFORT TO POP THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL (LIKE A COAT SLEEVE) AND I THINK I TOUCHED IT WHILE REACHING FOR MY RADIO.THIS SENT THE ENGINE INTO VERY HIGH REVS WHICH CAUSED THE VACUUM SYSTEM TO FAIL AND THEN CAUSED THE POWER BRAKES TO FALL TO THE FLOOR. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED 7 TIMES AT 20 - 40 MPH. NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. FELT LIKE BRAKES WERE APPLIED VERY HARD WHEN VEHICLE STALLED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 15-20 MPH IMPACT, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WAS TRAVELING 35-40MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH STOP SIGN, AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THEN, ELANTRA REAR ENDED FIRST VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER RECEIVED EMERGENCY TREATMENT. VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE APPLING BRAKES VEHICLE KEEP MOVING FOWARD AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE.CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. PH

CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED.TS *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD PROBLEMS FILLING THE GAS TANK. WHEN HE TRIED TO FILL THE GAS TANK THE GAS IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SPILL OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARIOUS MECHANICS, EACH MECHANIC GAVE A DIFFERENT REASON FOR THE PROBLEM. NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN CORRECTING THE DEFECT.*AK

COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON, ENGINE ALMOST STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. STILL GET SLOW DOWNS IN ENGINE FROM TIME TO TIME. SECOND BIG PROBLEM WAS NOT BEING ABLE TO FILL GAS TANK. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT CAR. FIRST TIME 02/99.*AK

DOOR LATCH INSIDE HAS BROKEN SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE TO ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN TO EXIT CAR. I HAVE HAD THE HANDLE REPLACE 5 TIMES. WHEN WEATHER IS COLD, I CAN'T EXIT VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS FREEZE. I FEAR AN ACCIDENT MIGHT TRAP ME IN MY CAR. *JB

THE INTERIOR DOOR LATCHES ARE OF POOR CONSTRUCTION AND BREAK EASILY AND INHIBIT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE INTERIOR DOOR LATCHES ONCE AND NEED TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AGAIN NOW.*AK

DT: CONSUMER PURCHASED TWO SETS OF FIRESTONE SUPREME TIRES FOR TWO DIFFERENT VEHICLES. ALL EIGHT TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION, EACH OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. DEALER ONLY HONORED THE WARRANTY FOR THE FIRST SEVEN TIRES. THE LAST TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER'S CHILD. ON THE EIGHTH TIRE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT HE HAD TO SEND THE TIRE AND ALL CLAIM INFORMATION TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE, TO BE TREATED AS A PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM. FIRESTONE, SUPREME SI, P185/ 65 R14 855 M+S. CONSUMER WAS UPSET THAT THE LEGAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE INTERVENED AND TOOK OVER THE CLAIM FROM CONSUMER AFFAIRS BECAUSE OF THE CHILD INJURY , AND REJECTED THE CLAIM , STATING THEY NOT RESPONSIBLE. THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE TIRE MUST HAVE BEEN UNDER INFLATED, AND IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE SERVICING OF THE TIRES, AND THAT TIRES PLUS WAS RESPONSIBLE. THE EIGHTH TIRE WAS REPAIRED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT BY A MANUFACTURER'S REPAIR AT TIRES PLUS. PREVIOUS PROBLEMS FOUND WITH FIRESTONE TIRES HAD CONSUMER FILE COMPLIANT 6365296 WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 63 MPH WHEN THE RUBBER STARTED PEELING AWAY FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT, THE RUBBER PEELED AWAY AND CAUSED SOME DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT FENDER AND SIDE MOLDING ON THE DRIVER SIDE. *SCC (OHIO TRAFFIC POLICE REPORT)

WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH VEHICLE BOUNCED, THE TIRES BLEWOUT BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OFF BALANCE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK

PURCHASED THE CAR 7/98 AS A DEMO WITH 5500 MILES WITH FULL FACTORY WARRANTY. 1 MONTH LATER IN 8/98, HAD DRIVEN 5100 MILES (WHICH INCLUDED VACATION TO NORTH CAROLINA) AND BOTH FRONT TIRES SHOWING BELTS. SENT TO LOCAL TIRE ALIGNMENT PLACE FOR 2 FREE TIRES AND ALIGNMENT WHEEL BALANCING FOR ALL 4 TIRES. 2 MONTHS LATER (10/98), CAR IS PULLING TO ONE SIDE, SOMETIMES THE OTHER...TIRE WORN AGAIN, REPLACED TIRE AGAIN AFTER 3,800 MILES DRIVEN ON NEW TIRES FREE OF CHARGE. AGAIN ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING COMPLETED. HAVE NOW PUT AN ADDITIONAL 12, 500 MILES ON THESE TIRES, PURPOSELY NOT ROTATING THIS TIME, AS I DID NOT WANT TO WEAR OUT FRONT, SWITCH TO REAR AND WEAR FRONT OUT AGAIN IN SHORT TIME. I WANTED TO SEE HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO SEE WEAR. CAR SHAKES BADLY OVER 55 MPH, ALSO PULLS TO ONE SIDE, BUT SWITCHES OCCASIONALLY AND WILL PULL TO OPPOSITE SIDE. DEALER STATES PROBLEM DUE ONLY TO NOT ROTATING TIRES. I STRONGLY DISAGREE AS THIS HAS BEEN 3 SETS OF TIRES RUINED IN 21,000 MILES. SEVERAL TIRE ALIGNMENT REPS HAVE STATED THAT THEY ARE CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING ALIGNMENT TO HYUNDAI ELANTRA SPECIFICALLY, INCLUDING REP WHO MY DEALER HAS SENT ME TO. ONE IN PARTICULAR STATED ALMOST IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN VERY SHORT TIME WITH SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER CUSTOMER. WILL BE GETTING A SECOND OPINION FROM ALIGNMENT REP OF MY CHOICE 4-28-99, BUT FEEL CAR IS VIRTUAL HAZARD AND ANTICIPATE CONTINUED PROBLEMS, EVEN IF TIRES REPLACED A 4TH TIME. PLEASE ADVISE OF ANY SUGGESTIONS OR IDEAS YOUR DEPARTMENT MAY HAVE REGARDING MY SITUATION. THANK YOU, KIM CHRONISTER. *AK

CAR STALLS WHEN GOING BETWEEN 35MPH AND 45MPH, HAPPENS PERIODICALLY. *AK

DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED SEVERAL SENSORS AND COMPUTER - STILL STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS - AFTER THE CLUTH IS PUSHED IN AND ARE APPROCHING A STOP THE ENGINE WILL STUMBLE AND EITHER PICK BACK UP OR STALL - THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS HAS NEVER HAPPENED WHEN THEY HAVE IT - HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 27 DAYS TOTAL. *AK

WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AND GOING UP A HILL, THE OVERDRIVE GOES OFF LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO. AFTER CRESTING THE HILL, THE OVERDRIVE DOES NOT RE-ENGAGE UNTIL SOMETIMES 1/2 MILE (EVEN GOING DOWN HILL). THIS LEAVES THE ENGINE RUNNING AT 4000RPM (NORMAL IS ABOUT 2500RPM). DANGEROUS? PROBABLY TO SOMEONE NOT EXPECTING IT.

I HAVE TERRIBLE MILEAGE ON THIS CAR AND DEALER GAVE ME INCORRECT WARRANTY INFORMATION. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH MY MODEL I WOULD GET A 10 YEAR TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. TODAY, I WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT I AM ONLY ENTITLED TO A 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE 98 ELANTRAS.

SEAT BELT TIGHTENS ON PASSENGER AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE, THE BELT LOCKS. IF THE BELT DOES NOT UNLOCK, IT KEEPS TIGHTENING AND PINNING THE PASSENGER TO SEAT. *YH

SEATBELT DOES NOT REACH THE LOCKING MECHANISM. *AK

CONSUMER STATED REAR VIEW MIRROR POPPED OUT, HITTING THE CONSUMER, AND CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM CHECKED BY THE DEALER 3 TIMES. DEALER STATES THAT ALL ELANTRAS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. DEALER ALSO SAID NEW REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD VIBRATE AS WELL. I CALLED HYUNDAI TO ASK WHY THEY DO NOT DESIGN NEW MIRROR, AND WAS GIVEN NO HELP. *AK

I HAVE TERRIBLE MILEAGE ON THIS CAR AND DEALER GAVE ME INCORRECT WARRANTY INFORMATION. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH MY MODEL I WOULD GET A 10 YEAR TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. TODAY, I WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT I AM ONLY ENTITLED TO A 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE 98 ELANTRAS.

DRIVERS INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. DRIVER HAD TO ROLL WINDOWN DOWN TO EXIT VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN A 35MPH ZONE , AND A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT AND CONSUMER HIT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. FRONT END OF CAR WAS DAMAGED. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THE CONSUMER'S INSURANCE COMPANY WANTED TO WRITE IT OFF AS TOTALLED.