RoadVitals

1999 Hyundai Elantra

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
128
Latest May 2, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Sep 11, 2000
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
24
24 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 128 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Hyundai Elantra, most frequently naming the transmission, engine and airbags categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 61 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Sep 11, 2000
165,977 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SOME SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES AND ALL ELANTRA MODEL VEHICLES MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW-SPEED ENGINE STALLING, WHICH COULD OCCUR IF THE MAF (MASS AIR FLOW) SENSOR ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IS INTERRUPTED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE VIBRATION TRANSMITTED TO THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 039/040View on NHTSA.gov

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Jul 7, 1999
11,530 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE SEALS DO NOT REMAIN SUFFICIENTLY ELASTIC, RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN REDUCED PRESSURE APPLICATION TO THE CLUTCHES, BRAKE, AND KICKDOWN SERVO, ALLOWING THEM TO SLIP.
The risk: SUCH SLIPPAGE CAN CAUSE PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE FRICTION ELEMENT SURFACES AND COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE, OR NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED, WHEN THE DRIVER PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE.
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 033View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Driver assistance
Filed May 2, 2018

WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY

NHTSA ID
11091434
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Mileage
130,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE GEAR SHIFTER SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOID ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE GEAR SHIFTER SEIZED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO PUT A PENCIL INTO THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE TO RELEASE THE GEAR SHIFTER, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND THEN SEEK REIMBURSEMENT. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V178000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ID
10990986
Incident
Apr 15, 2000
Mileage
22,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 6, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED, LUNGED, AND LOST POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR NEEDED TO BE RE-ROUTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V259001 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000.

NHTSA ID
10930144
Incident
Aug 6, 2016
Mileage
91,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 22, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V178000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10927556
Incident
Nov 15, 2016
Mileage
150,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 4, 2016
Fire reported

I HAVE A 99 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 4 DOOR. LAST WEEK THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. MORE SPECIFICALLY, I WAS AT THE TIME IN THE HARDEE'S DRIVE THRU WHEN THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO ROLL OUT OF THE DRIVE THRU AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW MECHANICS WHO SAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MELTED ALL OF THE STEERING COLUMN, DASH, CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE HEAT, AND OTHER FIRE DAMAGE. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND UNDRIVEABLE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 KIDS AND THIS WAS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. ALSO ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD CONTACTED HYUNDAI AFTERWARDS, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS FINE AND NOT TO WORRY. I HAVE NO WAY TO SCAN MY DOCUMENTS, BUT I HAVE A POLICE REPORT AS WELL AS SEVERAL EMAILS FROM HYUNDAI FROM LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
10913774
Incident
Sep 27, 2016
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN THE REVERSE POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,350.

NHTSA ID
10895411
Incident
Jul 17, 2001
Mileage
125,350 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 1, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

12/2/2014 MULTI-CAR/SEMI ACCIDENT. FRONT END COLLISION WITH REAR END DAMAGE. TOTAL LOSS, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. 465 S @ MM 41 NEAR PENDLETON PIKE EXIT. AT FAULT DRIVER SPUN ON ICE, CAME INTO MY LANE THAT I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH IN SO SHE WAS TRAVELING NORTH. HIT DRIVERS SIDE TO DRIVERS SIDE, SEMI TRAILER RAN OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ID
10787558
Incident
Dec 2, 2014
Mileage
99,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID ODOR. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 11/6/15 *JS

NHTSA ID
10705830
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
180,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

23-EM-005H

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.

23-BD-007H

STRUCTURE:BODY

Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moisture trapped between the PPF and the paint.

23-BD-002H

VISIBILITY

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.

22-EM-010H

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain components of the engine intake system accordingly during engine short block or sub-assembly replacement.

22-GI-006H

TIRES

Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for correcting load carrying capacity information indicated on tire placards when vehicle weight has been increased before retail sale. This limit is the lesser of 1.5% of GVWR or 100 pounds. If the total added weight exceeds the lesser of the limit, a label must be added to the driver-side B-pillar within 25mm (1 inch) of the original tire placard.

21-AT-006H

POWER TRAIN

Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicle’s owner’s manual.  Use of other ATF may result in improper shift quality or other drivability conditions.  Use of other DCT and IVT gear oil may result in reduced durability. Hyundai does not approve the use of any aftermarket ATF or gear oil additives.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Hyundai Elantra by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026110
2025210053.0
2024521051.0
2023922055.1
2022975159.8
20211296262.9
20202423060.4
20192461049.9
20182800045.4
20177624158.6
20162902161.8
20152603263.3
20143812260.5
20131,3104463.1
20126514462.5
20114325358.2
20103793161.9
20092504164.6
20083147264.9
20072666363.2
20061551046.1
20051374059.8
20041825160.7
20032345262.5
20023426364.6
20013156367.3
20001971047.4
1999Viewing1282052.8
1998550040.9
19971153158.8
19961003259.3
19951121256.6
1994762264.1
1993240244.0
1992290246.4
1991001
1990001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.