Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Hyundai Elantra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH POWER LOCKS. THE VEHICLE OVERALL IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE PROGRESSIVE MOTOR, ELECTRICAL, AND COMPLEX ISSUES EFFECTING THE BASIC USAGE OF MY CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO SERVICE THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER OR LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REFUEL IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME DURING REFUELING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I DROPPED MY GRANDSON AT HIS MOTHER'S HOUSE. AS I EXITED HER DRIVEWAY MY CAR EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND STRUCK THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET.
ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30AM I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT THE HEB GROCERY STORE ON I45 AT 646 IN LEAGUE CITY, TX WHEN THE ENGINE ON MY 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA REVVED AND ROARED VERY LOUDLY AND SURGED INTO THE PICKUP TRUCK PARKED IN THE OPPOSITE SPOT. AT THE TIME I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON EITHER THE GAS PEDAL OR BRAKE. I STOMPED ON THE BRAKE BUT NOTHING HAPPENED-IT JUST KEPT REVVING AND SURGING FORWARD. I SHOVED THE STICK INTO PARK AND LUCKILY IT STOPPED. MY CAR WAS NOW IN THE SPACE THE PICKUP TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED IN, AND THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS SHOVED OUT INTO THE DRIVING LANE BETWEEN PARKING SECTIONS. I AM EXTREMELY THANKFUL THAT NO ONE WAS IN THE PICKUP OR WALKING BY OR LOADING GROCERIES NEARBY AND NO ONE WAS HURT. I WAS SO FRIGHTENED I WAS SHAKING AND COULD BARELY DIAL 911 ON MY CELL PHONE. THE PICKUP HAD MINOR DAMAGE TO ITS REAR BUMPER, AND MY CAR HAD CRUSHING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END (HOOD AND BUMPER CRUMPLED, GRILLE CRACKED, 1 HEADLIGHT BROKEN) AND A LARGE PUFF OF WHITE SMOKE POURED OUT BRIEFLY (NO FIRE). THE POLICE CASE# IS 12-4584 AND THE STATE FARM INSURANCE CLAIM# IS 53-195C-229. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY AAA TO STAR TOYOTA COLLISION CENTER AT 2112 GULF FREEWAY IN LEAGUE CITY, TX. I AM AWAITING THEIR EVALUATION ON THE DAMAGE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT MAY BE TOTALED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR, ALTHOUGH IT ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT. EVEN IF THE CAR CAN BE REPAIRED, I AM WORRIED THAT THE REVVING COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THE INTERNET HAS NUMEROUS SITES LISTING THE SAME TYPE OF REVVING/SURGING PROBLEMS WITH HYUNDAI ELANTRAS BUT DOESN'T LIST A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHAT CAN I DO IN REGARDS TO THIS SCARY EVENT? IS THIS A MAJOR VEHICLE PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL ? I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED AND WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS TO WHAT THE NEXT STEP SHOULD BE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH 73000 MILES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THE ENGINE HAD STARTED KNOCKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE TIRE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES. BL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RUNS HIGH WHEN IDLING AND TAKES A WHILE TO OPERATE NORMALLY AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES WERE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE AIR BAG AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT EXERTED MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AS IF THERE WERE NO POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES AND WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM A HYUNDAI DEALER. INITIALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING HARD AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG; HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AT THAT TIME. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A SECOND TIME FOR THE PULLING OF THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS A REAR END BULB THAT HAD BLOWN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY WAS CORRODED AND THERE WAS A GREEN SUBSTANCE LEAKING FROM THE BATTERY. THE HYUNDAI COMPANY ADVISED HER TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY ADVISED HER TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. ONCE THE NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AIR BAG WAS REPLACED IN 2004. THE DAY AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED AN AIR BAG SAFETY RECALL ONLINE, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALL WAS AVAILABLE. IN 2004, THE CONTACT ALSO INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THE WEATHER STRIPPING ON THE BACK DOOR FRAME WAS TOO SMALL. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER PUSHED THE WEATHER STRIPPING BACK ON THE DOOR. IN 2005, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED IN HOT WEATHER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. WHILE AT THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED OF A BRAKE LINE RECALL AND CLIPS WERE APPLIED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SQUEAKING WHEN SHE APPLIED AND RELEASED THE BRAKES. THE RECALL NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,448 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. ABL.PCO
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAD STALLING PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. SHE STATED THAT IN JANUARY 07 WHILE DRIVING AFTER DARK THE VEHICLE JERKED HARD AND THE DASH OARD LIGHTS CAME ON AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE 'BARELY MISSED GETTING STRUCK BY A SCHOOL BUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE IT WILL NOT ALWAYS START.*AK
DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND WHITE SMOKE COME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE RADIATOR BROKE, AND THE ENGINE WAS FRIED FROM THE RADIATOR EXPLODING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED REGULARLY. CONSUMER SAID THAT A MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD THREE SAME TYPE CARS WITH SAME PROBLEM WITHIN THE WEEK IN HIS GARAGE.*AK
VEHICLE COMMENCED TO OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSE BY A BAD THERMOSTAT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE THERMOSTAT, BUT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK
OIL PAN STRIPPED AFTER 16 OIL CHANGES. SHOP SAYS THIS IS DUE TO STEEL PLUG IN ALUMINUM PAN. DESPITE CAR HAVING 50, 000 MILES AND STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER STATES THEY WILL NOT REPLACE PAN. HYUNDAI SENT OUT A TSB NOTING THIS WAS AN ISSUE (TSB# 0240016 AND 0140023? - THE TSB DETAILS NO LONGER APPEAR). *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH SMOKE BEGAN TO COME INTO THE VEHICLE, THEN ENGINE DIED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC INDICATED A PISTON BROKE AND PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE.*AK *MR
IT IS BACK AT EARNHARDTS, FOR THE ELEC. SYSTEM AGAIN 4TH TIME. IT STARTED IN 3/02 AND WENT OUT AGAIN LAST FRI. 6/6/03 BUT THEY DON'T CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM. BECAUSE I FILED A LEMON LAW ON THE PREVIOUS ACCENT AND REPLACED IT WITH THE ELANTRA 2001 AND I FILLED OUT A SURVEY SAYING THEY HAD BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE NORMAL USE OF A RENTAL WHILE THEY FIXED IT FOR DAYS WAS NOT GRANTED. I AM SO UPSET I SPENT A DAY OUT IN THE AZ SUN WAITING FOR A TOW OF 205 MILES TO THE NEXT DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME I HAVE A BAD RECORD WITH THEM AND DON'T DESERVE THE COURTESY OF A RENTAL CAR. THIS IS MY SECOND HYNDAI AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT AND THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SENT LETTERS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THREE ON MY SIDE, HYNDAI AND EARNHARDTS DEALERSHIP. I WANT OUT OF THIS CAR AND DON'T FEEL SAFE IN IT ANY MORE. I WAS GOING DOWN THE SALT RIVER CANYON (IF YOU ARE NOT FROM AZ PICTURE GOING DOWN THE TWISTING ROAD TO THE GRAND CANYON) WITHOUT ANY POWER STEERING, BRAKES AND TRYING TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR WITH KIDS IN IT. AND THEY TELL ME I SHOULDN'T BE EXCITED! 1 1/2 HRS IN THE SUN WAITING FOR THE TOW, THE NEXT DEALERSHIP 200 MI AWAY, NO RENTAL CARS AUTHORIZED, SO MY HUSBAND HAS TO DRIVE UP AND GET ME (198) MILES FROM MY HOUSE AND GO BACK SO HE COULD BE AT WORK IN 3 HRS. NO SLEEP FOR HIM. THE DATES ARE 3, 4, 6 OF 2002 AND NOW 6/6/03. THE MILEAGE IS 27,694. THE COST IS THEIRS BECAUSE IT HAS THE 100,000 WARRANTY. JUST THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ANGUISH AND INCONVIENCE OF ANOTHER CAR THAT WON'T WORK RIGHT NOW.
THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THE DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON FOR 3 DAYS. *JB
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON FOR 3 DAYS. *JB
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON FOR 3 DAYS. *JB
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON FOR 3 DAYS. *JB
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DECELERATING TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .