1998 Hyundai Elantra

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

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

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1998 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS SPORADIC AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AT ANY GIVEN TIME THE VEHICLE WILL JERK TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP AS IF SOMEONE HAS PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. THIS WILL HAPPEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND HAPPENS WHETHER OR NOT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE AS IT FRIGHTENS ME TO DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MPH. I USE MY VEHICLE FREQUENTLY FOR MY EMPLOYMENT AND HAVE BEEN RENTING A VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS NOT AS UNCOMMON AS IT APPEARS TO BE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON HYUNDAI (ACCENT)AND ELANTRAS WHERE THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS THE SAME. I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO THE DRIVER OF THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, BUT ALSO TO ANYONE WHO MAY BE FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND. I HAVE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS DURING THE DOWNSHIFT, BUT LUCKILY NO ACCIDENTS. I HAVE READ ARTICLES WHERE THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED AS MANY AS FOUR TIMES IN ONE YEAR AND STILL THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. AS YOU KNOW, TRUST WORTHY AUTO MECHANICS ARE A RARE BREED, AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO GO THROUGH NUMEROUS PARTS REPLACEMENTS WHILE THEY TRY TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE SEEMS TO COST AT LEAST $24.95 TO OBTAIN AND I STILL DON'T KNOW IF I AM GETTING THE INFORMATION I NEED. I KNOW THAT HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HIDE THE DETAILS FROM CONSUMERS. THE LAST TIME I DROVE MY VEHICLE, I ARRIVED HOM

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

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

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

TRANSMISSION DIED AT 74,000 MILES. NO REVERSE, SLIPS OUT OF FIRST. 8JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN 1998 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FAILED AT 72,000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM

TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AFTER 77,000.00. THE CAR HESITATES OR GETS STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP WERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LIED TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT IT HAD A 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. IT TURNED OUT IT ONLY HAD A FIVE YEAR 60,000.00 MILE WARRANTY. *NLM

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 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)

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. TS *JB

CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED.TS *JB

DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW TO OPEN VEHICLE FROM OUTSIDE.*AK

OVERDRIVE WAS COMPLETELY GONE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT FOUR TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*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

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

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

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

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

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.

NO SUMMARY

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

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND STALL AT ALL RATES OF SPEED. NLM

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY TRAVELING 75 MPH CONSUMER, ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING VEHICLE IN FRONT, APPLIED BRAKES SUDDENLY AND VEHICLE SWERVED, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE OTHER LANE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40-60 MPH. DRIVER MUST PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND RESTART VEHICLE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT DEFECT 4 TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY "JUMP" OR "SKIP", AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON. THEN IT QUITS AND GOES BACK TO NORMAL; THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SO FAR; AM REPORTING TO DEALER NOW. *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

AFTER DRIVING CAR AND STOPPING, CAR WILL NOT SHIFT FROM PARK. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT VARIABLE SPEEDS, THE ENGINE CUTS OUT THEN CUTS BACK ON. NO CONSISTENCIES TO WHEN OR WHY IT CUTS OUT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. CONTACTED DEALER AND HAVE TAKEN IT IN THREE TIMES FOR THIS. DEALER APPARENTLY FINDS NOTHING WRONG. FIRST SERVICE, DEALER KEPT CAR FOR 10 DAYS ONLY TO REPLACE THE GAS CAP. SECOND AND THIRD VISITS FOUND NOTHING TO SUBSTANTIATE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAUSE. YET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY AND STAYS ON FOR DAYS. AFTER 44000 MILES, ENGINE SOUNDING DIFFERENT THAN WHEN PURCHASED. BURNING SMELL COMES FORM ENGINE PERIODICALLY, SMELLS LIKE A BELT BURNING BUT NO APPARENT BELT IS CINGED. AT TIMES ENGINE DOES NOT APPEAR TO CHANGE GEARS SMOOTHLY. *AK

INTERMITTENTL VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

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

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON/OFF. *AK

NO SUMMARY.

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY 295N IN NEW JERSEY. TIRE(S) APPARENTLY BLEW CAUSING THE TREAD FROM THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO KNOCK THE PLASTIC COVERING LOOSE FROM THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAME LOOSE CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. DEALER IS CLAIMING TIRES WERE NOT MAINTAINED PROPERLY CAUSING THE FAILURE THEREFORE THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WENT OUT ON 10/7/99 AND AGREED THAT THE TIRES CAUSED THE DAMAGE AND WSA NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE. MY 22 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME SO I HAVE TO RELY ON HIS ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, THE CAR SHIMMIED AND HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR.

OWNER REAR ENDED A TRUCK AT 20 TO 30MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHUDDERED WHEN ACCELERATING OUT OF A CORNER, EVENTUALLY STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF DRIVE; ONCE, CAME TO A STOP, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE, COULD NOT GET BACK INTO GEAR. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP ON THREE OCCASIONS. REPLACEMENT #1 ON 1/8/1999, #2 ON 1/29/1999, AND REPLACEMENT #3 ON 6/23/1999. ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHEN SHUDDERING OCCURRED AFTER FIRST REPLACEMENT, PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED, BUT DIAGNOSTICS COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *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 DRIVING AT 35 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, AND VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO PUT FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL LEAKS OUT AND THE CONSUMER CAN'T PUT FUEL INTO VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *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 MA

CONSUMER IS REVVING AND THE ENGINE BEGINS TO ROAR. VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE STUCK, SOMETIMES JERKING, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. PLEASE ADD VIN.#---

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH