Page 5 of 5 · complaints 201–234 of 234

2003 Hyundai Elantra complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Feb 27, 2004CA

CONTACTED HYUNDAI USA (FILE # 815991) AND LOCAL DEALERSHIP (HEMET, CA) ABOUT SERVICE BRAKE RECALL (03V49600). BOTH ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF IT AND THEREFORE, COULDN'T PERFORM WORK. *AK

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 20, 2004ME

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE BLEW OUT, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

Structure › Body
Filed Feb 14, 2004FL

CLEAR COAT ON TRUNK AND HOOD CRACKING.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Feb 4, 200450,000 milesCA

AIR BAG CONTROLLER SENSOR IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE CUP HOLDER. IN THE EVENT OF A LIQUID SPILL THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL SHORT OUT. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT WILL RESULT IN PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. *AK ABL.PCO

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 28, 2004PR

DRIVER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V496000 CONCERNING BRAKE FAILURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT, BUT MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE MACHINERY TO DO REPAIRS. *AK

Tires
Filed Jan 26, 200411,000 milesOR

WHILE DRIVING ON WET ROADS, THE CAR HYDROPLANED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS - IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THESE TIRES. I BARELY ESCAPED AN ACCIDENT IN DECEMBER, 2003, AFTER HYDROPLANING. I HAVE DRIVEN FOR 22 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC NW AND NEVER HAVE I BEEN SO SCARED ABOUT DRIVING IN THE RAIN AS I AM WITH THESE TIRES. *LA

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Jan 2, 2004CA

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Dec 24, 2003PA

TWICE ALREADY APPROX. 3 MONTHS APART DRIVER SIDE SAFETY BELT ON 2003 ELANTRA SOMEHOW TWIST AND DOES NOT RETRACT, LACKING TENSION WHEN CLIPPED TO SEAT BELT LOCK'. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 23, 20033,000 milesNY

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH DURING A SNOW STORM, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISH-TAIL AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AREA AND INJURED THE BACK AND NECK AREAS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

Structure › Body › Bumpers
Filed Dec 18, 20037,200 milesNJ

VEHICLE IS LOW TO THE GROUND. WHEN PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY THE BUMPER HIT THE GROUND AT LEAST TEN TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. WHENEVER THE BUMPER HIT THE GROUND THE BOLTS HOLDING IT FELL OUT. *AK

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Dec 10, 20036,000 milesKY

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THEY FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE BRAKE SQUEAKED. *AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT HER DAMAGED VEHICLE. *CB *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 3, 20031,199 milesMD

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED.*MR CONSUMER APPLIED ALL HIS WEIGHT ONTO THE PEDAL AND IT DIDN'T STOP UNTIL A COUPLE OF FEET BEHIND THE LINE. HE REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS REVVING UP WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NOT THE GAS. HIS WIFE SUGGESTED HE SHIFT TO PARK. WHEN HE DID, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FLY OUT. HE SHIFTED BACK TO DRIVE, KEEPING FULL PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL. AFTER THE LIGHT CHANGED, HE CAREFULLY RELEASED HIS FOOT AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLING. CONSUMER PLANNED TO GET IT SERVICED BUT WANTED A RECORD OF THE FAILURE ON FILE. *PH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 7, 20032,800 milesNV

I PURCHASED A DEFECTIVE VEHICHLE,THAT BECAME DISSABLED, AND TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS TO THE ENGINE WITH ONLY 2800 MILES.I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS TO THE DEALER, INQUIRING ABOUT THE VEHICLE.THE SERVICE MANAGER COULD NOT LOCATE MY CAR AND COULDNT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON ITS WHERE ABOUT'S OR ANYTHING.*AK

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 31, 2003IL

RECENTLY I HAD TAKEN AN INTERSTATE TRIP. THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS OF 60-75 MPH, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THIS NOISE IS IN THE WHEELS? THE FRONT GRILL? HAPPENS ON BOTH FRONT SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. *LA

Structure
Filed Oct 8, 2003NJ

DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD-2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS. *MR THERE WAS A TERRIBLE GLARE FROM THE SUN HITTING THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MADE IT EXTREMELY HARD TO JUDGE THE DISTANCE OF OBJECTS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE GLARE WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE NOISE. THE DEALER DID SOME WORK ON THE CAR BUT IS WAS STILL NOISY. THE DEFROSTER TOOK 15-20 MINUTES TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS AND HEATED MIRRORS. WHEN IT RAINED THE WATER WAS ON THE INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR DOOR. *SCC *JB *NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum › Shoes/LiningsCrash
Filed Sep 15, 2003340 milesOH

THE DEFECT STATED IN THE BRAKE HOSE RECALL 03 V 257 000 OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT 50-60 MPH. THIS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Aug 27, 20032,200 milesMI

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HESITATED TO ENGAGE. THIS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE PARKING, AND VEHICLE RAN INTO A BUILDING. *AK

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Aug 15, 2003PA

ALL OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE DESIGNED INCORRECTLY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BELT BUCKLES ARE NOT LOCKING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor System
Filed Aug 4, 20033,854 milesCA

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW HYUNDAI ELANTRA ON 5-8-03 AND ON 6-30-03 AND AGAIN ON 7-30-03 I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE SERVICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH I FOUND OUT THIS LAST SERVICE CALL, HAD BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THAT PARTICULAR CAR IN THAT YR OF MODEL, AND NO ONE HAS A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM YET. THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM MADE NO ATTEMPT TO INFORM ME OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I PURCHASED IT, AND THE FIRST DEALER I TOOK IT TO DID NOT MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO INFORM ME OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM EITHER. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD, BEING THAT IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, THERE IS A VAPER LOCK PROBLEM, WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUT DOWN WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. IT IS VERY UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE IT THIS WAY, BEING THAT AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE CAR LOSES THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, AND THEREFORE OFFERS A VERY HIGH CHANCE OF ME GETTING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE I DO NOT HAVE THE DRIVING POWER TO MOVE MY CAR OUT OF THE WAY OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. I AM VERY , VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS, AND AS OF YET, THE ONLY THING THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS TOLD ME IS, " IT IS A PROBLEM THAT OUR COMPANY IS WORKING ON FINDING A FIX FOR, BUT AS OF YET, THERE IS NO CURE FOR THIS PROBLEM". THAT BEING THE CASE, I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO KEEP THIS CAR. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IN IT ALONE, LET ALONE AKING MY 9YR OLD DAUGHTER, AND 5YR AND 4 YR OLD SONS INTO THIS CAR WITH ME AT ALL.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 7, 2003WI

WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE ACCELERATES SLOWLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 7/2/2003. DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE REFORMULATED GASOLINE THAT WAS USED. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jun 27, 2003300 milesOR

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB PH *JB

Tires
Filed Jun 15, 200325 milesCA

2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA MAKES LOUD NOISE AND THUMPING SOUND FROM FRONT TIRES WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, (MSN AUTOS). *NLM

Wheels › Rim
Filed Jun 5, 2003IN

WE GET A WIND NOISE WHEN DRIVING INTO THE WIND AND OTHER MISC TIMES. NOISE SOUNDS LIKE AN ALARM CLOCK WITHOUT THE PAUSES IN TONE. IT SOUNDS TO BE EMINATING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, WINDSHEILD, OR THE DOORS. THE DEALER THINKS ITS THE DOOR SEALS. WAITING TO SEE. BEEN TO THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM NOW! 1ST TIME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, COULDN'T DUPLICATE, SECOND TIME THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, ORDERED DOOR SEALS. 3RD TIME THEY GOT THE WRONG DOOR SEALS, FORTH TIME, THEY GOT ONE WRONG DOOR SEAL AGAIN! FIFT TIME THE HAVE HAD IT FOR ONE WEEK THREE DAYS TO THIS DATE! ALSO REVS UP TO HIGH DURING START UP. DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS AT FAULT???? THAT IT HAD TO CATCH IN GEAR????? THIS IS A MANUAL! WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT!!!!?? ALSO HAS BENT RIMS! WE HAVE BABY-ED THAT CAR! ONLY 2400 MILES AND BENT RIMS! THIS CAR IS A LEMON!! WHAT DO YOU THINK? [email protected] . *AK

Suspension › Front
Filed May 30, 2003641 milesNM

I HAVE A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANANTA GT. THERE IS A WHINING NOISE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS, SOMETIMES AT 55 MPH OR AT 75 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON 4/22/03. THE NOISE ON THE LEFT WENT AWAY. THE SAME NOISE SURFACED ON THE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. ON 5/22/03 THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT, THEY SAID IT WAS COMING APART. ONCE I DROVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN ON 5/29/03 THE NOISE WAS THERE. I ALSO STILL HEARD THE WHINNING NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR AGAIN, BUT FOR JUST A COUPLE OF SECONDS. THE RIGHT SIDE WILL MAKE NOISE CONTINUOUSLY. NOW I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN, WASTING MORE OF MY TIME, MONEY, AND EXTRA MILES ON MY CAR. I LIVE 130 MILES FROM THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FROM 4/08/03 AND THE CAR HAS 2400 MILES ON IT AND WILL NOW BE ON MY THIRD ATTEMPT TO HAVE THIS CAR REPAIRED.*AK

Suspension
Filed May 16, 2003IA

THE VEHICLE'S TIRES WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM

Structure › Body
Filed Apr 24, 2003MN

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

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 13, 2003FL

HYUNDAI ELANTRA--WHEN GOING 45 MPH OR FASTER, I GET THE SAME LOUD SCRAPING NOISE THAT OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. THE DEALER HAS NO ANSWER. I GET THE NOISE MOSTLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, BUT HAVE HEARD IT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, ALSO. THE NOISE IS SO ANNOYING THAT IT MAY BE A DANGER BY DISTRACTING THE DRIVER WITH ITS SCREECH. *NLM

Structure
Filed Apr 1, 20035,000 milesIL

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 26, 20032,500 milesCA

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

Seat Belts
Filed Mar 12, 2003CA

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS TO TIGHT AROUND THE DRIVERS NECK. *JB

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 5, 2003LA

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

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Jan 7, 2003117 milesNC

CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 01/02/03. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER NOTICED CAR WAS CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO THE THROTTLE PEDAL. CONSUMER DECIDED TO PULL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE AND RPM INCREASED. CONSUMER APPLIED PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW VEHICLE TO A STOP AND TURNED OFF IGNITION. CAR CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED BY DEALER. TS

Seat Belts › FrontCrash
Filed Jan 6, 2003LA

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 50MPH. THE CONSUMER WAS IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER STATES THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. THE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. PH

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Aug 13, 2002IL

HEADLIGHTS WILL READ DIM BUT LIGHT WILL ACTUALLY BE ON HIGH BEAM, CAUSING PROBLEM TO OTHER DRIVERS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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