Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Hyundai Elantra problems
Owners filed 329 complaints about the 2001 Hyundai Elantra with NHTSA between Jan 2001 and Mar 2019. The most-cited component is air bags (118).
Complaints
329
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
72
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
59
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags118
- Suspension82
- Structure28
- Electrical system25
- Steering25
- Service brakes, hydraulic21
- Engine and engine cooling21
- Power train19
- Visibility17
- Exterior lighting12
- Vehicle speed control10
- Seat belts8
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Wheels7
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
26
29
48
32
24
6
17
20
35
33
7
13
8
9
8
4
3
5
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 26 |
| 2002 | 29 |
| 2003 | 48 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 24 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| 2009 | 35 |
| 2010 | 33 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
118 reports50 crashes1 fire3 related recalls
“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.”
Suspension
82 reports10 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“ALL 4 BRAKES STARTED TO RANDOMLY LOCK UP. I WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO RUN IT ALMOST A 1/2 MILE FOR A SHOULDER TO PULL OVER AT. UPON STOPPING, THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING ALL AROUND THE CAR AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ACTUALLY CAUGHT FLAME. I'M GUESSING BRAKE BOOSTER IS THE CAUSE. ALSO FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH. THE CARS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS AROUND 185,000 MILES ON IT. HAS VALVE COVER LEAK INTO SPARK PLUG PORT ON CYLINDER 3 AND HAS A VERY WEAK CLUTCH THAT SOMETIMES SLIPS.”
Structure
28 reports6 crashes
“I TURNED OUT OF PARKING LOT HEARD A CLICK OR SOMETHING NEXT THING I KNOW MY CAR STARTING SWAYING BACK AND FORTH CAR ALMOST FLIPPED WITH MYSELF AND MINOR CHILD IN IT. I HAD TO DRIVE IT TO A SAVE PLACE ALMOST FLIPPED CAR FEW TIMES. THE CAR WAS SWAYING EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. HAVE IT TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY INSPECTED IT SAID IT WAS SUBFRAME. AREN'T WILLING TO FIX IT EVENTHOUGH THAT MAKE A MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR FRONT SUBFRAME.I CALLED CONSUMER AFFAIRS WAS TOLD BY THEM THEY COULD FIX IT CONSIDERING I ALMOST DIED. HYUNDAI DEALER ISN'T WILLING.TELLING ME A I HAVE TO PAY $1200 FOR. SUBFRAME CUZ MINE ROTTED. I M GETTING A LAWYER CUZ I THINK THIS IS TERRIBLE IT WAS RECALLED ON FRONT I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD FIX IT NOW THEY WONT. SAFETY ISSUE WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED IF I DIED OR WRECKED AND KILLED SOMEONE. *TR”
Electrical system
25 reports1 crash1 fire
“ALL FOUR WINDOWS STOPPED FUNCTIONING AT ONCE. RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS EXTREMELY COMMON. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM IN CASE WINDOWS ARE NEEDED TO ESCAPE FROM VEHICLE DUE TO ACCIDENT. THE TEMPERATURE OF VEHICLE CAN ALSO EXCEED SAFE DEGREE DUE TO WINDOWS NOT OPENING. NO WARNING WAS GIVEN BEFORE ALL WINDOWS CEASED TO FUNCTION. STARTED VEHICLE AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK FROM ANY CONTROL. HAD TO TAKE MOTHER TO DOCTOR FOR HEAT EXHAUSTION FROM EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES BUILDING UP IN CAR.”
Steering
25 reports4 crashes2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
21 reports6 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“SINCE NEW, OUR 2001 ELANTRA HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT "THUMPING" SOUND IN THE REAR WHEELS WHILE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IT WOULD GO AWAY FOR MONTHS, THEN RETURN, USUALLY AFTER SOME MAINTENANCE EVENT SUCH AS A TIRE ROTATION. INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED ALL SORTS OF PARTS; WHEEL BEARING, SUSPENSION PARTS ETC., USUALLY WITH NO FIX. I FOUND THE CAUSE, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL !! ON OUR MODEL, THE WHEEL NUTS ARE "CLOSED", MEANING THAT THEY ARE NOT DRILLED AND TAPPED ALL THE WAY THOUGH. ON OUR CAR, SOME OF THE WHEEL NUTS BOTTOM OUT ON THE WHEEL STUDS BEFORE THE BRAKE DRUM IS SECURED. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE RESULTING LOOSE BRAKE DRUM CAN "WOBBLE" ON THE STUDS, MAKING THE SOUND,. ANOTHER ISSUE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM: THERE IS ONE PHILLIPS SCREW WHICH SECURES THE BRAKE DRUM TO THE HUB. IN MY CASE THIS SCREW WAS MISSING, PROBABLY HAVING BEEN LEFT OFF DURING A SAFETY INSPECTION. HOWEVER, IF THE NUTS WERE NOT BOTTOMED OUT, THE DRUM WOULD BE SECURE EVEN IF THE SCREW IS MISSING. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS CONDITION COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO STUD FAILURE. AT THE VERY LEAST, IT IS A SERIOUS AGGRAVATION. PROBABLY…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.