Problems · by component
2001 Hyundai Elantra structure problems
28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Hyundai Elantra cite structure, 9% of all 329 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
28
9% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“TURNING ONTO MAIN STREET WHEN A LARGE OAK TREE FELL FROM LEFT SIDE OF ROAD, CATCHING LOWER DRIVERS SIDEFRONT FIBERGLASS BUMPER AND TOW BAR. MAKING THE CAR STOP ABRUPTLY. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, PASSENGER SIDE SHATTERED WINDSHIELD AND RIPPED DASH AREA ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE BAG HIT MY WIFE'S RIGHT ARM AND SHATTERED ALL THE BONES FROM HER ELBOW TO HER FINGERS. WE ARE 74,AND 75 YRS OF AGE. AS DRIVER MY LIP WAS SPLIT OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO MY HOME 5 BLOCKS AWAY LOOKING THROUGH A SHATTERED WINDSHIELD. BUT THE WIFE HAD TO SPEND 5 DAYS IN HOSP. AND TWO SURGERIES TO PUT HER ARM BACK TOGETHER. THE AIR BAG DID ALL OF THE BAD DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND MY WIFE. ALL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE LEGAL HELP HAS BEEN TURNED DOWN SAYING NOT ENOUGH TO TAKE TO COURT. CAN YOU HELP. THE AIR BAG ALMOST KILLED HER. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP NOT MAME...THANKYOU *TR”
“TOOK 2001 ELANTRA TO DEALER AS A RESULT OF LOW BRAKE FLUID. DEALER DISCOVERED VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IRREPARABLE DUE TO CORROSION OF REAR CROSS MEMBER AND/OR "SPUD". IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS CORROSION OCCURRED IN THE AREA WHERE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO ROAD SALT. HOWEVER, WE ALSO HAVE A (LOWER-MILEAGE) 2005 ELANTRA WHICH WE KEEP PARKED IN THE SAME GARAGE AS THE 2001 ELANTRA AND WHICH, TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, SHOWS NO SIGN OF CORROSION. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE REAR SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE DEALER INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND BEYOND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
“I WAS MAKING A U TURN WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL MY CAR SEEM TO BE DRIFTING TO ONE SIDE UNTIL I HIT A CURB... WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO SEE WHAT HAPPEN I NOTICE THAT MY WHEEL WAS TURNED INWARDS AND THE CONTROL ARM WAS BROKEN AND THE AXLE HAD POPPED OUT... NO ONE WAS INJURED HOWEVER MY DAUGHTER WAS SHAKING UP ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN... I TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE WHEEL AND RUSTY PART.. IT AMAZED ME HOW METAL COULD RUST THAT BAD AND BREAK IN HALF... I THANK GOD I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPEN NO TELLING WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPEN...I CALLED HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPEN ALSO TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT PART AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA...”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGUN TO FISH TAIL. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE REAR SUB FRAME AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED AND EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 12/04/12*LJ HYUNDAI AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS ONLY. THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE LABOR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE CORROSION WAS NOT NORMAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS GARAGED KEPT. UPDATED 12/05/12”
Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.