Problems · by component
2002 Hyundai Elantra structure problems
27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Hyundai Elantra cite structure, 8% of all 348 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
27
8% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY VEHICLE HAS CONTROL ARM RUST AND PERFORATIONS IN THE SUBFRAME, COVERED UNDER AN EXISTING RECALL. HYUNDAI HAS ADMITTED THAT THE PARTS ARE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT STATES THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME AND CONTROL ARMS DUE TO RUST DAMAGE ON THE FRAME ITSELF. REPLACING THE DAMAGED PORTIONS OF THE FRAME WILL COST WELL OVER THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE. IF THE SUBFRAME DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED, THE FRAME WOULD LIKELY HOLD FOR SOME TIME AND NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE FRAME DAMAGE IS ONLY AN IMMEDIATE ISSUE BECAUSE THE RECALL REPAIR NEEDS TO BE DONE. HYUNDAI HAS OFFERED ME TO EITHER REPLACE THE FRAME DAMAGE AT MY OWN EXPENSE SO THEY CAN COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR, OR TAKE A BUYOUT EQUAL TO THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. OTHER COMPENSATION SUCH AS RENTAL FEES WAS REFUSED. IT HAS TAKEN THEM ~25 DAYS SINCE RECEIVING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THIS OFFER.”
“CAR RECALLED FOR "SALT BELT CORROSION" REPAIRS IN 2002. ORIGINAL OWNER SOLD CAR BACK TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. REPAIRS WERE NEVER DONE.WHEN I BOUGHT THIS USED HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN LATE 2002, IT HAD LESS THAN 13K MILES ON ITS ODOMETER. IT WAS SERVICED AT A 2ND HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP UNTIL 2012, WHEN ITS 10 YR/ 100 K MI WARRANTY EXPIRED. TODAY, EVEN THOUGH IT STILL HAS < 100 K ON ITS ODOMETER, THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS SO BADLY RUSTED THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT SOURCES THAT THE CORROSION ON THE UNDERSIDE IS SO BAD THAT, DURING A 50 MPH OR GREATER ACCIDENT, IT IS LIKELY THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE CAR COULD FALL ONTO THE HIGHWAY, WHILE IT KEPT MOVING FORWARD, DECAPITATING EVERYONE INSIDE. JPG IMAGES OF THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION ON THIS VEHICLE ARE AVAILABLE AT: WWW.HYUNDAIDCM.COM/WEB/ACTIVITYDETAILS.ASPX?ACTIVITYID=7738650-4. MY HYUNDAI IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE HYUNDAI NEVER PERFORMED THE MANDATED NHTSA SERVICE IN 2002. PLEASE TAKE MY CASE ON.. I'VE FILLED OUT THE WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? BOX BELOW WITH THE DATE WHEN HYUNDAI AMERICA HAD MY ELANTRA INSPECTED BY MANLY HYUNDAI (2702 CORBY AVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95402). EVER SINCE THIS INSPECTION, HYUNDAI…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LINK ASSEMBLY FRONT STABILIZER AND THE CONTROL ARMS COMPLETELY LOWERED AND THE FRONT END HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT TIRES FELL OFF DUE TO THE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,178. ...UPDATED 02/03/16 *BF *JS”
“WAS TRAVELING HOME AT 6 PM AND I WAS COMING OVER A HILL AND A CAR STOPED SHORT I SWERVED TO AVOID COLLISSION AND SIDE SWIPED A TELEPHONE POLE.THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND I WAS HIT WITH A PIECE OF SHARPNAL THAT WENT INTO MY LIP CAUSING ME TO GET STITCHES AND HAS LEFT MY FACE DISFIGURED.”
“MY CAR PAINT STARTED CHIPPING IT'S BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2010. I'VE RESEARCHED AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THERE CARS PAINT CHIPPING. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE DEALERSHIP WOULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR”
“SOMETHING HIT CAR OVER DRIVERSIDE WINDSHIELD AND DOOR DURING TRANSPORT. INSURANCE TOTALED. AIRBAG LIGHT ALREADY ON. BEFORE SETTLING WITH INSURANCE CO, BOUGHT TAG AND INSURANCE. BOUGHT CAR BACK FROM INS CO. DROVE UNTIL TAG EXPIRED.CAN"T GET SALVAGE TITLE UNTIL AIRBAG LIGHT IS FIXED. TOOK IT TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN MONTGOMERY AL. DIAGNOSIS (AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE), WHICH IS RECALL PART. TALKED WITH HYUNDAI SUPERVISOR [XXX]. HE TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WASN"T IN THE RECALL NUMBER, BUT COINCIDENTALLY MY CAR NEEDS THE SAME RECALL PART. MAYBE THEY MADE MISTAKE AND LEFT MY CAR OUT. *TR”
Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.