Problems · by component

2002 Hyundai Elantra suspension problems

96 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Hyundai Elantra cite suspension, 28% of all 348 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
96
28% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE MOMENT I TRIED TO STOP AT THE TRAFFIC STOP SIGN THE LOWER ARM CONTROL FROM THE DRIVER SIDE BROKE AND THE WHEEL BROKE AND THE CAR SLID. THANKS GOD IT WAS AT NIGHT AND NO CARS WERE THERE. I REMEMBER THE NIGHT BEFORE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND THEY SENT ME A TOWING TRUCK TO MOVE THE CAR. I DIDN'T REPAIR THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS A BIG MESS. I TOOK SOME PICTURES OF IT AND THE TOWING COMPANY GUY ALSO. I REMEMBER I WENT TO HYUNDAI DEALER AND I WAS LOOKING FOR A PART THEIR AND THEY TOOK MY VIN NUMBER TO CHECK FOR THE PART BUT NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL. CAN HYUNDAI COMPANY GIVE ME SOME MONEY BACK THAT I SPENT FOR TOWING AND LOOSING MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. I EVEN PAID FOR THE CAR REGISTRATION WEEKS BEFORE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2020SuspensionODI 11325472
“I HAVE NOTED A RECALL #09V125000 RELATED TO THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR BUT FOR SOME REASON MY CAR WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. MY RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM COLAPSED. IT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. WITH THAT SIDE FIXED I TRAVELED ABOUT 3 MILES AND MY LEFT SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE. MY MECHANIC AND I WERE COMPLEXED, BUT AFTER RESEARCH I FOUND THIS PROBLEM EXIST AND RECALLS ISSUED. AFTER CONTACTING HYUNDA THEY SAID THIS VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT COVERED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. SOMETHING IN THE RECORDS OF THIS CAR MUST BE IN ERROR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 7, 2018SuspensionODI 11149852
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2016Suspension, StructureODI 10872416
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE REPAIR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,248.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 23, 2015SuspensionODI 10806324
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 07/27/16*LJ *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2015SuspensionODI 10746450
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED, A LOUD ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2015SuspensionODI 10745808

Showing 6 of 96 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Suspension: control arm

Free remedy

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 160,904 MY 2001-2003 ELANTRA AND MY 2003 TIBURON VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT USED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN THESE JURISDICTIONS MAY RESULT IN INTERNAL CORROSION AND THINNING OF THE STEEL IN THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS TO THE POINT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM'S UPPER AND LOWER PANELS BECOME PERFORATED. A PERFORATED FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY FRACTURE BETWEEN ITS BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT AND THE FORWARD AND REARWARD PIVOT ATTACHMENTS TO THE CHASSIS.

SuspensionReported Apr 16, 2009NHTSA 09V125000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.