Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Hyundai Elantra problems

Owners filed 234 complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Elantra with NHTSA between Aug 2002 and Dec 2023. The most-cited component is suspension (61).

Complaints
234
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
42
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
33
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension61
  2. Air bags48
  3. Structure32
  4. Engine and engine cooling21
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic20
  6. Steering16
  7. Exterior lighting13
  8. Seat belts11
  9. Electrical system10
  10. Fuel system, gasoline9
  11. Power train9
  12. Vehicle speed control9
  13. Fuel/propulsion system8
  14. Tires8

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 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20021
200326
200430
200519
20066
200711
200820
200926
201027
20118
20125
20139
201413
20158
20167
20172
20182
20196
20203
20211
20221
20233

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

61 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated and lost motive power. Additionally, while attempting to complete a turn, the contact heard an abnormal clicking sound coming from the front driver’s side of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the driver's side brake pad and rotor were abnormally worn and needed to be replaced; however, the power train failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V125000 (Suspension) and 04V369000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 132,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 12, 2023Suspension, Fuel system, gasolineODI 11559695

Air bags

48 reports31 crashes
“Live in Indiana where the weather is super salty in the winters and all of the salt in Indiana has really really affected the whole underside of my car. The whole subframe is falling apart and the rust has gotten to everything under the car. I have spent about 4 thousand dollars into this car doing all the work myself to make this car run In pristine conditions. I am very very worried that my whole back end will just fall apart going down the road due to the rust.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2023Suspension, Air bags, StructureODI 11551132

Structure

32 reports2 crashes
“*The rear sub-frame assembly nearly rusted through. Steering and Handling noticebly effected with rear of vehicle feeling soft and sluggish in turns. *The vehicle is available for inspection and was brought to my attention when the mechanic was beginning rear brake maintenance. *The mechanic is a licensed mechanic and the Repair shop is a licensed service facility. *The mechanic called me and asked me to return to the shop to show me the extent of the rust damage, to which I did return to the shop to examine his findings. I did take photos. *There were no warning lamps or messages. The symptoms were as described above.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2023Suspension, StructureODI 11522292

Engine and engine cooling

21 reports1 fire
“EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE. I JUST HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR A FAILING VAPOR CANISTER PURGE VALVE THAT CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THIS VALVE IS PART OF THE EVAPORATIVE (EVAP) EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE FAULTY VALVE STAYS IN THE OPEN POSITION WHICH ALSO CAUSES THE CHARCOAL FROM THE CANISTER TO RELEASE INTO THE FUEL LINES,CLOGGING IT. THE SYMPTOM OF THIS PROBLEM CAUSES YOU TO START HAVING TROUBLE FILLING YOUR GAS TANK. THE GAS HOSE KEEPS SHUTTING OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FILL ACTING AS IF THERE IS A VAPOR LOCK. IT WON'T LET ME PUT IN MUCH MORE THAN 25-50 CENTS BEFORE THE GAS HOSE CUTS OFF. THIS REPEATS MANY TIMES. IT TAKES ME BETWEEN 15 TO 20 MINUTES TO FILL UP MY GAS TANK. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF I COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND TO MY SURPRISE, THERE ARE AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR HYUNDAI'S. MANY PEOPLE ONLINE MADE COMMENTS ABOUT BEING SURPRISED THAT HYUNDAI DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM. MY REPAIR BILL TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED WAS $399.31. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO THIS PROBLEM. [XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2015Engine and engine coolingODI 10712832

Service brakes, hydraulic

20 reports8 crashes2 related recalls
“MY CONCERN WITH MY 2003 ELANTRA IS WITH THE SAFETY OF REAR BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE CAR. ON OCT 23, 2003 I HAD THE SERVICE PERFORMED FOR THE RECALL 31B03R1 BRAKE CAMPAIGN 061. AT 10,834 MILES. ON OCT 7, 2007 I HAD REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSH AT 45,072 MILES. ON JULY 8, 2008 BOTH REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING AN HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSH AGAIN. AT 51887 MILES. ON MARCH 13, 2010 BOTH REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE FOUND AGAIN TO BE LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 64,638 MILES. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT REGULAR 3,000 MILE INTERVALS WITH ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE DONE AT MY DEALERSHIP. MY CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS CAR,LEAKING WHEEL CYLINDERS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 13,000 MILE INTERVALS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2010Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10320727

Steering

16 reports3 crashes
“WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S METAL TO METAL, THE STEERING MAKES A FUNNY NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO CAR KEEPS SAYING 02 SENSOR BUT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON BECAUSE OF IT.*DT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2020Steering, Service brakesODI 11319404
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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