this model year6 further recall campaigns cover this model year. Ask a dealer which remain outstanding on this car.
this model yearOf 349 owner complaints for this model year, around 13% describe 2 deaths, 40 injuries, and 4 fires. These are unverified owner accounts, but the pattern is worth reading before buying.
this model yearOne EU Safety Gate alert naming this model is classed as a serious risk. Check the production dates against this car.
Almost all of this describes the model year, not the individual car. Nothing here can tell you about this vehicle’s mileage, accidents or ownership — no identifier encodes those.
Owner complaints for this model year
349Complaints
58Involved a crash
4Involved a fire
40Injuries
2Deaths
Most reported components
suspension96
air bags71
service brakes34
hydraulic32
structure27
fuel system23
Read 15 of the most serious reports
suspension1 deathfirecrash
NHTSA #10324329
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS FAILED AND THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A FATAL CRASH. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE VIN IS A PART OF RECALL NHTSA ID NUMBER 09V12500 (SUSPENSION FRONT: CONTROL ARM). AN APPOINTMENT WAS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED BEFORE THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000.
service brakes, air1 deathcrash
NHTSA #10053848
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. A RECALL NOTICE WAS MAILED TO CONSUMER ONE YEAR AFTER VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS KILLED. THE OWNER'S FATHER WANTED TO KNOW WHY DID IT SO LONG TO BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL. *AK
air bags3 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10108194
HEAD ON COLLISION, DRIVERS SIDE, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THREE PEOPLE IN THE CAR ALL SUSTAINED INJURIES, DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL....DAMAGE TO THE CAR FROM THIS ACCIDENT IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS.......MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS WHY DIDN'T MY AIRBAGS DEPLOY?*AK
air bags3 injuries
NHTSA #10128070
CONSUMER INQUIRY REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT ANY RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE ON THE AIR BAG FAILURE IN THE 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *NM
air bags,tires2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10495095
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND LAND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. BOTH THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE INJURED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, RIBS AND BACK. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000. UPDATED 03/07/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TOKYO TIRES INSTALLED IN JUNE 2012 WITH AN ALIGNMENT. THE CONSUMER CROSSED A RAIL ROAD CROSSING. APPROX A HALF MILE, THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, GOT BACK ON TO THE ROAD, HIT AN ICE PATCH, HIT A DITCH, ROLLED OVER TWICE AND LANDED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. UPDATED 03/11/2013*JS
service brakes, hydraulic2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10053535
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES CONSUMER FELT VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND VEHICLE STARTED MOVING BACK AND FORTH ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. TWO PEOPLE WERE IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND HEAD BRUISES. VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP FIVE TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK *NM
air bags,seat belts2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10037038
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WHEN SHE HIT SOMEONE FROM BEHIND. ALL OF THE INJURIES FROM THIS ACCIDENT WERE MINOR, BUT THE REAR SEATBELT BECAME A MAJOR CONCERN. OUR GRANDSON, WHO IS ALMOST 2 YEARS OLD, WAS IN HIS CARSEAT IN THE BACK SEAT ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. HIS SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD HIS SEAT. HE AND THE CARSEAT WERE THROWN FORWARD AGAINST THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT. HE HAD SOME BRUISING ON HIS KNEE AND STRUGGLED TO WALK FOR A DAY OR TWO AND THIS SEEMS TO BE THE EXTENT OF HIS INBJURIES. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS HAD BEEN A MORE SERIOUS CRASH. I SPOKE WITH THE LOCAL DEALER, HUNTERS CHEVROLET, AND THEY GAVE ME SOME CRAP ABOUT SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. IT ALL DEPENDED ON THE AMOUNT OF ENERTIA THE CAR SEAT GENERATED WHEN IT FLEW FORWARD. THIS DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT OR SAFE TO ME. ALSO, I AM INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT WHY THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
air bags2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10007149
AIR BAGS ACTIVATED CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VISIBILITY AND VEHICLE. *JB ABL.PCO ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****769299
seats2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #8021899
THE VEHICLE WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK HAD RECLINED BACKWARDS UPON IMPACT, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DRIVER SUSTAINING NECK AND BACK INJURIES. TS SCC
air bags,structure,unknown or other1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10717871
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.
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10446051
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE THAT WAS FOLLOWING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAG DID. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR INJURIES TO HER CHEST AND SHOULDER BLADES. THE DOCTOR DIAGNOSED HER WITH A CHEST CONTUSION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
air bags,equipment1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10415165
I WAS RECENTLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHICH WAS MY FAULT, HOWEVER THE AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF OR WAS NEVER THERE TO BEGIN WITH ( ITS A USED CAR). THE CRASH WAS HEAD ON AND THE AIRBAG MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF. *TR
vehicle speed control,equipment1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10356033
MY 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA ACCELERATED AFTER MAKING A HESITATION AND A VERY LOUD NOISE. I CRASHED INTO A TREE HEAD ON AND HAD MULTIPLE INJURIES. A WITNESS SAID HE HEARD THE LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR TAKE OFF WITH A GREAT AMOUNT OF SPEED. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TOWING YARD, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STILL WIDE OPEN WHEN THEY STARTED THE CAR TO MOVE IT. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND FILLED OUT PAPERWORK THEY REQUESTED AND THEY SENT A GENTLEMAN DOWN TO CHECK THE AUTO OVER AND SCAN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, WITHIN THE MONTH FOLLOWING THE INSPECTION I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HYUNDAI STATING THE INSPECTION FOUND NO PROBLEMS. I REQUESTED A COPY OF THE REPORT AND WAS DENIED. I CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY AND HYUNDAI ALSO REFUSED TO GIVE HIM THE REPORT STATING "CONFIDENTIALLY PRIVILEGES. I'M THE ONLY OWNER OF THE AUTO AND FEEL THAT HYUNDAI IS HIDING SOMETHING SINCE THEY REFUSE TO TURN OVER THE REPORT. HYUNDAI REPLACED THE MOTOR IN APP.2004 BECAUSE IT BLEW UP AFTER THEY REPAIRED A RECALL. *TR
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10335872
I OWNED 1 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, IN WHICH I WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. MY CAR WAS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD WHEN THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN EQUIPPED WITH 4 AIRBAGS, WHICH INCLUDED HEAD PROTECTION. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 19, 2003. I WAS HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK, MAINLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, TO WHICH NONE OF THE 4 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HYUNDAI HAD BEEN CONTACTED, TO WHICH THEY CLAIM THERE WAS NO POSSIBLE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. I AM PERMANENTLY DISABLED DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT, WHICH LEFT ME WITH A BRAIN INJURY AS WELL AS NUMEROUS PERMANENT ISSUES. WE ARE WORKING WITH SENATOR TIMOTHY GRINDELL IN THE STATE OF OHIO, TO MAKE "ROAD RAGE" (WHICH HAD BEEN THE REASON FOR THIS ACCIDENT), IN TRYING TO MAKE ROAD RAGE A PUNISHABLE CRIME IN THE STATE OF OHIO. WE HAVE NOT BEEN COMPENSATED IN ANY WAY FROM HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, NOT EVEN ANOTHER VEHICLE, SINCE MY CAR HAD BEEN TOTALED. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE SINCE I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE EXACT PART THAT THEY FOUND TO BE FAULTY, IN THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I AM EAGER TO GET SOME KIND OF INFORMATION, WITH THE HOPES OF HELPING OTHERS IN THE FUTURE, IN THAT THESE CARS ARE UNSAFE, AND THAT HYUNDAI WILL NOT TAKE ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS CASE. I APPRECIATE ANY KIND OF HELP IN MY CASE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! *TR
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10143545
AIRBAGS ON MY 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT DID NOT GO OFF WHEN I HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A GUARDRAIL AT HIGH SPEED. NO INJURIES EXCEPT WHIPLASH, LUCKILY! *JB
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.
Recalls for this model year
6 recalls on record
09V125000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOR CORROSION DAMAGE. IF SPECIFIED LEVELS OF INTERNAL CORROSION DAMAGE ARE FOUND, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS INCORPORATING ADDITIONAL HOLES IN THE UPPER AND LOWER PANELS. IF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS DO NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER WILL ADD DRAINAGE HOLES TO THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND WILL TREAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH RUST-PROOFING MATERIALS TO ARREST THE INTERNAL CORROSION PROCESS. THESE PROCEDURES WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
08V533000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001-2002 ELANTRA VEHICLES. MOVEMENT OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS MOUNTED UNDER EACH FRONT SEAT, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY CONTACT FROM MATERIALS PLACED UNDER THE SEAT, MAY RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE THAT WOULD CAUSE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CLIPS AND REVISED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS ATTACHMENTS UNDER THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2008, AND WILL BE SENT OUT IN SIX MAILINGS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
04V369000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY" A VALVE ON THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE ROLLS OVER AND THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
04V178000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
03V496000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL TO THE REAR BRAKE TUBES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-633-5151.
03V257000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES PASS BEHIND THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER. TWO STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO THE CROSSMEMBER. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), THE REAR BRAKE TUBES COULD CONTACT BOTH STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS. ON VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES MAY CONTACT ONLY THE LEFT MOUNTING BRACKET. CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE STEERING BRACKETS COULD CAUSE WEAR AND CORROSION THAT COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES SO THEY DO NOT CONTACT THE MOUNTING BRACKETS, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS TO CONTROL THE LOCATION OF THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL TO THE TUBES IN THE AREAS WHERE CONTACT WITH THE MOUNTING BRACKETS MAY HAVE OCCURRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 13, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
EU recalls for this model
1 Safety Gate alert names this model· 1 classed as serious risk
Hyundai Elantra, KonaSerious riskInjuries
The vehicle's transmission software doesn't engage emergency mode when a fault occurs. This can lead to an unexpectedly severe deceleration, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Built: 19.04.2023 - 27.12.2023Recall 41D037Reported by GermanySafety Gate alert
Matched on brand and model name — Safety Gate publishes no VIN. Check the production dates, and quote the recall code to a dealer.