5 recalls and 234 owner complaints on record for this model year.
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THE AIRBAGS IN THIS CAR HAVE FAILED TO OPEN EVEN THOUGH THIS CAR HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN 3 COLLISIONS IN WHICH CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE BUMPERS AND FRONT QUARTER PANELS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ALL THREE CASES. *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES BECAUSE IT WAS NOT STOPPING WHEN BRAKING. ON 9/9/2003, WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE HIT A TRUCK AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE PELVIC AREA AND BRUISES ON THE UPPER LEGS. FRONT PASSENGER'S HEAD BROKE THE WINDSHIELD, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED SEIZURES. CHILD IN THE REAR, AGE 11, SUSTAINED ARM BRUISES. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS ASSESSED BY A REPAIR MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED AIR BAG SENSORS WERE IMPACTED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD TREMBLE, THE A/C DID NOT WORK, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT (GO ON AND OFF), AND THE SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE. (WHICH OCCURRED 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE) *SC *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONTACT STATES THERE WAS A RIGHT SIDE FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACT HAS NOT BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER OR CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.
RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER ONCE. PRIOR TO ROLL OVER, DRIVER AND PASSENGER WORE SEAT BELTS. . HOWEVER, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DISCONNECTED AND FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM HEAD AND NECK PAIN. BOTH WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. BOTH OCCUPANTS SURVIVED.*AK
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AT 45 MPH BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. . THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, BUT IDLING. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY . AS A RESULT, PASSENGER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDOW, AND HIS SIDE HIT THE CONSOLE. ALSO, DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND BRUISES.*AK
I HAD A WRECK TODAY ON A HIGHWAY WHERE I WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY. MY CHEST RAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.THE CAR WAS TOTALLY SMASHED IN THE FRONT AND THE DOOR HAD A HARD TIME OPENING. I WAS RUSHED TO THE ER AND HAD CONTUSIONS TO MY STERNUM AREA OF MY CHEST. *I DID WEAR SEAT BELTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES. ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN FROM THE ACCIDENT BY AMBULANCE TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED FOR NECK AND LOWER BACK PAIN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 25 MPH AND SWERVED IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. WHEN THE CONTACT SWERVED, HE CRASHED INTO A ROCK HEAD ON; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACTS INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IT WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT HAS HELD ONTO THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OVER TIME THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMING APART AND THAT THE AIR BAG WAS EXPOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85000. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ UPDATED 03/28/11
NO KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAGS. I WAS IN A T-BONE COLLISION WITH A LARGE SUV (SUBURBAN) TOTALING MY CAR. THE HIT WAS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE POLICE OFFICER STATED SUBURBAN WAS TRAVELING 35-40 MPH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000. UPDATED 01/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/21/09
A DEER LEAPED IN FRONT OF MY CAR CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO THE DIVIDER ON HIGHWAY - NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING THIS INCIDENT. *TR
2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA DEFECTIVE SEAT AND HEAD RESTRAINT. CONSUMER SENT IN A STATEMENT FROM A COURT PROCEEDING. ***NAR*** *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT FROM A DEFECT RELATED TO THE SEAT AND HEAD RESTRAINT. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. ON AUGUST 15, 2006, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED (T-BONED) INTO THE FRONT END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST PAINS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL PRESSING INTO HER CHEST. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
MY VEHICLE, A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY VEHICLE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER STRUCK A JEEP CHEROKEE IN THE REAR TEARING THE WHEEL COMPLETELY OFF AND MOST OF THE REAR FENDER, AT 40 MPH. *NM
DT: CONTACT STATED ON 10-16-2002 HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. SOMEONE HIT THE CONTACTS VEHICLE ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT IT ALSO AFFECTED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHICH WAS WHERE THEIR HANDICAPPED SON WAS SITTING AND WAS INJURED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CAME OUT, BUT IT WAS NOT INFLATED, IT WAS TORN. HYUNDAI SAID THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. EVERYONE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. THERE WERE PICTURES, AND A POLICE REPORT. *AK THE AIR BAG DISPLAYED A 4-5 INCH GASH. IT DEPLOYED BUT IT WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *SC
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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