2001 Hyundai Elantra: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 315 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (33% of complaints); the 1999 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 315 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Electrical issues with power locks. The vehicle overall is unsafe due to the progressive motor, electrical, and complex issues effecting the basic usage of my car.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2019
“All 4 brakes started to randomly lock up. I was driving and had to run it almost a 1/2 mile for a shoulder to pull over at. Upon stopping, the brakes were smoking all around the car and the front driver side actually caught flame. I'm guessing brake booster is the cause. Also front control arms are almost rusted through. The cars been well maintained and has around 185,000 miles on it. Has valve cover leak into spark plug port on cylinder 3 and has a very weak clutch that sometimes slips.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jul 2018
“Takata recall. The airbag light is illuminated on dash. The vehicle has never been in an accident yet the light is on. Not sure if airbags will work if an accident ever does occur. Cannot have full coverage insurance because air bag light is on. Vehicle was stationary when light came on. Unknown why this failure occured.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“All four windows stopped functioning at once. Researched this problem and it is extremely common. This is a major safety problem in case windows are needed to escape from vehicle due to accident. The temperature of vehicle can also exceed safe degree due to windows not opening. No warning was given before all windows ceased to function. Started vehicle and windows would not work from any control. Had to take mother to doctor for heat exhaustion from excessive temperatures building up in car.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 hyundai elantra equipped with dextero touring dtr1 tires, size i95/60r/15 88h (na). While the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the rear passenger side tire blew out. In addition, the front driver, front passenger, and rear driver side tires had cracks on the lower sidewalls. The rear passenger tire was taken to walmart for replacement. The other tires were not replaced. The vehicle was not taken to a tire dealer for repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate vehicle failure mileage was 97,285. The tire failure mileage was 15,000. The VIN was not available.”Owner report · Tires · May 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that while driving at 18 mph, an abnormal noise was heard. The contact stated upon inspection they noticed the control arm had detached from the driver side wheel well. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. Freehold hyundai located at 4065 route 9 north, freehold, nj, where they refused to perform NHTSA campaign number: 09v125000 (suspension) due to having to wait for approval for the recall repair from the manufacturer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.”Owner report · Suspension · Mar 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 hyundai elantra. While driving various speeds at night, the headlights and all the warning indicators on the instrument panel intermittently illuminated. In addition, all four windows failed to function. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuse, wiring, and door switch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 hyundai elantra. While driving 50 mph, the air bag indicator illuminated without warning. In addition, the vehicle made a rumbling noise and jerked to the right while driving. The vehicle was diagnosed as needing the lower control arm replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000. The VIN was not available.”Owner report · Suspension · May 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 hyundai elantra. While accelerating from a complete stop, the transmission began to jerk and the steering wheel seized for a brief moment. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that the srs air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 08v532000 (air bags), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated after the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 184,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 71 of these complaints and injuries in 59 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001 ELANTRA VEHICLES. IF A LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE AREA OF THE CUPHOLDER ON THE CENTER CONSOLE, IT MAY SEEP THROUGH THE CONSOLE OPENING FOR THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER AND THEN DRIP ONTO THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE SPILLED LIQUID MAY CONTAMINATE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND ITS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR. THE RECALL OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2008, AND LETTERS WILL BE SENT OUT IN SIX MAILINGS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM SIDE AIR BAG SATELLITE SENSORS INSTALLED WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED, CAUSING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO SATELLITE SENSORS.
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.
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.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Elantra by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
NHTSA has 315 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra. The most complained-about area is air bags (33% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2001 Hyundai Elantra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 74,257 miles or less.
Does the 2001 Hyundai Elantra have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.