Hyundai Elantra Complaints (2002)
342 consumer complaints on file.
- #10281939August 27, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. HE STATED WHILE HAVING REPAIR WORK PERFORMED, THE DEALER ADVISED HIM OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V125000, ASSOCIATED WITH HIS VIN ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE SUB FRAME. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10281782August 26, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT
GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH APPROACHING STOP SIGN. CAR CAME TO COMPLETE STOP. COULD NOT EXIT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. EXITED PASSENGER SIDE TO FIND FRONT LEFT TIRE TURNED OUT AT 90 DEGREE ANGLE. FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10280008August 7, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA'S LOWER CONTROL ARM RUSTED. *NJ THE CONSUMER'S WIFE LOST STEERING IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ALIGNMENT AND NOISES FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM, BUT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10278700July 29, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE HAD HOLES AND WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM AND SUBFRAME FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V125000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM) DUE TO THE UNAVAILABILITY OF THE NECESSARY PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. THERE IS A MASSIVE BACK ORDER FOR THE PARTS. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 111,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10277542July 21, 2009STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I WAS DRIVING IN MY TOWN AND I WENT TO TAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW MY STEERING WHEEL JOLTED FURTHER TO THE LEFT THAN I HAD TURNED IT AND I WAS IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY THE ONCOMING CAR HAD ENOUGH TIME TO STOP AND SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE, BUT UPON CLOSER INSPECTION I NOTICED THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS TILTED INWARD ON ALMOST A 45 DEGREE ANGLE SO THAT THE HUB CAP WAS ALMOST IN CONTACT WITH THE PAVEMENT. I WAS ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOUSE AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR BACK HOME WITH OUT SWERVING ALL OVER THE ROAD TRYING TO STEER. UPON INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC, WHO HAD TO COME TO MY HOME, THERE WAS A LOT OF RUST UNDERNEATH THE CAR, ESPECIALLY ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. I WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH HOW MUCH IT MIGHT COST TO FIX AND FOUND THAT IT HAD BEEN A RECALL WITH HYUNDAI, HOWEVER I NEVER GOT THE RECALL NOTICE. WHEN I CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO INQUIRE, THEY CLAIMED THEY DIDN'T HAVE MY ADDRESS AND THEREFORE I NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2004, IT IS NOW 2009, I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS ANY EXCUSE AS TO WHY THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD MY ADDRESS AND TO WHY I DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL. SOMEONE COULD HAVE GOTTEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. HYUNDAI WILL ONLY COVER THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND NOTHING ELSE. NONE OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE IS COVERED AND I CAN'T EVEN GET A RENTAL. I NEED NEW TIRES AND NEW HUB CAPS, THERE IS A HOLE IN MY RESONATOR FROM HITTING THE CURB WHEN I VEERED OFF THE ROAD, THERE ARE SCRATCHES ON MY REAR AND A CRACKED BACK HEADLIGHT FROM THE ONCOMING CAR BRUSHING AGAINST MY REAR. HAD I GOTTEN THE RECALL NOTICE, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED! THE ROOT CAUSE IS POOR MANUFACTURING, ALL OTHER DAMAGES DUE TO THIS SHOULD BE REIMBURSED WITH OUT ANY HASSLE BECAUSE HYUNDAI SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THEY HAVE NOT KILLED ANYONE YET. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10277630July 21, 2009STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME SHIFTED TO THE FRONT TIRES. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CONTROL ARM SNAPPED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE BE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM AND THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10275471July 1, 2009AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT DIM. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE FOUND A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAGS; HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10275028June 26, 2009STEERING
2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT NOISY AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS RUSTED. REPAIR SHOP STATES NEEDS REPLACEMENT ASAP A IS NOT SAFE. I KNOW OF THREE OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR COMPLAINT AS I THOUGHT IS WAS A RECALL. THEY INSPECTED AND SAID NOT RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS NOT COVERED. HOWEVER THEY REPLACED SOME FUEL CUT VALVE THAT HAD A RECALL. PLEASE NOTE I CAN SEE DAY LIGHT THROUGH CONTROL ARMS. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10272987June 6, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM OF MY 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA BROKE. THE WHEEL COULD HAVE FLOWN OFF, BUT LUCKILY IT DIDN'T. THIS HAPPENED ON A 2 LANE ROAD. IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND IS STILL THERE. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL DATED APRIL 2009. I CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS HOTLINE AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL IS NOT OFFICIALLY RELEASED AND DEALERSHIPS WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT. I WAS ALSO TOLD MY CAR WON'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE MILEAGE IS TOO HIGH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10270144May 27, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT
2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA-GREAT CAR NO MAJOR PROBLEMS. MEMORIAL DAY COMING HOME ON A SECONDARY ROAD APPROACHING A STOP SIGN-BANG! COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR.A DRIVER GOING BY TELLS ME DON'T MOVE-THE WHEEL IS OFF THE CAR! HAD TO BE TOWED FROM SCENE-THE LOWER CONTROL BAR HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND LET GO. THE METAL USED ON THIS PARTICULAR PART IS SO THIN IT IS SCARY! YOU WOULD EXPECT THE METAL USED FOR THIS PART WOULD BE RATHER THICK DUE TO THE SERIOUS PURPOSE IT SERVES AND THE CONSTANT STRESS IT MUST ENDURE.AT SEVEN YEARS OLD IT SHOULD NOT BE RUSTED AWAY TO THE POINT OF BREAKING IN TWO. THE ONLY SYMPTOMS I EXPERIENCED WAS A HIGH PITCHED SOUND WHICH OCCURRED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE-SOUNDED LIKE CHAIN JINGLING, AND A SOMEWHAT SMOOTHER RIDE LIKE MY TIRES WERE LOW ON AIR. I HAVE NUMEROUS PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS -THEY WALK AWAY IN DISBELIEF WHEN I TELL THEM THE CAR IS SEVEN YEARS OLD, CONSIDERING THE RUST ON THIS CONTROL ARM IT IS UNBELIEVABLE-I AM NOW WONDERING IF THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I AM A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER -HAVING DRIVEN SCHOOL BUSSES FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS BUT THIS EXPERIENCE HAS ENLIGHTENED ME TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CIRCLE CHECK ON OUR VEHICLES!!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10269684May 22, 2009STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE FRONT OF MY 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA COLLAPSED. TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERYWHERE, DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL AT A RIGHT ANGLE, AND THE SUBFRAME WAS BROKEN COMPLETELY IN HALF. LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10268832May 15, 2009AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP SERVICE GARAGE AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE WIRING UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED DUE TO A FEW ITEMS THAT WERE UNDER THE SEAT. I CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS, AS IT SEEMED ODD TO ME THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN SIMPLY DUE TO AN OBJECT BEING UNDERNEATH A CAR SEAT, AND THEY INDICATED THERE WAS INDEED A RECALL FOR THIS SAME EXACT SITUATION FOR MY YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL, BUT THAT THE MANUFACTURE DATE ON MY VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE OF THE RECALL, SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. I FIND IT SUSPECT THAT THEY CANNOT COVER THE COST TO FIX THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE CURRENT RECALL DESCRIPTION, JUST BECAUSE THEY DETERMINED THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE MANUFACTURING DATE RANGE. I WOULD LIKE MY VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SO THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. THE RECALL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON YOUR WEBSITE. THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER IS EA08012. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10267635May 4, 2009SUSPENSION:REAR
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON MY 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA BROKE DURING DRIVING DUE TO CORROSION. THANK GOD I WAS COMING TO A STOP AND DRIVING SLOWLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. AFTER SOME HEATED DISCUSSION I WAS TOLD THE WOULD WARRANTY THE CONTROL ARM. WHEN I ASKED IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE OTHER DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARM THAT DID NOT BREAK I WAS TOLD ONLY THE FAILED PART WOULD BE REPLACED. I INDICATED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE AN I WOULD NOT DRIVE WITHOUT THE OTHER CONTROL ARM BEING REPLACED. THEY HAVE NOT INDICATED IF THEY WILL WARRANTY THE OTHER. I BELIEVE HYUNDAI IS TRYING TO KEEP A MAJOR PROBLEM HIDDEN FROM THE PUBLIC. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10267558May 2, 2009SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE
I WAS COMING UP ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WAS SLOWING DOWN WHEN THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF. LOST ALL STEERING,CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10267058April 28, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT
LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM RUSTED THROUGH AND WHILE TURNING INTO GAS STATION EXPERIENCED SEVERE GRINDING NOISE AND COLLAPSE OF WHEEL. UPON INVESTIGATION FOUND VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE AND HAD FLAT BEDDED TO GARAGE. MY MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS THAT HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH USING HYUNDAI REPLACEMENT PARTS. CONTACTED HYUNDAI DIRECTLY AND COMPLAINED AND HAVE CASE NUMBER AND HOPE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES SPENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10266576April 24, 2009STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STEERING, STRUCTURE:BODY
10/2008, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL AND BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT, WHILE BRAKING. MY CAR JERKED AND SKIDDED AT THE BOTTOM. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. A FLATBED TOWED IT AND DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL/TIE ROD HAD BROKEN. THE MECHANIC NOTED SOME CORROSION, BUT REPAIRED WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. MARCH 2009, I HAD NEW FRONT TIRES PLACED AND BALANCED. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, I GOT A FLAT TIRE, HAD THE SPARE PUT ON AND BROUGHT IT BACK FOR REPLACEMENT. THE FRONT END SEEMED OUT OF ALIGNMENT, SO IT WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE MECHANIC FOR REALIGNMENT. IT WAS THEN THEY SAW THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND "DANGEROUS" TO DRIVE. THE FRONT ARMS WERE BENT AND SUBSEQUENTLY COLLAPSED. THE REPAIRS AT THIS TIME WOULD EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE CAR AND I AM REDUCED TO "JUNKING" MY 7 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10266612April 24, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT
2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LEFT CONTROL ARM BROKEN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10266198April 21, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT
CAR WAS RIDING NORMAL AS ALWAYS, THEN MADE LEFT TURN AND LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS PUSHED INTO THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL. SLID OFF ROAD, RESULTING IN MINOR COSMETIC DAMAGE. CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS A SNAPPED LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM DUE TO RUST . PART WAS PERSONALLY REPLACED AT GREAT EXPENSE. BROKEN PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10265722April 17, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT
LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) FRONT CONTROL ARM FAILURE ON 4/16/09. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE OF 2002. CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000 MILES. ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON VEHICLE (I.E., OIL CHANGES, 30K SERVICE, 60K SERVICE, 90K SERVICE). CONTROL ARM FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10265389April 14, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
I HAVE A 2002 ELANTRA THAT I'VE ALREADY REPLACED ONE CONTROL ARM ON. I HAVE THE ARM AND PICTURES IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED. CAR HAS HAD FREQUENT UNDERBODY WASHES AT THE CAR WASH AND WAS PURCHASED NEW BY US. I'VE FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH COMPLETE FAILURE ONLINE, MANY CAUSING SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. FORTUNATELY, WE CAUGHT OURS EARLY. OURS HAS JUST OVER 70,000 ON THE ODOMETER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFO OR PICTURES. THANKS. *TR UPDATED 04/22/09.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0