Hyundai Elantra Complaints (2003)

234 consumer complaints on file.

#10440286December 17, 2011
STRUCTURE
I WAS DRIVING, CAME TO A STOP. I THEN BEGAN GOING AROUND 35 MPH THE HOOD ON THE CAR CAME OPEN. I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. I STOPPED THE CAR ONLY TO REALIZE THE HOOD WAS DAMAGED. THE HOOD WAS DENTED AND THE FENDERS WERE DAMAGED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. I HAD TO POUND THE HOOD AND FENDERS OUT JUST TO GET THE HOOD CLOSED. WHEN I GOT HOME THE HOOD LATCH WAS NOT WORKING. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD WERE 5 TO 6 INCHES LONG. THE HOOD NEEDS REPLACED, ALSO THE WINDSHIELD NEEDS REPLACED, THE FENDERS NEED FIXED ALSO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420866August 21, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DURING HOT WEATHER, ABOVE 100 DEGREES AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF DRIVING, MY ELANTRA WILL FEEL LIKE SOMEONE IS PUMPING THE GAS PEDDLE. IT IS HARD TO MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED. IT IS HARD TO GET TO DEALER WITH PROBLEM PRESENT, BECAUSE IF CAR IS TURNED OFF PROBLEM GOES AWAY. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, PROBLEM STILL THERE. PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS AND THE CAR IS PULLED INTO GARAGE, A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS IS PRESENT. MY FEAR IS THAT THE CAR WILL CATCH FIRE OR EXPLODE. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI, BUT THEY APPEAR NOT TO CARE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414009July 21, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR WOULD NOT IDLE OR RUN PROPERLY. TOOK CAR TO AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FOUND THAT ALMOST THE ENTIRE GASOLINE FROM TANK TO ENGINE HAD RUSTED AND WAS LEAKING VERY BADLY. WAS TOLD THAT CAR COULD EASILY HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT UP. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413473July 18, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS FILLING THE GASOLINE TANK EVERY TIME I HAVE TO PUT GAS. IT TRIGGERS THE NOZZLE EVERY 30 SECONDS AND IT TAKES ME ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES TO FILL UP TANK. STILL WORKING ON THE PROBLEM *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393931April 1, 2011
SUSPENSION
8/11/2009, MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA DOWN A SMALL STREET IN CHICAGO WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AT THE BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT . THE TIRE THEN CAME AWAY FROM THE ASSEMBLY AND WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. IN OCTOBER OF 2009, I BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL REGARDING THIS AND FILED A COMPLAINT HERE AND HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA REIMBURSED ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CONTROL ARM. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER WHO SIMPLY "ADDED A PLUG KIT AND RUST PREVENTATIVE." AN INSPECTION OF THE SUBFRAME DID NOT OCCUR AT THAT TIME; WHICH SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED SINCE A CONTROL ARM HAD ALREADY FRACTURED AND THE RECALL C/091 CALLS FOR THIS INSPECTION, AS WELL AS REPAIR AND. OR REPLACEMENT OF ANY PARTS ATTACHED TO THESE ASSEMBLIES. ON 3/28/2011 , WHILE HAVING SOME BRAKE AND TIRE WORK DONE, A LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTICED SEVERE CORROSION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CONTROL ARM AS WELL AS THE SUBFRAME. I IMMEDIATELY HAD THE CONTROL ARM REPLACED DUE TO MY NEAR FATAL PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL CONTROL DRIVERS SIDE CONTROL ARM IN MY POSSESSION, AS WELL AS SEVERAL PHOTOS OF MY SUBFRAME. PLEASE PASS THIS COMPLAINT ALONG TO HYUNDAI FOR REVIEW.I HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO THE ATTORNEYS IN THE CIRULLI,D'ELIA CASE #[XXX] AND THEY URGED ME TO TRY TO DISCUSS THIS WITH HYUNDAI . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393843March 31, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. HE STATED NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY SINCE FEBRUARY 2011. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381308February 9, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT INTO THE NEXT LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENTS BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE ROADS WERE CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379375January 27, 2011
SEAT BELTS
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT AND DOES NOT FIT TIGHTLY DUE TO FAILURE TO RETRACT, LEAVING DRIVER UNPROTECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370754December 15, 2010
AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, TOTALING SAID VEHICLE, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE AS THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. HOWEVER, HYUNDAI MOTORS NEVER CAME TO INSPECT THE CAR, DESPITE BEING GIVEN AMPLE NOTICE. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN SCRAPED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369793December 9, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT SMOKE AND STALLED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE DEALER FIRST REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365123November 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364036November 4, 2010
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER IN WAS USED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $391 TO REPLACE A PART OF THE SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,841.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361753October 22, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10358695October 1, 2010
AIR BAGS
2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY *TGW THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358416September 30, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 3 TIMES TOOK IT TO DEALER SAID NO PROBLEMS JUST NEEDED TO RESET CODES??? ABOUT 2 YRS. LATER WAS DRIVING IN MY 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN SEPT. OF 2009- A VERY HOT DAY101-WITHOUT WARNING NO TEMP LIGHTS (NOTHING) I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AT FIRST THOUGHT MAYBE HEAT WAVES- THEN CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER-PULLED OVER (VERY DANGEROUS) DUE TO LOOSING POWER ON THE HIGHWAY QUICKLY WITH MANY PEOPLE DUE TO FRI.-LABOR DAY WEEKEND 5PM- ANYWAY PULLED OVER TO SEE THAT CAR WAS SMOKING (WHITE SMOKE) ENGINE WAS SO HOT IT MELTED THE RADIATOR-WENT TO DEALER (BILL DUBE HYUNDAI) SAID WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT- BECAUSE CAR ENGINE WAS SEIZED AND DID NOT WORK PLUS THAT FACT THAT I STILL OWED SO MUCH MONEY ON BANK LOAN THEY COULD NOT POSSIBLY TRADE IT IN-SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND RADIATOR AND STILL PAY BANK LOAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358424September 30, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD BOUT 25-30 MILES SWERVED (VERY SHARP) DIDN'T THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUCH A SHARP TURN- ANYWAY SWERVED FROM HITTING A DEER- SO I DID ACCELERATE AND ENDED UP WITH A DIRECT FRONT HIT- CAR IS TOTALED- ACTUALLY LOST A PIECE OF WHAT HOLDS THE ENGINE UP THE BOLT IS BROKEN IN HALF-HOOD OF CAR CAN NOT BE OPENED - IMPACT THROUGH MY NECK AND BACK OUT- NO AIRBAGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10358425September 30, 2010
EQUIPMENT
BOUGHT A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA- NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM HYUNDAI OR THE DEALER OF ANY RECALLS-THESE RECALLS WERE DANGEROUS AND I DRIVE A HANDICAP GENTLEMAN TO AND FROM WK. 5 X WEEK- I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357070September 22, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, 138,000 MILES. WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 9/18/10, SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SMELL (BURNING), WHITE SMOKE FROM ENGINE, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TEMP GAUGE SHOWED EXTREMELY HOT - NO WARNING BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. MECHANIC SAYS PROBLEM WAS CLAMP IN RADIATOR THAT EITHER CORRODED OR SOMEHOW CAME OFF. RESULT IS THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS DAMAGED, AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT. MY CONCERNS ARE (1) THIS SEEMED TO HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING. THERE WAS NO LEAK OR SYMPTOMS OF PROBLEMS BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WAS IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. (2) WE HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. SAME SCENARIO - DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ENGINE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSED MUCH ENGINE DAMAGE. AT THAT TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO FIGHT FOR SOME WARRANTY COVERAGE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. NOW, WE ARE WELL PAST THE LIMITS OF THE WARRANTY. I JUST FIND IT EXTREMELY STRANGE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN TWICE TO THE SAME VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352017August 26, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE AXLE FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED OF A POTENTIAL RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V125000-SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM). THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL AND ANY FURTHER REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,540.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351091August 21, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER DRIVING MY 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS ABOUT 60 MILES ON AUG. 18, 2010 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED AT A SHOP AND WAITED UNTIL THE NEXT DAY FOR THE PURGE VALVE AND THE CONTROL VALVE (BOTH ACQUIRED DIRECTLY FROM THE MANUFACTURER) TO BE REPLACED. 2.5 HRS LATER, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, MY CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING DESPITE MY REPEATEDLY HITTING THE BRAKE. I PUT THE CAR INTO N, PULLED UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE & CONTINUED TO REV/ACCELERATE UNTIL I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND CRUISED INTO AN EMPTY INTERSECTION. ABOUT A MINUTE LATER, I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND WAITED TO SEE IF I COULD FEEL OR HEAR ANYTHING ODD. I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 0.5 MILE. I CONTACTED THE AUTO SHOP THAT REPLACED THE VALVE AND WAS TOLD IT DID NOT SOUND LIKE IT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT WAS FIXED BUT TO LET HIM KNOW AFTER I HAD ANOTHER SHOP LOOK AT IT (SINCE I WAS 1.5 HRS AWAY). I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TRUCK, ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, I STARTED THE ENGINE SO MY FATHER COULD LISTEN TO THE ENGINE AND MY ENGINE REVVED TO 7000 RPM JUST TURNING IT ON. IT WAS IN PARK AT THE TIME. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT OFF AND DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO START IT AGAIN. UPON THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER'S ARRIVAL, I EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED EACH TIME. HE STARTED THE CAR, REVERSED IT, PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN A THIRD TIME WHILE IN DRIVE. HE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND LOADED IT ONTO THE TRUCK. UPON INVESTIGATING ANY CAUSES, HE TOLD ME HE CLEANED OUT THE THROTTLE AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE. HE TEST DROVE IT SEVERAL TIMES AND SAID THERE IS NO INDICATION OF THE PROBLEM HAPPENING AGAIN BUT OF COURSE CANNOT GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS IS CLEARLY AN INDICATION THAT THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE FIXED AND NOONE CAN TELL ME WHETHER ITS SAFE TO DRIVE OR NOT. I'M SCARED FOR MY OWN SAKE AND FOR THE SAKE OF MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN. I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR ANOTHER INCIDENT MAY OCCUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Hyundai Elantra