2000 Hyundai Elantra

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 200 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 200

Of the 2000 reports, 37 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 31 people were injured.

Primary concernEngine and engine cooling42 reports · 21% of complaints
Owner complaints200Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship1 safety recallNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine and engine cooling42
  2. Air bags39
  3. Electrical system33
  4. Visibility24
  5. Power train22
  6. Seat belts15
  7. Vehicle speed control9
  8. Service brakes8

Recalls and investigations

  1. Electrical system, wiringSep 11, 2000

    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SOME SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES AND ALL ELANTRA MODEL VEHICLES MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW-SPEED ENGINE STALLING, WHICH COULD OCCUR IF THE MAF (MASS AIR FLOW) SENSOR ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IS INTERRUPTED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE VIBRATION TRANSMITTED TO THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.

    THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.

    Campaign 00V259001 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints

200 reports, newest first.

  1. Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Jul 18, 2008

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V259001 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING). THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE REPAIR. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND CAUSED HIM TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY, AND EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT HAS TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN RESTART IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE FUNCTIONAL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE DEALER REPEATEDLY REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND POWER RELAY. SECONDLY, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR THEIR RESPONSE. AS OF JULY 18, 2008, THE CONTACT HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

  2. Power train, Jul 2, 2008

    THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE CARS FAIL AND GET STUCK IN GEARS CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS AND BREAKDOWNS. I HAD SEVERAL OF THESE CARS AS COMPANY TRANSPORTATION AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

  3. Air bags, Jun 4, 2008

    THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OUT. *TR

  4. Visibility, Mar 30, 2008

    I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FOR MY DAUGHTER AND SHE FIRST HAD TROUBLE WITH THE WINDOW REGULATORS WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE CAR. THE REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN ALL 4 WINDOWS AND NEEDS REPLACED IN THREE WINDOWS NOW (ALL HAPPENED WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER). WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN NOR WILL THEY STAY UP. *TR

  5. Engine and engine cooling, Mar 11, 2008

    I THOUGHT MY MUFFLER HAD A HOLE IN IT SO I TOOK TO A SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY MUFFLER. TO ANOTHER SHOP AND TOLD I HAVE A CRACKED MANIFOLD. I THINK IT'S ABSURD THAT A 2000 MODEL CAR COULD GO THROUGH 2 MANILFOLDS IN 7 1/2 YEARS. WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP ON 10/09/03 REPORTING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS NOISY. WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT MUFFLER BUT WAS A CRACKED MANIFOLD. LUCKILY IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THAT WAS LESS THAN 5 YEARS AGO. SOUNDS LIKE A BIG PROBLEM TO ME. I CAN UNDERSTAND ONE MANIFOLD GETTING CRACKED...BUT TWO IN LESS THAN 4 1/2 YEARS. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN LESS THAN SIX MILES ROUND TRIP TO WORK A DAY. IT'S NOT LIKE I'M OUT TEARING UP THE TOWN ALL THE TIME IN THE CAR. *TR

  6. Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Equipment, Jan 17, 2008

    2000 HYUNDAI ELANTRA - NEW------------7/05 W/ 17,923 MILEAGE ON THE CAR. I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR ON THE PASS. FRONT WINDOW & BOTH BACK WINDOWS. IT IS NOW 12/07 AND I NEED TO REPLACE THE SAME MOTORS IN ALL 3 WINDOWS , MY CAR NOW HAS 29,420 MILEAGE ON THE CAR. THE WINDOW THAT I WOULD USE THE MOST IS THE DRIVERS FRONT , IS JUST FINE. *TR

  7. Structure, Jan 14, 2008

    DURING A ROUTINE REPAIR, FOR MY 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA,IT WAS NOTED THAT THE ENTIRE SUB FRAME CALLED THE "CROSSMEMBER" WAS ROTTED AND PITTED. THE VEHICLE IS GARAGED AND WELL MAINTAINED. WE CONTACT HYUNDAI DIRECTLY. THE INSTRUCTED US TO BRING THE CAR TO A DEALER TO VERIFY THE DAMAGE. AFTER PAYING $74. OR THE DIAGNOSIS, THE DEALER CONTACTED THE REGISTRY WHO REMOVED OUR CAR INSPECTION STICKER. HYUNDAI THEN DECLINED TO COVER OR SHARE ANY COST OF THE REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS BEYOND THE 100,000 MILES OF THE WARRANTY. THE CAR HAS 129,000 MILES. *TR

  8. Power train, Oct 12, 2007

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AFTER 4-5 SECONDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS INTERNAL FAILURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION'S FOURTH GEAR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000. *UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF

  9. Air bags, Seat belts, Child seat, Sep 14, 2007, crash

    I WAS DRIVING NORTH BOUND ON HIGHWAY 99. ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN RUSH HOUR, IN SACRAMENTO, CA. WHEN I WAS HIT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BY A BLACK NISSAN. WHEN THE CARS TOUCHED WE SPUN 3 TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOT HIT ANY OTHER VEHICLE. THE CAR STOPPED 8 FEET AWAY FROM THE RETAINING WALL, FACING NORTH BOUND. MY INFANT (1 MONTH OLD ) AND 13 YR. OLD WERE IN THE BACK. THE INFANTS CAR SEAT SIFTED ABOUT A FOOT TOWARDS THE LEFT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. THAT MEANS THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MY 13 YR. OLD SCREAMED AS SHE HOVERED OVER HER BROTHER TO PROTECT HIM. HER SEAT BELT WAS LOOSE ENOUGH FOR HER TO ALLOW HER TO DO THAT. THE TOTAL IMPACT WAS ON HER SIDE. SHE AND I SAW THE CAR COMING BUT THERE WAS NO WHERE TO MOVE. MY FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY OR OPEN UP. I WAS ABLE TO SHIELD MY FACE ON THE TIME OF THE IMPACT. THE INSURANCE CONSIDERED IT A SALVAGE AND PAID ME OFF. *TR

  10. Tires, Jul 26, 2007

    KELLY TIRE 195 65 R14 ONE TIRE CAME APART ON FREEWAY, ONE HAD A VERY LARGE BUMP, ONE HAD A BROKE BELT AND ONE WAS WEARING REAL BAD ON THE REAR. THEY WERE ONE APPROX. 2-3 MONTHS OLD. IT WAS ALIGNED BY PURCELL TIRE IN PRINCENTON, KY WERE I PURCHASED THE TIRES. *JB

  11. Power train, Jul 7, 2007

    SHIFT LOCK STICKS IN A 2000 AUTO ELANTRA WITH AROUND 99,600 MILES. I LOCK UP IN PARK IN WILL NOT GET OUT OF PARK OUT U PUT PENCIL DOWN SHIFT LOCK HOLE. OR HIT SHIFTER HARD FORWARDED IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. HAVE NOT TOOK TO GET SERVICED YET OR LOOKED AT . *AK

  12. Visibility, Jun 14, 2007

    I AM 87 YEARS OLD AND BOUGHT A 2000 ELANTRA BRAND NEW IN 1999. I HAVE ONLY PUT 25,000 MILES ON THIS CAR IN 7 YEARS AND THE ONLY TIME I HAVE OPENED THE REAR WINDOWS WAS WHEN I HIT THE WRONG BUTTON BY MISTAKE. WELL RECENTLY MY SON DROVE THE CAR AND OPENED THE REAR WINDOWS - BOTH OF THEM FAILED IN ONE WEEK. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WANTED TO CHARGE $69 PER WINDOW JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. MY SON SAID THAT THEY HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE THE ONLY ELANTRA THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM AND SINCE THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO USE OF THE WINDOWS IT HAD TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN OR MOTOR. THE SERVICE MAN SWORE UP AND DOWN THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE BACK WINDOWS. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID IT WOULD COST $375 PER WINDOW TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATORS. THAT IS A TOTAL OF $750 FOR BOTH WINDOWS. I FEEL I HAVE BEEN DECEIVED AND LIED TO AFTER FINDING THIS WEBSITE WITH THE NUMBER OF WINDOW PROBLEMS REPORTED AND NO ONE IN MY FAMILY WILL EVER RECOMMEND OR BUY ANOTHER HYUNDAI PRODUCT FROM A DEALERSHIP. *TR

  13. Visibility, Jun 14, 2007

    I AM 87 YEARS OLD AND BOUGHT A 2000 ELANTRA BRAND NEW IN 1999. I HAVE ONLY PUT 25,000 MILES ON THIS CAR IN 7 YEARS AND THE ONLY TIME I HAVE OPENED THE REAR WINDOWS WAS WHEN I HIT THE WRONG BUTTON BY MISTAKE. WELL RECENTLY MY SON DROVE THE CAR AND OPENED THE REAR WINDOWS - BOTH OF THEM FAILED IN ONE WEEK. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WANTED TO CHARGE $69 PER WINDOW JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. MY SON SAID THAT THEY HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE THE ONLY ELANTRA THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM AND SINCE THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO USE OF THE WINDOWS IT HAD TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN OR MOTOR. THE SERVICE MAN SWORE UP AND DOWN THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE BACK WINDOWS. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID IT WOULD COST $375 PER WINDOW TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATORS. THAT IS A TOTAL OF $750 FOR BOTH WINDOWS. I FEEL I HAVE BEEN DECEIVED AND LIED TO AFTER FINDING THIS WEBSITE WITH THE NUMBER OF WINDOW PROBLEMS REPORTED AND NO ONE IN MY FAMILY WILL EVER RECOMMEND OR BUY ANOTHER HYUNDAI PRODUCT FROM A DEALERSHIP. *TR

  14. Engine and engine cooling, May 24, 2007

    MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED.

  15. Visibility, Mar 15, 2007

    WINDOWS REGULATORS FAILING - SO FAR THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES ON THIS CAR, TWICE ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE - ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND ONCE AT MY EXPENSE. THE REAR WINDOW COMES DOWN AT WILL AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GLUE IT UP. *JB

  16. Visibility, Feb 26, 2007

    DURING THE PAST 18 MONTHS, ALL FOUR WINDOWS IN MY 2000 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HAS HAD THE WINDOW REGULATOR GO BAD AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THESE WINDOWS WERE ENGINEERED TO FAIL. THE TOTAL COST TO REPLACE THEM WAS NEAR $1500. BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE, THE REAR WINDOW ROLLED DOWN DURING A RAINSTORM HERE IN FLORIDA. MY REACTION NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB

  17. Latches/locks/linkages, Jan 2, 2007

    WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH THE HOOD LATCH FAILED AND THE HOOD BLEW OFF (SHEARING THE HINGES) INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE VIEW MIRROR. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC HOOD, HINGES, LATCH, WINDSHIELD AND SIDE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

  18. Visibility, Nov 22, 2006

    POWER WINDOW REAR. DON'T WORK .WINDOW DROPS DOWN. CABLE INSIDE OFF TRACK. *NM

  19. Power train, Nov 9, 2006

    I OWN 2 MANUAL-TRANSMISSION HYUNDAI ELANTRAS, 2000 AND 2001. BOTH CARS HAVE APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES. BOTH CARS HAVE HAD THEIR CLUTCHES GO BAD IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS (MASTER CYLINDER ON THE 2001, SLAVE CYLINDER ON THE 2000). *NM

  20. Visibility, Oct 30, 2006

    THE REGULATOR DEVICE BROKE IN THREE OF MY AUTOMATIC WINDOWS SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. DURING THE TIME THE WINDOWS WERE BROKEN THE GLASS WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION, PROVIDING A RED FLAG FOR ANYONE WISHING TO STEAL MY CAR OR ITS CONTENTS. CURRENTLY MY 3RD WINDOW IS BROKEN AND THE DEALERSHIP WON'T LOOK AT IT FOR A FEW DAYS SO I HAVE TO HOPE NO ONE FINDS OUT IT IS BROKEN IN THE MEAN TIME.*JB

  21. Air bags, Oct 11, 2006, crash

    THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS A FRONT END COLLISION. THE CAR STRUCTURALLY HELD UP VERY WELL BUT WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK? *NM

  22. Electrical system, Oct 4, 2006

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION WIRE WAS ARCHING, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE AND STALL. THE IGNITION WIRE WAS REPLACED.

  23. Seat belts, Sep 27, 2006

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTRAIN A CHILD IN A SAFETY SEAT WITH THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRONT SEAT BELT WEBBING STRAP TIGHTENED WHEN ENGAGED DURING NORMAL USE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FRACTURE, BUT DETERMINED THE FRONT SEAT BELT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - *NM

  24. Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Sep 27, 2006

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ENGINE HESITATED, THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A RECALL # 00V259001 REGARDING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

  25. Visibility, Sep 15, 2006

    TWO POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED. THE FIRST TIME, THE DRIVER'S WINDOW FELL WHILE DRIVING, STARTLING THE DRIVER, ALMOST CAUSING A REAR-END COLLISION. THE SECOND TIME, THE REAR WINDOW HAD FALLEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THE THEFT OF THE VEHICLE AND/OR ITS COMPONENTS. BOTH PARTS WERE FIXED AT OWNER'S COST OF $140 EACH, PLUS LABOR. **NM