2001 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 329 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 72 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 59 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, front, control armApr 16, 2009
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.
THE FRACTURING OF THE CONTROL ARM COULD AN OWNER'S CONTROL OVER THEIR VEHICLE THAT MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 09V125000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveOct 14, 2008
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.
THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS AND MAY PREVENT SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR. NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS AIR BAGS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.
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.
Campaign 08V533000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveOct 14, 2008
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.
THIS CONDITION MAY AFFECT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS AND MAY PREVENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR. NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS AIR BAGS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.
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.
Campaign 08V532000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 3, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.
CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS MAY RESULT IN REAR BRAKE TUBE WEAR AND CORROSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 03V496000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsJul 22, 2003
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.
FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 03V257000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowOct 17, 2000
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.
NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING A CRASH WHERE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS INTENDED.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO SATELLITE SENSORS.
Campaign 00V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
118 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Feb 21, 2003, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB
Air bags, Jan 2, 2003, crash
I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN MY 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA ON 12/15/01. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS INFORMED ON 12/22/02 THAT A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY, DRIVING THE SAME YEAR/MAKE AND MODEL HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE SAME THING OCCURED.
Air bags, Nov 19, 2002, crash
AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES ON A WET ROAD SURFACE, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND I HYDROPLANED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, I SWERVED AND SLAMMED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE CAR HIT THE POLE JUST A FEW INCHES OFF DEAD CENTER, CAUSING SUCH SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAR IT HAS SINCE BEEN TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. IN THE ACCIDENT I SUSTAINED NECK, BACK, MOUTH AND HAND INJURIES. NONE OF THE 4 FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DT
Air bags, Nov 14, 2002, crash
WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, A VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. CONSUMER HIT THE VEHICLE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO T-BONE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *JG
Air bags, Nov 13, 2002, crash
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 35 MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
Air bags, Structure, Nov 12, 2002
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. SEVERE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AFTER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER FOUND ROTORS WERE WARPED DUE TO OVERHEATING AND BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER PROBLEM REOCCURED. TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND REVVED AT A HIGH RPM BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD AND BUCKED BEFORE SHIFTING. *TT ABL.PCO
Air bags, Structure, Oct 5, 2002, crash
THE CAR HIT HEAD ON AND THE FRONT END BUMPER HAS FALLEN OFF. DESPITE THIS BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Jun 13, 2002, crash
CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 30-35 MPH, VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER PUMPED BRAKE PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES, NO BRAKING ACTION, VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE WALL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JG
Air bags, Jun 13, 2002, crash
FRONT COLLISION AT 30-35 MPH, VEHICLE HIT CONCRETE WALL ON PASSENGER FRONT. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. NO INJURIES.*AK
Air bags, Apr 2, 2002, crash
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, A HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED, UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER.*AK
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Jan 19, 2002
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Air bags, Dec 23, 2001, crash
IF I WAS GOING ANY FASTER OR HIT ANY HARDER OR BY A LARGER VEHICLE, I WOULDN'T HAVE SURVIVED. I FIND IR UNBELIEVABLE THAT MY CAR WAS HIT ON THE FRONT CORNER PASSENGER SIDE AND THAT AIRBAG, NOR THE SIDE AIRBAGS INFLATED.D. *AK
Air bags, Structure, Dec 10, 2001
AIR BAG LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL IS ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND DETERMINED AN UNKNOWN FLUID FROM CUP HOLDER CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN AN UNKNOWN COMPONENT FOR AIR BAG SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK ABL.PCO
Air bags, Nov 13, 2001, crash
CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE HIT CONSUMERS DRIVERS SIDE DOOR UPON IMPACT, DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOYED. MINOR INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *YD
Air bags, Oct 26, 2001, crash
CAR WAS REARENDED BY A TRUCK AT APPROX 50MPH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IS THIS RIGHT. THE HUYNDAI WAS STOPPED AND A 1978 FORD PICKUP RAMMED THE BACKEND. I AM WONDERING IF THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED? THE HUYNDAI DID HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT AFTER BEING RAMMED.*AK
Air bags, Sep 4, 2001, crash
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THIS ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THEY HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED REPEATEDLY TO TALK TO SOMEONE WITH THE ABILITY TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.*AK
Air bags, Aug 14, 2001, crash
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE WAS HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. WAS PUSHED ABOUT 400 FEET, SPUN AROUND AND HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER WITH PASSENGER FRONT. CONSUMER SUFFERED NERVE DAMAGE IN ONE LEG/ HIS WIFE HAD A BRUISED CHEST. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
Air bags, Jul 2, 2001
DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON. AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON FOR 48 HOURS PRIOR TO AIR BAG DEPLOYING. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER STATED IT WAS THE MOISTURE INSIDE VEHICLE REASON AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK ABL.PCO