Total Complaints
39 filings
HYUNDAI ELANTRA · model year
1993 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
39 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993HYUNDAIELANTRA carries 39 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1993 ELANTRA is engine and engine cooling:engine with 5 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch (3) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 1993 ELANTRA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
39
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030725POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN 5 TIMES IN A 3 MONTHS PERIOD. ALSO THE PULLEY AND BELT ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN ONE MONTH. IF THE CAR IS DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY FOR MORE THAT 10 MINS THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO OT.*AK
Mileage: 120,700
20030725ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN 5 TIMES IN A 3 MONTHS PERIOD. ALSO THE PULLEY AND BELT ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN ONE MONTH. IF THE CAR IS DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY FOR MORE THAT 10 MINS THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO OT.*AK
Mileage: 120,700
20010612ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY WEEK. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 5-6 TIMES FOR STALLING. MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL PUMP & SOME OTHER PARTS. PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK CONSUMER FOUND RECALL 94V09, HOWEVER THIS RECALL IS FOR 1994 MODELS AND CONSUMER OWNS A 1993, CONSUMER INFORMED DEALER OF THIS RECALL AND THEY STATED THAT CONSUMER WOULD STILL BE CHARGED FOR REPAIRS, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, HOWEVER STALLING STILL OCCURS. *SLC
20010612FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY WEEK. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 5-6 TIMES FOR STALLING. MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL PUMP & SOME OTHER PARTS. PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK CONSUMER FOUND RECALL 94V09, HOWEVER THIS RECALL IS FOR 1994 MODELS AND CONSUMER OWNS A 1993, CONSUMER INFORMED DEALER OF THIS RECALL AND THEY STATED THAT CONSUMER WOULD STILL BE CHARGED FOR REPAIRS, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, HOWEVER STALLING STILL OCCURS. *SLC
20010612ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY WEEK. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 5-6 TIMES FOR STALLING. MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL PUMP & SOME OTHER PARTS. PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK CONSUMER FOUND RECALL 94V09, HOWEVER THIS RECALL IS FOR 1994 MODELS AND CONSUMER OWNS A 1993, CONSUMER INFORMED DEALER OF THIS RECALL AND THEY STATED THAT CONSUMER WOULD STILL BE CHARGED FOR REPAIRS, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, HOWEVER STALLING STILL OCCURS. *SLC
19991029ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING STEAM STARTED COMING FROM ENGINE DUE TO OVERHEATING. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
19991019POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
PROGRESSIVE DETERIORATION OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. REPAIR EQUAL TO BOOK VALUE. *AK
19991013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TRAVELING VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990823ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BECAME DISABLED AS I WAS DRIVING ON HYWY. A/C BELT BROKE AT SAME TIME. CAR WOULD NOT OPERATE AND HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE TOW CAR HOME.TOOK CAR TO LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. AUTO REPAIR SERVICEMAN DID VISUAL CHECK, ATTEMPTED TO START ENGINE AND ENGINE TURNED OVER WEAKLY. SERVICEMAN REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO ENGINE COMPRESSION WHICH POINTED TO TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS. A KNOCKING SOUND INDICATED THAT AT TIME ENGINE FAILED THERE WAS DAMAGE TO VALVE(S). I INFORMED HIM THAT A BELT HAD BUSTED AND TO PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. HE DID AND HAD ME START ENGINE SO HE COULD VISUALLY CHECK CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. HE ADDED THAT IT TOO(CRANKSHAFT PULLEY) APPEARED TO BE VIBRATING AND NEEDED SERVICING. THE BUSTED BELT WAS THE A/C BELT. SERVICEMAN INFORMED ME THAT IN ORDER TO ASCERTAIN DEGREE OF DAMAGE THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN APART TO ACCESS HEADS AND VALVES. HE ESTIMATED REPAIRS WOULD RUN CLOSE TO $1,500. OR MORE. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE CAR FROM ITS ORIGINAL OWNER A MONTH AGO. THE ORIGINAL
19990811FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON,AND THERE WAS FIRE DROPPING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND POPPED HOOD UP, FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WIRES FROM THE STARTER BURNED, AND CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK
19990724SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE
BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE FAILED CAUSING BRAKES TO OVERHEAT AND BOIL BRAKE FLUIDE. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL DUE TO HEAVY LOAD PUT ON IT BY BRAKES STAYING PARTIAL ENGAGED.
19990113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILURE.
19981117SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES GRIND OR SQUEAL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19981117ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A MALFUNCTION OCCURS WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO SHORT CIRCUIT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
19981020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER FAILED.
19981020SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS FAILED.
19981020SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS FAILED.
19981020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND BELTS FAILED.
19981020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND BELTS FAILED.
19980805POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE TIMES. (ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT).
Compare 1993HYUNDAIELANTRA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
EA12008Engineering AnalysisClosed
Headliner Bracket Detachment
PE12012Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Side Curtain Air Bag Improper Deployment
PE09011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS RUSTING
PE08044Preliminary EvaluationClosed
ENGINE STALLING - FUEL PUMP FAILURE
PE97002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1993 HYUNDAI ELANTRA have?▼
The 1993 HYUNDAI ELANTRA has 39 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1993 HYUNDAI ELANTRA is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR.
Is the 1993 HYUNDAI ELANTRA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.