Total Complaints
179 filings
HYUNDAI ELANTRA · model year
1995 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
179 NHTSA complaints, 32 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1995HYUNDAIELANTRA carries 179 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 32 crashes, 5 fires, 26 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 1995 ELANTRA is air bags:frontal with 23 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (13) and air bags (12). 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 1995 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.
179
Complaints
32
Crashes
5
Fires
26
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
32 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 |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 23 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 13 |
| AIR BAGS | 12 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 11 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 7 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 5 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 3 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 3 |
Recent Complaints
20040212VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
SEEKING ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE A CLAIM THAT WAS DENIED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. CLAIM INVOLVES REQUEST TO SEEK AID IN GETTING A CRACKED WINDSHIELD REPAIRED WHICH WAS A RESULT OF A ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. *PH *MR
20030616AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON WHILE TRAVELING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.*AK PH *JB
20030610POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE CLUTCH IN ORDER TO SHIFT, THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET BROKE OFF. I AM NOW UNABLE TO USE THE CLUTCH.*AK
Mileage: 103,000
20021106SUSPENSION:FRONT
CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION FRONT END OF VEHICLE DROP TO THE GROUND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BODY SHOP TECHNICIAN NOTICE AXLE AND CHASSI HAD BROKEN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
20020503AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK
20020307POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DOWN A LITTLE TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE REVVED BUT THE CAR DIDN?T GO ANYWHERE, CONSUMER LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL IMMEDIATELY AND THE ENGINE REVVED TO IDLE, HIT THE GAS AGAIN AND THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY SHIFTED TO A FORWARD GEAR. CONSUMER REPLACED THE SECOND TRANSMISSION BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *YD
20020124AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED AIR BAG MODULE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20011120POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION IS LOSING SPEED AND REVS HIGHLY. IT JERKS BEFORE IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES BEFORE BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. THIS IS POSSIBLY THE THIRD TIME THAT TRANSMISSION NEES TO BE REPLACED. DEALERS AND OTHER MECHANICS HAVE NOT EXPLAINED REASONS FOR ONGOING PROBLEMS. *AK
20011025POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE TRAVELING AT 30-35 MPH TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO LOCK UP AND SKID ACROSS THE STREET.*AK
20010914LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE REAR DOORS DO NOT WANT TO OPEN AND/OR UNLOCK AT TIMES. THEY STICK . TO GET OPEN (IF YOU CAN) YOU MUST PUSH IN AND LIFT UP. VERY UNSAFE WOULD NOT BEABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE EITHER. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
20010910AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN CAR WAS STARTED. DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHY AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. DEALER WANTS TO START BY REPLACING AIR BAG PARTS UNTIL LIGHT GOES OFF (STARTING WITH THE $600 CHIP). DEALER CLAIMS RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THIS CAR IN JULY 1995. IN 1996, THIS VEHICLE WAS IN A "FENDER BENDER" BUT AIR BAG LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY THE AIR BAG SYSTEM SHOULD JUST FAIL OUT OF THE BLUE.*AK
20010808POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, CLUTCH PEDAL PEDAL BRACKET DISCONNECTED AND FELL OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
20010507POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE DRAGS AND WHEN IT FINALLY GETS INTO GEAR IT THRUST FORWARD EXTREMELY FAST, THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE PROBLEM REOCCURED 2 YEARS LATER AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AGAIN, NOW LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AGAIN. NLM
20010507SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
REAR AXLE BUSHING AND BOTH REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. NLM
20010507SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
REAR AXLE BUSHING AND BOTH REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. NLM
20010503ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I CAN NOT SHIFT TO FIRST FROM SECOND,I HAV TO GO 3RD THEN GO TO FIRST/YOU CAN NOT DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN ,THE SMOKE GET INSIDE THE CAR. *AK
20010503POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I CAN NOT SHIFT TO FIRST FROM SECOND,I HAV TO GO 3RD THEN GO TO FIRST/YOU CAN NOT DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN ,THE SMOKE GET INSIDE THE CAR. *AK
20010423ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
AFTER TURNING OFF VEHICLE, CONSUMER COULD SMELL A PAINT ODOR IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, THEN VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO RESTART. ALSO, AFTER DICONNECTING AIR HOSE AND RECONNECTING AIR HOSE VEHICLE WILL RESTART. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED.*AK FIRESTONE TIRES KEEP GOING FLAT, SIZE P175/65R14, CONSUMER WAS ONCE TOLD THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE RIMS. *SLC
20010423TIRES
AFTER TURNING OFF VEHICLE, CONSUMER COULD SMELL A PAINT ODOR IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, THEN VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO RESTART. ALSO, AFTER DICONNECTING AIR HOSE AND RECONNECTING AIR HOSE VEHICLE WILL RESTART. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED.*AK FIRESTONE TIRES KEEP GOING FLAT, SIZE P175/65R14, CONSUMER WAS ONCE TOLD THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE RIMS. *SLC
20010423WHEELS:RIM
AFTER TURNING OFF VEHICLE, CONSUMER COULD SMELL A PAINT ODOR IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, THEN VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO RESTART. ALSO, AFTER DICONNECTING AIR HOSE AND RECONNECTING AIR HOSE VEHICLE WILL RESTART. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED.*AK FIRESTONE TIRES KEEP GOING FLAT, SIZE P175/65R14, CONSUMER WAS ONCE TOLD THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE RIMS. *SLC
Compare 1995HYUNDAIELANTRA 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 1995 HYUNDAI ELANTRA have?▼
The 1995 HYUNDAI ELANTRA has 179 NHTSA complaints, 32 crashes, 5 fires, 26 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1995 HYUNDAI ELANTRA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 23 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1995 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.