HYUNDAI ELANTRA · model year

1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

183 NHTSA complaints, 24 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999HYUNDAIELANTRA carries 183 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 24 crashes, 4 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 1999 ELANTRA is power train:automatic transmission with 34 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (16) and electrical system (11). 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 1999 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.

183
Complaints
24
Crashes
4
Fires
26
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

183 filings

Crashes Reported

24 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION34
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL16
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE7
POWER TRAIN6
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER3
STEERING3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
AIR BAGS3

Recent Complaints

20180502VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY

Mileage: 130,000

20170522POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE GEAR SHIFTER SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOID ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE GEAR SHIFTER SEIZED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO PUT A PENCIL INTO THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE TO RELEASE THE GEAR SHIFTER, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND THEN SEEK REIMBURSEMENT. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V178000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WA

Mileage: 22,000

20161206ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED, LUNGED, AND LOST POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR NEEDED TO BE RE-ROUTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V259001 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000.

Mileage: 91,000

20161122POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V178000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20161004FireAIR BAGS

I HAVE A 99 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 4 DOOR. LAST WEEK THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. MORE SPECIFICALLY, I WAS AT THE TIME IN THE HARDEE'S DRIVE THRU WHEN THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO ROLL OUT OF THE DRIVE THRU AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW MECHANICS WHO SAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MELTED ALL OF THE STEERING COLUMN, DASH, CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE HEAT, AND OTHER FIRE DAMAGE. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND UNDRIVEABLE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 KIDS AND THIS WAS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. ALSO ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD CONTACTED HYUNDAI AFTERWARDS, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS FINE AND NOT TO WORRY. I HAVE NO WAY TO SCAN MY DOCUMENTS, BUT I HAVE A POLICE REPORT AS WELL AS SEVERAL EMAILS FROM HYUNDAI FROM LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS PICTURES OF THE D

20161004FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 99 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 4 DOOR. LAST WEEK THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. MORE SPECIFICALLY, I WAS AT THE TIME IN THE HARDEE'S DRIVE THRU WHEN THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO ROLL OUT OF THE DRIVE THRU AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW MECHANICS WHO SAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MELTED ALL OF THE STEERING COLUMN, DASH, CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE HEAT, AND OTHER FIRE DAMAGE. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND UNDRIVEABLE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 KIDS AND THIS WAS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. ALSO ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD CONTACTED HYUNDAI AFTERWARDS, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS FINE AND NOT TO WORRY. I HAVE NO WAY TO SCAN MY DOCUMENTS, BUT I HAVE A POLICE REPORT AS WELL AS SEVERAL EMAILS FROM HYUNDAI FROM LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS PICTURES OF THE D

20161004FireSTEERING

I HAVE A 99 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 4 DOOR. LAST WEEK THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. MORE SPECIFICALLY, I WAS AT THE TIME IN THE HARDEE'S DRIVE THRU WHEN THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO ROLL OUT OF THE DRIVE THRU AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW MECHANICS WHO SAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MELTED ALL OF THE STEERING COLUMN, DASH, CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE HEAT, AND OTHER FIRE DAMAGE. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND UNDRIVEABLE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 KIDS AND THIS WAS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. ALSO ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD CONTACTED HYUNDAI AFTERWARDS, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS FINE AND NOT TO WORRY. I HAVE NO WAY TO SCAN MY DOCUMENTS, BUT I HAVE A POLICE REPORT AS WELL AS SEVERAL EMAILS FROM HYUNDAI FROM LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS PICTURES OF THE D

20160812POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN THE REVERSE POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,350.

Mileage: 125,350

20151101CrashAIR BAGS

12/2/2014 MULTI-CAR/SEMI ACCIDENT. FRONT END COLLISION WITH REAR END DAMAGE. TOTAL LOSS, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. 465 S @ MM 41 NEAR PENDLETON PIKE EXIT. AT FAULT DRIVER SPUN ON ICE, CAME INTO MY LANE THAT I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH IN SO SHE WAS TRAVELING NORTH. HIT DRIVERS SIDE TO DRIVERS SIDE, SEMI TRAILER RAN OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. TOTAL LOSS.

Mileage: 99,000

20150415POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID ODOR. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 11/6/15 *JS

Mileage: 180,000

20150415ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID ODOR. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 11/6/15 *JS

Mileage: 180,000

20150330ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR READ AS BAD AND I HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL SEP 11, 2000. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V259001 . I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE RECALL WAS IN EFFECT. WHEN I E-MAILED HYUNDAI, THEY RESPONDED BACK THAT THERE NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS ON MY VEHICLE. HOW DO I GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED BEFORE THERE IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT FROM THE VEHICLE STALLING. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

20141202STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

Mileage: 164,000

20120531POWER TRAIN

I HAVE READ MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HYUNDAI. I'VE ELIMINATED PRACTICALLY ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE BY TUNING THE ENGINE EVERY 30 TO 35 THOUSAND MILES. THE GAS MILEAGE AND PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN VERY ACCEPTABLE. YES I TOO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD, MAS AIR SENSOR, AND OTHER SMALL MAINTENANCE PARTS. THE ONLY THING I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR IS WHEN I'M SETTING AT A STOP AND IDLING, THE ENGINE TENDS TO OVERHEAT. BUT WHEN I BEGAN TO DRIVE IT QUICKLY COOLS BACK DOWN. MY HYUNDAI NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 230,000 MILES AND IS STILL IN SERVICE BUT STILL OVERHEATS. ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20120531ENGINE

I HAVE READ MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HYUNDAI. I'VE ELIMINATED PRACTICALLY ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE BY TUNING THE ENGINE EVERY 30 TO 35 THOUSAND MILES. THE GAS MILEAGE AND PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN VERY ACCEPTABLE. YES I TOO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD, MAS AIR SENSOR, AND OTHER SMALL MAINTENANCE PARTS. THE ONLY THING I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR IS WHEN I'M SETTING AT A STOP AND IDLING, THE ENGINE TENDS TO OVERHEAT. BUT WHEN I BEGAN TO DRIVE IT QUICKLY COOLS BACK DOWN. MY HYUNDAI NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 230,000 MILES AND IS STILL IN SERVICE BUT STILL OVERHEATS. ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20120502FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I HAVE A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH 128,750 MI. AT. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CANISTER HAS BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR WHERE IT IS BOLTED WHICH IS UNDERNEATH THE TRUNK BEHIND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL DUE TO THE BRACKET RUSTING AND BREAKING DUE TO INADEQUATE STEEL USED WHICH DOES NOT RESIST SALT AND IMPROPER DESIGN FOR NOT PLACING THE CANISTER IN A PROTECTED AREA OF THE CAR OR OR PLACING SHROUDING AROUND THE CANISTER TO SHIELD THE SALT SPRAY FROM THE ROAD/REAR WHEEL. THE RESULT IS THE PIPES FROM THE FUEL TANK WHICH CONVEY FUEL VAPORS HAVE DISCONNECTED FROM THE EVAP CANISTER AND TRIGGER A P0422 (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) WHICH IS A LEAK IN THE EVAP SYSTEM WHICH MEANS THE CAR WILL NOT PASS NY INSPECTION. *JS

Mileage: 128,750

20120430SUSPENSION

THE REAR FRAME CROSSMEMBER HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND HOLDS THE OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IN PLACE. THE WHOLE CAR IS SEVERELY RUSTED. HYUNDAI RUSTING IN THE SALT BELT STATES IS DOCUMENTED. I WOULD LIKE HYUNDAI TO REPLACE ALL RUSTED OUT FRAME SUSPENSION MEMBERS. *JS

Mileage: 128,900

20101124ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO RECALL 00V259001 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING). THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WHO BOTH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20100426ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY HESITATED BEFORE CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 216,000. UPDATED 07/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR READING INCORRECTLY AT IDLE. ALSO, ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS WIRES WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 07/02/10.*JB

Mileage: 216,000

20100426ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY HESITATED BEFORE CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 216,000. UPDATED 07/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR READING INCORRECTLY AT IDLE. ALSO, ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS WIRES WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 07/02/10.*JB

Mileage: 216,000

Compare 1999HYUNDAIELANTRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA have?
The 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA has 183 NHTSA complaints, 24 crashes, 4 fires, 26 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
The most-complained component for the 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 34 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 1999 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.