HYUNDAI ELANTRA · model year

2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

445 NHTSA complaints, 100 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001HYUNDAIELANTRA carries 445 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 100 crashes, 10 fires, 78 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 2001 ELANTRA is air bags with 52 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (39) and suspension (35). 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. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2001 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.

445
Complaints
100
Crashes
10
Fires
78
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

445 filings

Crashes Reported

100 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS52
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL39
SUSPENSION35
SUSPENSION:FRONT20
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE19
STEERING17
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM17
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE11
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM11
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
STRUCTURE:BODY7
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6

Recalls (6)

03V25700022/07/2003

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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 BRACKE

00V33200017/10/2000

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

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.

09V12500016/04/2009

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

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, PENNSYL

08V53300014/10/2008

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

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)

08V53200014/10/2008

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

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 CONTAMIN

03V49600003/12/2003

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.

Recent Complaints

20190318AIR BAGS

ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH POWER LOCKS. THE VEHICLE OVERALL IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE PROGRESSIVE MOTOR, ELECTRICAL, AND COMPLEX ISSUES EFFECTING THE BASIC USAGE OF MY CAR.

Mileage: 206,000

20190318ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH POWER LOCKS. THE VEHICLE OVERALL IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE PROGRESSIVE MOTOR, ELECTRICAL, AND COMPLEX ISSUES EFFECTING THE BASIC USAGE OF MY CAR.

Mileage: 206,000

20190318ENGINE

ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH POWER LOCKS. THE VEHICLE OVERALL IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE PROGRESSIVE MOTOR, ELECTRICAL, AND COMPLEX ISSUES EFFECTING THE BASIC USAGE OF MY CAR.

Mileage: 206,000

20190105AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF WHILE IN MOTION..

20180725FireSERVICE BRAKES

ALL 4 BRAKES STARTED TO RANDOMLY LOCK UP. I WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO RUN IT ALMOST A 1/2 MILE FOR A SHOULDER TO PULL OVER AT. UPON STOPPING, THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING ALL AROUND THE CAR AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ACTUALLY CAUGHT FLAME. I'M GUESSING BRAKE BOOSTER IS THE CAUSE. ALSO FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH. THE CARS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS AROUND 185,000 MILES ON IT. HAS VALVE COVER LEAK INTO SPARK PLUG PORT ON CYLINDER 3 AND HAS A VERY WEAK CLUTCH THAT SOMETIMES SLIPS.

Mileage: 185,000

20180725FireSTEERING

ALL 4 BRAKES STARTED TO RANDOMLY LOCK UP. I WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO RUN IT ALMOST A 1/2 MILE FOR A SHOULDER TO PULL OVER AT. UPON STOPPING, THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING ALL AROUND THE CAR AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ACTUALLY CAUGHT FLAME. I'M GUESSING BRAKE BOOSTER IS THE CAUSE. ALSO FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH. THE CARS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS AROUND 185,000 MILES ON IT. HAS VALVE COVER LEAK INTO SPARK PLUG PORT ON CYLINDER 3 AND HAS A VERY WEAK CLUTCH THAT SOMETIMES SLIPS.

Mileage: 185,000

20180725FireSUSPENSION

ALL 4 BRAKES STARTED TO RANDOMLY LOCK UP. I WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO RUN IT ALMOST A 1/2 MILE FOR A SHOULDER TO PULL OVER AT. UPON STOPPING, THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING ALL AROUND THE CAR AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ACTUALLY CAUGHT FLAME. I'M GUESSING BRAKE BOOSTER IS THE CAUSE. ALSO FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH. THE CARS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS AROUND 185,000 MILES ON IT. HAS VALVE COVER LEAK INTO SPARK PLUG PORT ON CYLINDER 3 AND HAS A VERY WEAK CLUTCH THAT SOMETIMES SLIPS.

Mileage: 185,000

20180519AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON DASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET THE LIGHT IS ON. NOT SURE IF AIRBAGS WILL WORK IF AN ACCIDENT EVER DOES OCCUR. CANNOT HAVE FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE BECAUSE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN LIGHT CAME ON. UNKNOWN WHY THIS FAILURE OCCURED.

Mileage: 180,000

20180519ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON DASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET THE LIGHT IS ON. NOT SURE IF AIRBAGS WILL WORK IF AN ACCIDENT EVER DOES OCCUR. CANNOT HAVE FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE BECAUSE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN LIGHT CAME ON. UNKNOWN WHY THIS FAILURE OCCURED.

Mileage: 180,000

20180519ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ALL FOUR WINDOWS STOPPED FUNCTIONING AT ONCE. RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS EXTREMELY COMMON. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM IN CASE WINDOWS ARE NEEDED TO ESCAPE FROM VEHICLE DUE TO ACCIDENT. THE TEMPERATURE OF VEHICLE CAN ALSO EXCEED SAFE DEGREE DUE TO WINDOWS NOT OPENING. NO WARNING WAS GIVEN BEFORE ALL WINDOWS CEASED TO FUNCTION. STARTED VEHICLE AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK FROM ANY CONTROL. HAD TO TAKE MOTHER TO DOCTOR FOR HEAT EXHAUSTION FROM EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES BUILDING UP IN CAR.

Mileage: 185,000

20180511TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EQUIPPED WITH DEXTERO TOURING DTR1 TIRES, SIZE I95/60R/15 88H (NA). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER, FRONT PASSENGER, AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES HAD CRACKS ON THE LOWER SIDEWALLS. THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS TAKEN TO WALMART FOR REPLACEMENT. THE OTHER TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,285. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 97,285

20180326SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 18 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT STATED UPON INSPECTION THEY NOTICED THE CONTROL ARM HAD DETACHED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. FREEHOLD HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 4065 ROUTE 9 NORTH, FREEHOLD, NJ, WHERE THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V125000 (SUSPENSION) DUE TO HAVING TO WAIT FOR APPROVAL FOR THE RECALL REPAIR FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20170929ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, ALL FOUR WINDOWS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE, WIRING, AND DOOR SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20170522AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE MADE A RUMBLING NOISE AND JERKED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 118,000

20170522SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE MADE A RUMBLING NOISE AND JERKED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 118,000

20170104FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO SERVICE THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER OR LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REFUEL IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME DURING REFUELING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20170104ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO SERVICE THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER OR LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REFUEL IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME DURING REFUELING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20170104AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO SERVICE THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER OR LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REFUEL IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME DURING REFUELING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20170104SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO SERVICE THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER OR LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REFUEL IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME DURING REFUELING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20170104SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO SERVICE THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER OR LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REFUEL IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME DURING REFUELING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Compare 2001HYUNDAIELANTRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA have?
The 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA has 445 NHTSA complaints, 100 crashes, 10 fires, 78 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
Yes, the 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
The most-complained component for the 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA is AIR BAGS with 52 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SUSPENSION.
Is the 2001 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.