HYUNDAI ELANTRA · model year

2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

431 NHTSA complaints, 80 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002HYUNDAIELANTRA carries 431 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 80 crashes, 7 fires, 53 injuries, and 2 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 2002 ELANTRA is air bags with 40 filings, followed by suspension:front:control arm (29) and suspension:front (27). 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 2002 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.

431
Complaints
80
Crashes
7
Fires
53
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

431 filings

Crashes Reported

80 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS40
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM29
SUSPENSION:FRONT27
SUSPENSION27
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL22
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE19
STEERING16
STRUCTURE:BODY13
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS12
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC11
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL11
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM11
TIRES10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS10

Recalls (6)

04V36900026/07/2004

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY" A VALVE ON THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE ROLLS OVER AND THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCC

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

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)

04V17800009/04/2004

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

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

20200521SUSPENSION

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE MOMENT I TRIED TO STOP AT THE TRAFFIC STOP SIGN THE LOWER ARM CONTROL FROM THE DRIVER SIDE BROKE AND THE WHEEL BROKE AND THE CAR SLID. THANKS GOD IT WAS AT NIGHT AND NO CARS WERE THERE. I REMEMBER THE NIGHT BEFORE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND THEY SENT ME A TOWING TRUCK TO MOVE THE CAR. I DIDN'T REPAIR THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS A BIG MESS. I TOOK SOME PICTURES OF IT AND THE TOWING COMPANY GUY ALSO. I REMEMBER I WENT TO HYUNDAI DEALER AND I WAS LOOKING FOR A PART THEIR AND THEY TOOK MY VIN NUMBER TO CHECK FOR THE PART BUT NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL. CAN HYUNDAI COMPANY GIVE ME SOME MONEY BACK THAT I SPENT FOR TOWING AND LOOSING MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. I EVEN PAID FOR THE CAR REGISTRATION WEEKS BEFORE. *TR

Mileage: 248,000

20200129FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHEN PUMPING GAS I CAN ONLY PUMP ABOUT $1.50 WORTH OF GAS AT A TIME BEFORE IT STARTS COMING BACK OUT AND SPILLING EVERYWHERE. I HAVE TRIED PUMPING GAS WITH THE CAR ON, NOT SAFE I KNOW, AND IT STILL ONLY TAKES ABOUT $1.50 BEFORE IT COMES BACK OUT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MULTIPLE ELANTRA OWNERS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. IT TAKES ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO FILL UP. THE MORE GAS YOU GET IN YOUR TANK, THE LESS YOU CAN PUMP. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ONLINE IT'S THAT THE EVAP CANISTOR HAS FAILED AND IT'S PUSHING CHARCOAL THRU THE FUEL LINES. WHAT IF THAT GETS INTO THE FUEL TANK AND THE PUMP SUCKS IT UP? DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING. BUT THE GAS THAT COMES OUT IS STARTING TO EAT AWAY THE PAINT BECAUSE IT DOES IT MULTIPLE TIMES EACH TIME I'M REFUELING. MY VEHICLE HAS HIGH MILES BUT ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE SAY THEY HAVE BELOW 100K MILES.

Mileage: 237,242

20190302AIR BAGS

MY 2002 HUYNDAI ELANTRA GLS SUDDENTLY THE AIRBAG IS ON SOON ENGINE RUNNING, AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TECHNICIAN THAT THE AIRBAG DEFECTIVE AND IT IS UNDER A RECALL.

Mileage: 130,098

20181107SUSPENSION

I HAVE NOTED A RECALL #09V125000 RELATED TO THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR BUT FOR SOME REASON MY CAR WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. MY RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM COLAPSED. IT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. WITH THAT SIDE FIXED I TRAVELED ABOUT 3 MILES AND MY LEFT SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE. MY MECHANIC AND I WERE COMPLEXED, BUT AFTER RESEARCH I FOUND THIS PROBLEM EXIST AND RECALLS ISSUED. AFTER CONTACTING HYUNDA THEY SAID THIS VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT COVERED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. SOMETHING IN THE RECORDS OF THIS CAR MUST BE IN ERROR.

Mileage: 45,000

20171228SUSPENSION

REAR SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER ROTTED OUT

Mileage: 233,122

20170726FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

IT IS HARD TO FILL THE GAS TANK UP. THE FUEL PUMP KEEPS SHUTTING OFF AND YOU HAVE TO SLOWLY FILL THE GAS TANK UP. YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE PUMP TO EVEN GET GAS TO FILL THE TANK.

20170502STRUCTURE:BODY

THE WHOLE FRAME IS RUSTY.

20170502UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE WHOLE FRAME IS RUSTY.

20161107STEERING

ON OCTOBER 28TH, 2016 THE LOWER, DRIVER'S SIDE, FRONT CONTROL ARM DISINTEGRATED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER ELANTRA IN A PARKING LOT. SHE WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN TO LEAVE THE LOT WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AS IT MADE A "TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE." THE NEXT DAY I REMOVED THE WHEEL AND DISCOVERED THE CONTROL ARM WAS TORN IN TWO SECTIONS AND BADLY CORRODED. I WENT TO TWO HYUNDAI DEALERS TO TRACK DOWN A NEW PART. NEITHER DEALER MENTIONED THE FACT THAT THIS MODEL HYUNDAI HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR PRECISELY THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I LEARNED OF THIS PROBLEM I CONTACTED HYUNDAI MOTORS. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL ONLY APPLIED TO VEHICLES PURCHASED OR REGISTERED IN THE SO-CALLED "SALT BELT" STATES. MY WIFE BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN COLORADO AND HAS NEVER DRIVEN IT IN THE "SALT BELT." YET IT SUFFERED THE SAME CORROSION AND FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE BECAUSE THE CORROSION IS INSIDE THE CONTROL ARM AND CANNOT BE DETECTED BY A NORMAL VISUAL INSPE

Mileage: 126,650

20160814AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINS ON STEADY AS I WAS DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL SECTION TODAY, AROUND 10PM. IT HAS BEEN 104 DEGREES WITH HUMIDITY FACTOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

Mileage: 123,000

20160814EXTERIOR LIGHTING

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINS ON STEADY AS I WAS DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL SECTION TODAY, AROUND 10PM. IT HAS BEEN 104 DEGREES WITH HUMIDITY FACTOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

Mileage: 123,000

20160710STRUCTURE:BODY

THERE IS RUST COMING THROUGH THE QUARTER PANELS IN THE FRONT

Mileage: 114,000

20160615AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN YOU MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD OR BACKWARD. SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL, BUT WHEN I CALL THE DEALER I AM TOLD THAT THERE ARE NOT OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. YET, THE RECALL LIST FOR FIXING THE AIR BAG SYSTEM LISTS 2002 HYUNDAI.

Mileage: 97,000

20160603STRUCTURE:BODY

MY VEHICLE HAS CONTROL ARM RUST AND PERFORATIONS IN THE SUBFRAME, COVERED UNDER AN EXISTING RECALL. HYUNDAI HAS ADMITTED THAT THE PARTS ARE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT STATES THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME AND CONTROL ARMS DUE TO RUST DAMAGE ON THE FRAME ITSELF. REPLACING THE DAMAGED PORTIONS OF THE FRAME WILL COST WELL OVER THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE. IF THE SUBFRAME DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED, THE FRAME WOULD LIKELY HOLD FOR SOME TIME AND NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE FRAME DAMAGE IS ONLY AN IMMEDIATE ISSUE BECAUSE THE RECALL REPAIR NEEDS TO BE DONE. HYUNDAI HAS OFFERED ME TO EITHER REPLACE THE FRAME DAMAGE AT MY OWN EXPENSE SO THEY CAN COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR, OR TAKE A BUYOUT EQUAL TO THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. OTHER COMPENSATION SUCH AS RENTAL FEES WAS REFUSED. IT HAS TAKEN THEM ~25 DAYS SINCE RECEIVING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THIS OFFER.

Mileage: 71,000

20160603SUSPENSION

MY VEHICLE HAS CONTROL ARM RUST AND PERFORATIONS IN THE SUBFRAME, COVERED UNDER AN EXISTING RECALL. HYUNDAI HAS ADMITTED THAT THE PARTS ARE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT STATES THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME AND CONTROL ARMS DUE TO RUST DAMAGE ON THE FRAME ITSELF. REPLACING THE DAMAGED PORTIONS OF THE FRAME WILL COST WELL OVER THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE. IF THE SUBFRAME DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED, THE FRAME WOULD LIKELY HOLD FOR SOME TIME AND NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE FRAME DAMAGE IS ONLY AN IMMEDIATE ISSUE BECAUSE THE RECALL REPAIR NEEDS TO BE DONE. HYUNDAI HAS OFFERED ME TO EITHER REPLACE THE FRAME DAMAGE AT MY OWN EXPENSE SO THEY CAN COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR, OR TAKE A BUYOUT EQUAL TO THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. OTHER COMPENSATION SUCH AS RENTAL FEES WAS REFUSED. IT HAS TAKEN THEM ~25 DAYS SINCE RECEIVING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THIS OFFER.

Mileage: 71,000

20160512AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V533000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,190.

Mileage: 121,190

20160104SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE BRAKE FLUID. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

Mileage: 165,000

20151220AIR BAGS

RANDOM ILLUMINATION OF AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH WITHOUT EXPLANATION.

Mileage: 146,571

20151126ENGINE

ENGINE STOPS SUDDENLY ALMOST CREATING ACCIDENT. CAUSE ?

Mileage: 82,300

20151126FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ENGINE STOPS SUDDENLY ALMOST CREATING ACCIDENT. CAUSE ?

Mileage: 82,300

Compare 2002HYUNDAIELANTRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA have?
The 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA has 431 NHTSA complaints, 80 crashes, 7 fires, 53 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
Yes, the 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA?
The most-complained component for the 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA is AIR BAGS with 40 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM and SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 2002 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.