Hyundai · Elantra · 2001
6
Recalls
329
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2001 Hyundai Elantra has 6 recalls and 329 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: air bags (83 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2001 Hyundai Elantra page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is air bags with 83 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
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, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT USED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN THESE JURISDICTIONS MAY RESULT IN INTERNAL CORROSION AND THINNING OF THE STEEL IN THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS TO THE POINT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM'S UPPER AND LOWER PANELS BECOME PERFORATED. A PERFORATED FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY FRACTURE BETWEEN ITS BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT AND THE FORWARD AND REARWARD PIVOT ATTACHMENTS TO THE CHASSIS.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOR CORROSION DAMAGE. IF SPECIFIED LEVELS OF INTERNAL CORROSION DAMAGE ARE FOUND, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS INCORPORATING ADDITIONAL HOLES IN THE UPPER AND LOWER PANELS. IF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS DO NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER WILL ADD DRAINAGE HOLES TO THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND WILL TREAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH RUST-PROOFING MATERIALS TO ARREST THE INTERNAL CORROSION PROCESS. THESE PROCEDURES WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
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) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CLIPS AND REVISED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS ATTACHMENTS UNDER THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2008, AND WILL BE SENT OUT IN SIX MAILINGS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
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 CONTAMINATE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND ITS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR. THE RECALL OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2008, AND LETTERS WILL BE SENT OUT IN SIX MAILINGS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL TO THE REAR BRAKE TUBES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-633-5151.
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 BRACKETS. ON VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES MAY CONTACT ONLY THE LEFT MOUNTING BRACKET. CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE STEERING BRACKETS COULD CAUSE WEAR AND CORROSION THAT COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES SO THEY DO NOT CONTACT THE MOUNTING BRACKETS, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS TO CONTROL THE LOCATION OF THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL TO THE TUBES IN THE AREAS WHERE CONTACT WITH THE MOUNTING BRACKETS MAY HAVE OCCURRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 13, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
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.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO SATELLITE SENSORS.
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.
THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF WHILE IN MOTION..
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 FRO...
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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...
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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. N...
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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 CRAC...
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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...
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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 MAN...
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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 VEHIC...
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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 T...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 329 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2001 Hyundai models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2001 Hyundai Elantra has 6 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 329 owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra are air bags (83 reports), suspension (57 reports), engine and engine cooling (12 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 6 recalls on record for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.