There are 14 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2001 Hyundai Elantrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT END CV JOINT BOOT ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WERE BROKEN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,314. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL EITHER NOT ACCELERATE OR NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE SEALS FAILED. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 03-30-09 *BF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS INOPERTAIVE. UPDATED 03/31/09.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT ON IT'S OWN TO 1ST GEAR, AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL STAY IN 1ST GEAR. THE DRIVER STATED THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO SHIFT IT'S SELF INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO BEGIN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. HE HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER WINDOWS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AS WELL. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NONE OF THESE ISSUES ARE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
CAR ACCELERATED BEYOND CONTROL TO ~90 MPH BEFORE STEERING LOCK AND CAR WENT INTO JERSEY BARRIERS. ACCORDING TO TSB FROM HYUNDAI THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT KNOW ISSUE CALL A TPS(THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) FOR 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA'S WITH A "1" IN THE 10TH POSITION OF THE VIN NUMBER. THE TSB NUMBER IS 01-36-027. BEFORE WE CONTACT HYUNDAI , I WANTED TO SEE IF THIS WAS ON RECALL OR SAFETY CHECK AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY INFO. *JB
THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON CAUSING A DOWN SHIFTING AFTER A BANGING IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. IT WAS A SENSOR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RUNNING GEAR. WITHOUT IT THE CAR DOES NOT DRIVE. THAT IS PART OF THE RUNNING GEAR. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY 231.00. IF I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE RUNNING GEAR. *JB
MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. I DEBATED ON WHETHER OR NOT TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE IT WASN'T ON CONTINUOUSLY. THEY ALWAYS SAY WE CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WELL NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY AND I SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THE COMPUTER IS SHOWING 12 DIFFERENT CODES FOR THE AIR BAGS AND THAT THEY NOTICED SOMETHING STICKY LIKE POP ON THE WIRES. THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T GOING TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. MY FIRST ISSUE WITH THAT IS THEY SHOULD BE SEALED OFF COMPLETELY SO A LITTLE POP SHOULDN'T FRY THE AIR BAG. THE ONLY REASON I BOUGHT MY HYUNDAI WAS BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY AND THE ASSURANCE THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING FOR 5 YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY THAT ISN'T THE TRUTH. AFTER 6 MONTHS OR SO I REALIZED THAT I HAD TO START MY CAR FOR ATLEAST 15 SECONDS BEFORE I COULD ACTUALLY PUT IT IN DRIVE AND GO. BUT WHY WASN'T IT LIKE THAT IN THE BEGINNING? AND AFTER THE FIRST YEAR I NOTICE RUST BEHIND THE PASSENGER DOORS IN NEAR THE WHEEL WELLS WHERE THE CAR IS WELDED TOGETHER. THAT'S A REAL HIGH QUALITY CAR RIGHT THERE WHEN YOU HAVE A CAR THAT'S 10 YEARS OLDER AND IT DOESN'T HAVE A SPOT OF RUST,THAT SHOWS QUALITY. WHAT DOES HYUNDAI SHOW? NOT MUCH AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. IT SHOWS POOR QUALITY AND A COMPANY THAT DOESN'T REALLY STAND BEHIND THEIR WARRANTY. LETS NOT FORGET THE FACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR IS HORRIBLE. IT SHIFTS INTO SECOND GEAR SO HARD AND SOUNDS LIKE A CANON EXPLODING. THE LIGHT ABOVE THE LICENSE PLATE BURNT OUT 2 WEEKS AFTER THEY REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME. AND THE FACT THAT ALL THE WIRES INSIDE MY DOORS WERE CORRODED AFTER TWO YEARS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SO, NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG MODULE BEING DESTROYED AND THEY SAID I SPILLED POP OR SOMETHING IN THE CONSOLE AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED IT. AFTER SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH WIRING IN THE CAR THEY DON'T SEE THAT THIS COULD BE LEGITIMATELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE MODULE. *NM ABL.PCO
WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED COLD AND PUT INTO DRIVE, FOOT APPLIED TO THE GAS, THERE IS A PERIOD (APPROX 10-15 SECONDS) OF HESITATION AND THEN THE VEHICLE WILL JERK FORWARD. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND TRYING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC FROM A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE. I HAVE TRIED TO PULL THE CAR OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND IT HESITATES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE MOVING.
MY SANTA FE LX-AWD REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHICH ALSO COULD BE DEFINED AS REAR AXLE WAS TOTALLY FAILED AND ALL THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID IS LEAKING AND THE WHOLE THING NEED TO BE REPLACE. MY CAR IS 87K MILE WHILE HYUNDAI SERVICES DEALER STATED THAT THIS PART IS COVERED UNDER THE 5/60K BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. I STILL BELIEVED THAT THIS PART SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY; WHICH IT IS 10/100K MILES. WHEN I GO INTO MOST WEBSITES TO SHOP FOR THIS PART THEY MOSTLY RELATED TO THE POWER TRAIN PARTS. THE DEALER EXPECTED ME TO PAY NEARLY $2400 FOR JUST THIS PART TO BE FIX. THIS IS NOT INCLUDED LABOR YET. THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS PART AND OF COURSE NOT TO MENTION ABOUT LABOR....I SERIOUSLY FEEL THAT THIS PART SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN 10/100K WARRANTY INSTEAD OF 6/60K WARRANTY. SINCE THIS IS PART OF A TRANSMISSION TURNING THE TRANSAXLE TO THE REAR BECAUSE OF MY CAR IS AWD! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY BUT THE PART IS RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE FOR ANYONE TO AFFORD TO PAY ANOTHER $3K TO FIX IT. I FEEL TO POINT THAT I RATHER SAVE MY $3K RIGHT NOW AND BUY A USE ACCORD/CAMRY TO DRIVE. I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT HERE IS TO ASK NHTSA TO HELP ME VERIFY THE CONDITION OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL/REAR AXLE ON MY 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LX AWD TO SEE IF THE PART SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER OR UNDER POWER TRAIN. AS YOU CAN SEE YOUR PART SELECTION IS ALSO STATED POWER TRAIN: REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. I WAS HOPING FOR A RECALL THEN THAT WOULD BE GREAT OR CHECK AT THE PRICE POINT OF THE PART. IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE ($2400) JUST THIS PART ALONE. *NM
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB
WHEN CAR IS STARTED COLD AND PUT INTO REVERSE, FOOT APPLIED TO THE GAS, THERE IS A PERIOD OF HESITATION BEFORE IT GOES INTO GEAR. AFTER YOU REACH THE POINT TO PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE IT ONCE AGAIN HESITATES CAUSING A "JERKING" FEELING. THE CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN TWICE A MONTH FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL ON GOING. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE WITH CHRIS. HE WAS NO HELP EITHER. HE PROMISED ME OVER AND OVER THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE RESOLVED AND ONCE AGAIN NOTHING WAS DONE. I CONTACTED KEVIN AT THE FUCILLO IMPORT CENTER (THEY SOLD ME THE CAR) HE TOLD ME HIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT THEY NEVER ACTUALLY FIXED IT. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, SENSORS, VALVES AND OTHER NUMEROUS ITEMS ONLY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM TO REOCCUR. THE GENERAL MANAGER OFFERED TO TRADE ME INTO A USED VEHICLE FOR. I DECLINED. I HAVE PAID LOTS OF MONEY ON THIS CAR WHY WOULD I WANT MORE PROBLEMS??? SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS!! THE WINDOW PANELS HAVE PEELED NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL PEELED. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO THE BODY SHOP, I THINK THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN IN TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AND THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE BODY SHOP WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THE CAR WAS THERE. HENCE THEY WERE NEVER REPLACED. I HAVE TOLD MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOOKED INTO TO BUYING A HYUNDAI THAT THEY ARE NOT WORTH THE TIME, MONEY OR AGGRAVATION. I HATE MY CAR!! NEVER AGAIN WILL I DEAL WITH SUCH RUDE, UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE AGAIN! *AK
THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS JUMPING OUT OF GEARS, THE DEALER REPLACED A MODULE. *JB
CAR AT DEALER FOR REQUESTED ASSESSMENT OF FRONT END COMPONENTS UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR ON FRONT TIRES (RIGHT SHOWS INNER CORE -STEEL BELT? - COMING THROUGH ) UNSAFE TO DRIVE- THEY ARE 60,000 MILE TIRES -COMPANY REFUSES TO MAKE SURE IT ISN'T STRUCTURAL CONCERN- IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE SO IT WILL SIT AS LONG AS IT TAKES THEM TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHECKING THIS OUT. /TRANSMISSION REVS ENGINE TO IRRATIONAL #'S BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE LEAK.*AK
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY BETWEEN GEAR 2 AND GEAR 3. TRANSMISSON APPEARS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND GAINS 500RPM BEFORE SHIFTING. DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG AND CANNOT FIX. 8AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026