NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Hyundai Elantra. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
MVA 7/27/04 PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT TO MY CAR DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
BROUGHT 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA-JULY OF 2002-IN A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER LOSING 3 DAYS OF WORK DUE TO MY CAR STALLING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO START I WAS TOLD THE BATTERY WAS BAD, THEY PUT IN NEW BATTERY-IN A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR CAR DIE I WAS TOLD THE BATTERY WAS SHOT, THERE WAS A LOT OF WHITE BATTERY ACID ALL OVER THE BATTERY POST AND CABLES, AND WAS TOLD MY BATTERY CABLES WERE CORODED AND FRIED THE LENGTH OF THE CABLES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THEY ONLY HAD 1 CABLE IN STOCK, WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE TECH WHY NO CABLES IN STOCK HE SAID THEY DO ABOUT 5 OF THESE A DAY BECAUSE THE BATTERYS ARE THAT BAD. *AK
COMPLAINT REGARDING THE TETHER LOCKS ATTACHED TO THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR THAT HOLDS THE CAR SEAT.*MR WHILE TAKING A TURN, CONSUMER'S SON FELL OFF FROM CAR SEAT. UPON INSPECTION OF CONSUMER, IT WAS FOUND THAT TETHER LOCK WHICH HOLD CAR SEAT HAD BROKEN. *LA
WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE RPMS TEMPORALLY RACED AT A HIGH RATE. CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK *TC
ON THE EVENING OF 6/27, MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THERE WERE THREE OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND MY SON VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT (IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID HITTING THE DEER), RAN OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, AND INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE DID NOT ROLL OVER, BUT IT CAME TO REST ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE. THE TWO FRONT AND TWO SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A FIRE IGNITED (ALMOST IMMEDIATELY) IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA OF THE VEHICLE. ALL PASSENGERS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, AND THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, ALL WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT BECAME THOROUGHLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.THIS IS RELATED TO THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY RECALL 04V178000*AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO RECALL (04V178000) REGARDING THE FUEL TANK. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, HOWEVER THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH SEVERAL TREES. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB
WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WAS SO CLOSE TO THE ACCELERATOR THAT CONSUMER PRESSED BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK THE ENGINE WOULD EXCEED THE BRAKING POWER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SPEED UP INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKES HARDER WITH THE VEHICLE SPEEDING UP EVEN MORE. *SC THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL WERE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. *JB
THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR KEEP FAILING WHICH PREVENTS ME FROM DRIVING SAFELY OR DRIVING AT ALL. AS OF THIS DATE THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES NOW; TWICE ON EACH SIDE WITH THE LATEST OCCURRING THIS PAST WEEK. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP (ROWE, 207-854-2555) THAT HAS BEEN REPLACING THE LAMPS AND ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP FAILING. THEY SAID THEY DIDNT KNOW BUT INSINUATED THE LAMPS WERE CHEAP. HE THEN STATED THE DEALERSHIP WOULD CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE BULBS AT NO COST UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SITUATION. IF THE REAL PROBLEM IS AS SIMPLE AS THE LAMPS BEING DEFECTIVE OR CHEAP THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH A QUALITY PRODUCT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED.*AK
STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES @70 MPH. VIBRATION COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL VIBRATIONS CAN BE FELT IN FRONT AND REAR SEATS AS WELL.
CAR INVOLVED IN A COLLISON, AIR BAGS FAILED TO OPEN, DRIVER INJURED, CAR STRUCK ON PASSENGER SIDE, CAR WAS A TOTAL LOST. *JB
SEAT BELT FAILURE. *AK
THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED AND AS A RESULT FUEL LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NM *MR
WHILE DRIVING SUSPENSION BROKE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AT LEAST NINE TIMES. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECAL 03V496000 CONCERNING BRAKE WEAR/CORROSION: CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT RECALL REPAIRS. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE, BUT THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*AK *NM
BRAKES WORE OUT AT 5,568 MILES. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL PROCEDURE. *AK THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER'S TECHNICIAN RESURFACED BOTH REAR DRUMS AND ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. *NM
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE DEFECT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY ON 1/14/04. *TR
BRAKES ENGAGE UNEVENLY CAUSING THE REAR END OF CAR TO SWING TO THE LEFT ON SNOW OR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. THIS CAUSES LOST OF CONTROL. DEALER LOOKED AT CAR DURING SERVICING AND SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. *JB
CONSUMER IS HEARING A WHISTLING NOISE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ,AND HAD TO BE TOWED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN MY 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS BECAUSE THE MODULE GOT WET DUE TO COFFEE BEING SPILLED ONTO IT. THE SENSOR SITS SOMEWHERE UNDER THE CUP HOLDER. LIQUID CAN GET INTO IT VIA THE GEAR SELECTOR. DEALER SAYS THIS IS OWNER ABUSE AND WANTS $1200 TO REPAIR. TO ME, THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE EXPECTED THAT SOME LIQUID MAY SPILL FROM A CUP IN THE CUP HOLDER. EVEN IF WE REPLACE THE MODULE, SINCE IT IS NOT SEALED, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT SOMETHING WON'T SPILL ON IT IN THE FUTURE.*AK ABL.PCO
PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE BRAKE HOSE RECALL 03V257000 THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER MOTORIST. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THIS OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE CYLINDER, TURNED THE REAR DRUMS, AND ROUNDED OUT THE LETTER. THE SECOND AND THIRD TIMES THE DEALERSHIP ROUNDED OUT THE LETTER AGAIN. THIS WAS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION, AND THE NOISE CAME BACK EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB
BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE DRIVER BECAME COMATOSE. ATTORNEY FELT THAT THE BRAKE FAILURE COULD BE RELATED TO A BRAKE FLUID LEAK AS STATED IN RECALL 03V257000. *AK
ON BOARD COMPUTER FAILED TO DEPLOY AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DURING AN ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN INJURY TO MY NECK AND BACK. *LA
THE BRAKES FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER CRASHED THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SINCE SALT WATER WAS INVOLVED. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE CONSUMER AND THE MANUFACTURER IS IN DENIAL OF ANY BRAKE PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM THERE WAS ALSO OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING BRAKE FAILURE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM.*JB
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 TO 30 MPH AND GOING DOWN AND A CURB THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RESPOND AND REMAINED IN THE SAME POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER INTO ONCOMING TRUCK. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER, UNDER PUERTO RICAN LAW, VEHICLE WOULD BE RETURNED TO THE BANK IF DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
BRAKE PROBLEMS, CONSUMER DOESN'T EXACTLY THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER SELECTOR WAS SET ON FLOOR, AIR BLEW ON THE FLOOR AND WINDSHIELD, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP, OBSTRUCTING DRIVER'S VIEW. DEALER HAD INSPECTED VEHICLE SIX TIMES, AND DENIED THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER. CONSUMER APPLIED FOR LEMON LAW.*AK
BRAKES LOCKED UP AND SKIDDED FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 FT. AT BELOW SPEED LIMIT CAUSING REAR END COLLISION. CAR BUMPER WAS PUNCTURED BY TAIL PIPE OF VEHICLE IN FRONT AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES BRAKES WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE PISTON TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *AK *SC *JB
THE WEATHER STRIPPING ON THE FRONT DOORS ARE LOSING THE SEAL AROUND BOTH DOORS. CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT CARBON MONOXIDE MAY SEEP INTO THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE.*AK
AT LESS THAN 11,000 MILES, MY ELANTRA'S FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AND MACHINED. NEW BRAKE PADS WERE ALSO INSTALLED. NOW AT 22,000 THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED AGAIN AND ARE TOO THIN TO MACHINE AGAIN. THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WE FEEL THESE ARE DEFECTED FROM THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE OF THE ALLOY USED IN THESE ROTORS BEING POOR QUALITY. IF A DEALERSHIP HAS 40 ROTORS SETS IN STOCK, THERE MUST BE A HEAVY DEMAND FOR THESE. I AM IN PROCESS OF WORKING W/ HYUNDAI ON THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *NLM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES CONSUMER FELT VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND VEHICLE STARTED MOVING BACK AND FORTH ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. TWO PEOPLE WERE IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND HEAD BRUISES. VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP FIVE TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK *NM
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE PARKED THE ENGINE REVVED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TT *JB
VEHICLE "SURGES" TO VERY HIGH RPM WITHOUT WARNING. HAS BEEN TO DEALER X3 FOR REPAIR/ADJUSTMENT. LAST TIME AT DEALERSHIP 04-10-03 THE THROTTLE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. )N 05-02-03 "SURGING" OCCURRED AGAIN, CAUSING CRASH. ALSO VEHICLE PULLED VIOLENTLY TO RIGHT AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED, CAR SKIDDED PRIOR TO IMPACT EVEN WITH ABS BRAKES. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CRASH SPEED EST. AT 25-30 MPH. *JB
THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT WHEELS SHAKE ABOVE 65 MPH WHICH CAN ALSO BE FELT THROUGHOUT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I FEEL THE EXCESSIVE SHAKE COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS IN THE HYUNDAI SONATA HAD THEM BOTH REPLACED WITH LOW MILEAGE, PROBLEM IS BEING OVER LOOKED BECAUSE WITH THE 100,000 WARRANTY NOBODY EVER FILES A COMPLAINT , THEY JUST REPLACE THEM , THIS PROBLEM IS THERE ,REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT, LEFT FRONT, LOUD NOISE OCCURED AND GETS LOUDER HAS YOU DRIVE,
WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SLIDES FORWARD AND BACKWARD SLIGHTLY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS "NORMAL", BUT NONE OF MY PREVIOUS CARS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND, FRANKLY, IT MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE.*JB
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WHEN SHE HIT SOMEONE FROM BEHIND. ALL OF THE INJURIES FROM THIS ACCIDENT WERE MINOR, BUT THE REAR SEATBELT BECAME A MAJOR CONCERN. OUR GRANDSON, WHO IS ALMOST 2 YEARS OLD, WAS IN HIS CARSEAT IN THE BACK SEAT ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. HIS SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD HIS SEAT. HE AND THE CARSEAT WERE THROWN FORWARD AGAINST THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT. HE HAD SOME BRUISING ON HIS KNEE AND STRUGGLED TO WALK FOR A DAY OR TWO AND THIS SEEMS TO BE THE EXTENT OF HIS INBJURIES. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS HAD BEEN A MORE SERIOUS CRASH. I SPOKE WITH THE LOCAL DEALER, HUNTERS CHEVROLET, AND THEY GAVE ME SOME CRAP ABOUT SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. IT ALL DEPENDED ON THE AMOUNT OF ENERTIA THE CAR SEAT GENERATED WHEN IT FLEW FORWARD. THIS DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT OR SAFE TO ME. ALSO, I AM INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT WHY THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
VEHICLE WAS IN A SEVERE SIDE COLLISION, BUT THE SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY ON IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE FASTER. *JB
KNOCKING NOISE FROM REAR BRAKES. AFTER THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS I AM NOW BEING TOLD IT IS GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND SINCE I LIVE IN MAUI IT IS NOT ABNORMAL TO HAVE DIRT ON THE BRAKE PADS AND FOR IT TO MAKE THE KNOCKING NOISE. THIS GENERAL MAINTENANCE IS AT MY COST AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MONTHS. COULD END UP A MONTHLY EXPENSE. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE PROBLEM IF SO WHY ARE MORE CARS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. 3/2003 FRONT PADS GLAZED BEFORE I GOT HOME THE KNOCKING 3/2003 KNOCKING NOISE AND WINDOW PILLAR AROUND WINDOWS 5/2003 FOUND -IMPROPERLY FORMED BRAKE SHOES- REPLACED 5/28-29/2003 SHOE & LINING-IMPROPERLY FORMED BRAKE SHOES 6/5-6/6/2003 BAD SEALS -REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS ORDERED 6/23/2003 REPLACED BAD SEALS -REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS ORDERED 7/14-7/18/2003 PAINTED DOOR FRAMES DUE TO WARPING OF DOOR TRIM 10/13/2003 CLEANED BRAKE PADS 10/14/2003 NOISE IS BACK *LA
THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY ONCE EXTENDED.*JB
THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END SHAKES AT SPEEDS OVER 65 MILES/HR AND THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT IN THE CAR. *NLM
THE DRIVER SEAT WAS LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *JB SCC
I OWNED 1 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, IN WHICH I WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. MY CAR WAS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD WHEN THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN EQUIPPED WITH 4 AIRBAGS, WHICH INCLUDED HEAD PROTECTION. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 19, 2003. I WAS HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK, MAINLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, TO WHICH NONE OF THE 4 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HYUNDAI HAD BEEN CONTACTED, TO WHICH THEY CLAIM THERE WAS NO POSSIBLE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. I AM PERMANENTLY DISABLED DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT, WHICH LEFT ME WITH A BRAIN INJURY AS WELL AS NUMEROUS PERMANENT ISSUES. WE ARE WORKING WITH SENATOR TIMOTHY GRINDELL IN THE STATE OF OHIO, TO MAKE "ROAD RAGE" (WHICH HAD BEEN THE REASON FOR THIS ACCIDENT), IN TRYING TO MAKE ROAD RAGE A PUNISHABLE CRIME IN THE STATE OF OHIO. WE HAVE NOT BEEN COMPENSATED IN ANY WAY FROM HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, NOT EVEN ANOTHER VEHICLE, SINCE MY CAR HAD BEEN TOTALED. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE SINCE I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE EXACT PART THAT THEY FOUND TO BE FAULTY, IN THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I AM EAGER TO GET SOME KIND OF INFORMATION, WITH THE HOPES OF HELPING OTHERS IN THE FUTURE, IN THAT THESE CARS ARE UNSAFE, AND THAT HYUNDAI WILL NOT TAKE ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS CASE. I APPRECIATE ANY KIND OF HELP IN MY CASE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! *TR
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE HOOD BECAME UNLATCHED AND FLEW OPEN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM *TS