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2001 Hyundai Elantra Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 315 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Hyundai Elantra, most often about the air bags (38% of complaints, typically around 62,000 miles). It is 8th of 27 Elantra model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2001 Hyundai Elantra problems
Air bags
118 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 62,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
Head on collision which resulted in fracture of c-spine. The driver air bag failed to deploy. This may have increased the severity of the injury. Vehicle is now under investigation by insurance companies and legal counsel.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 50 MPH, the contact was forced off the road and crashed into a steel pipe. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts failed to properly restrain. The driver sustained crack ribs and bruises to the chest. As of october 1, 2007, the dealer and manufacturer had…
Suspension
81 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 86,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Traveling less than 25 MPH I applied brakes to avoid a pedestrian running across traffic. After stopping vehicle was difficult to steer and made loud grinding noise. I was able to get out of the traffic flow. Vehicle was towed to service station. Repair was made to the left front control arm that rusted through and…
During normal driving conditions at approx 40 MPH my wife's Hyundai Elantra's passenger side front wheel popped and began rubbing the back of the wheel well. Luckily she was able to avoid other vehicles and continue about one block into a repair shop lot. It was determined that the control arm had rusted through and…
Brakes
30 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, antilock, slack adjusters.
While driving at 30 MPH driver applied the brakes and they failed. Vehicle took longer to stop,and it rear ended another vehicle. Prior to the accident, consumer called the dealer to verify if NHTSA recall 03v25700 concerning ABS failure applied to her vehicle. Dealer denied it. Three weeks after the accident consumer…
It is back at earnhardts, for the elec. System again 4th time. It started in 3/02 and went out again last fri. 6/6/03 but they don't consider it a problem. Because I filed a lemon law on the previous accent and replaced it with the Elantra 2001 and I filled out a survey saying they had bad customer service, the normal…
Body and structure
28 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact noticed that the vehicle had begun to fish tail. The contact inspected the rear sub frame and discovered that the frame was fractured and exhibited excessive corrosion. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic…
Took 2001 Elantra to dealer as a result of low brake fluid. Dealer discovered vehicle unsafe to drive and irreparable due to corrosion of rear cross member and/or "spud". It is our understanding that this corrosion occurred in the area where brake fluid was leaking. It has been suggested that the problem is due to…
Steering
24 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 49,500 miles. Parts named most often: steering wheel/handle bar, gear box (other than rack and pinion), column, rack and pinion.
Numerous problems with vehicle since day one. Power steering pump replaced one month after purchase. Tcm module replaced in transmission at 3 months. Alternator and battery replaced at 10 months. Another power steering pump at 40000 miles. Steering rack at 41k miles. Car has not been properly aligned since steering…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal extended to the floor when it was depressed. The brakes were pumped several times before the vehicle came to a complete stop. A small amount of smoke appeared underneath the hood. The air bag and engine warning lights…
Engine
23 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle had numerous failures and was purchased brand new from a Hyundai dealer. Initially, the vehicle was pulling hard and the dealer stated that there was nothing wrong; however, they replaced the spark plugs at that time. The failure persisted and…
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra with 73000 miles. The contact was driving about 10 MPH when he noticed the engine had started knocking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was told that the engine had failed. The contact also stated that he had to replace tire on the front passenger side several different…
Electrical
21 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery, alternator/generator/regulator, ignition.
When the consumer rolled down the windows, they failed to come back up, the consumer was informed the wiring harness from the window regulator was bad, and there was extensive electrical wiring damage which had corroded over time. Also the rear defroster was inoperative. . The consumer also noticed the dash lights no…
1. Daughter driving car on highway when electrical components such as radio, door locks and interior lights stopped working and door chime rang continuously. On jan 22, 2005 she started car, driver's side rear window went down by itself and electrical windows and other interior electrical components stopped working.…
Visibility and wipers
17 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system, power window devices and controls, windshield, windshield wiper/washer.
When the consumer rolled down the windows, they failed to come back up, the consumer was informed the wiring harness from the window regulator was bad, and there was extensive electrical wiring damage which had corroded over time. Also the rear defroster was inoperative. . The consumer also noticed the dash lights no…
The ball joints cracked which caused the front left tire to become detached from the vehicle while driving approximately 70 MPH on the freeway. The consumer contacted the manufacturer but they have not done anything about the issue. The vehicle's TCM/ECM software failed which caused the transmission to slip/surge…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Hyundai Elantra recalls
Suspension: control arm
Risk: The fracturing of the control arm could an owner's control over their vehicle that may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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, 20
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk: This condition may affect the driver and passenger frontal air bags and may prevent air bag deployment during a crash where such deployment should occur. Non-deployment of the SRS air bags may increase the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger under certain crash conditions.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk: This condition only relates to the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bags and may prevent seat mounted side impact air bag deployment during a crash where such deployment should occur. Non-deployment of the SRS air bags may increase the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger under certain crash conditions.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: Contact between the rear brake tubes and the steering gearbox mounting brackets may result in rear brake tube wear and corrosion, increasing the risk of brake fluid leakage. Brake fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability, which could result in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the brake tubes for the rear brakes can contact the steering gearbox mounting brackets.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: Fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: side/window
Risk: Non-deployment of the side air bags could increase the risk of injury during a crash where side air bag deployment is intended.
Fix: Dealers will replace the two satellite sensors.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Front lower control arms rusting
Summary
On april 14, 2009, hyundai motor corporation submitted to odi a defect information report indicating that it would recall a salt-belt population of approximately 155,317 model year (my) 2001 through 2003 hyundai elantra vehicles to remedy a defect that can result in loss of vehicle control with an increased risk of a crash while driving (09v-125).the affected vehicles cover all my 2001, my 2002, and my 2003 through january 13, 2003 production.these include elantra vehicles that were originally sold or currently registered in connecticut, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york,
Air bag light illumination
Summary
Hyundai is conducting two safety recalls to correct two safety defects described below.under safety recall 08v-532, hyundai will install a vinyl protective shield/cover to prevent short circuits in the air bag control module cause by spills of liquids that seep into the module connector. This action applies to 78,369 my 2001 vehicles (built through 4/26/2001).the air bag control module connector in my 2001 vehicles built after 4/26/2001 is covered by the carpet.to improve the integrity of the side impact air bag wiring harness under the driver and front passenger seats, hyundai will install new clips and revise the wiring harness attachments under safety recall 08v-533.this applies to 150,54
Air bag light illumination
Summary
In certain model year (my) 2001 and 2002 vehicles, the air bag system is susceptible to air bag light illumination and air bag non-deployment or inadvertent deployment from liquid contamination of the air bag control module.the control module is located beneath and near center console cup holders.odi is also aware of complaints regarding air bag light illumination due to loss of proper air bag electrical integrity in wiring and connections located under the front seats.under investigation pe08-017, hyundai provided 472 owner reports and 9,108 warranty claims related to these issues for my 2001 and 2002 vehicles built through 12/14/2001.odi is also aware of six incidents of seat belt pretensi
Questions about the 2001 Hyundai Elantra
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Hyundai Elantra?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (118 complaints, typically around 62,000 miles); suspension (81 complaints, typically around 86,000 miles); brakes (30 complaints, typically around 42,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Hyundai Elantra have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 16, 2009 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Hyundai Elantra?
- It is 8th of 27 Elantra model years by number of complaints, with 315 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.