U.S. public vehicle records

1999 Hyundai ELANTRA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

108 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

91,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 108 complaints (26.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	29	26.9%
Engine operation	23	21.3%
Electrical and battery issues	14	13.0%
Braking behavior	8	7.4%
Fuel system concerns	3	2.8%
Steering behavior	2	1.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Power Train

Electrical System:Wiring

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	29
Air Bags:Frontal	12
Electrical System	11
Engine And Engine Cooling	8
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	6
Power Train	6
Electrical System:Wiring	5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	4

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 29; Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Electrical System: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Power Train: 6; Electrical System:Wiring: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 6

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 59 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2012

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2000: 16; 2001: 18; 2002: 20; 2003: 9; 2004: 12; 2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2007: 6; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2012: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 29 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 23 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10001126 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)

UPON ACCELERATING, CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE SPEED STAYS AT 30 MPH NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001126 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10039879 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)

NAR 9-8-03. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER . THE DEALER FIGURED THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE FUEL DELIVERY RELATED AND ASKED PERMISSION TO PURSUE A REMEDY. THE DEALER REMOVED THE FUEL TANK AND FLUSHED THE FUEL LINES AND INJECTORS AND REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER IT OPERATED AS IT SHOULD. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 35,681 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039879 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024821 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL JERK AND ENGINE STALL. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024821 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10038607 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038607 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10103169 · 2004-11-22 (November 22, 2004)

AT 23,000 MILES A/C BURNED OUT, REPLACED AUTO TRANSMISSION, SPARK PLUG WIRING AND MANY LEAKS. FRONT END VIBRATING, TIRES AND BRAKE LINING FAILED. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKE SHOES FOR THE FRONT AND BACK DO NOT MATCH. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103169 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10185139 · 2007-03-15 (March 15, 2007)

I TOOK MY 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN TO OBRIEN AUTO PARK IN FORT MYERS SERVICE CENTER TO GET LOOKED AT AND FIXED. I HAD TROUBLE CODES THAT I HAD CHECKED PRIOR GOING THERE AT AUTOZONE THAT WERE CODES PO747, PO743, PO442. THE FIRST TO ARE CODES INVOLVING MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I VIEWED ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID THAT INVOLVED CODE PO747 WHICH STATES IT WAS IN THE STUCK ON POSITION! I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER ALL OF THIS THERE AND HE TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE SOLENOID AND THAT HE COULDN'T D…

Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185139 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10057408 · 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY WENT OUT. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED WATER SOMEHOW GOT INTO THE WIRES, BUT COULD FIND NO CRACKS IN THE LIGHT COVERS. ALSO, ENGINE OIL AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. DEALER MADE SOME REPAIRS, BUT THE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO STAY ON. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057408 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10063806 · 2004-03-24 (March 24, 2004)

I PURCHASED A USED HYUNDAI ELANTRA (1999). DUE TO CREDIT ISSUES I UNDERSTAND SO HAD A VERY SLIM CHOICE OF VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE I CHOSE HAD A "25 POINT INSPECTION" COMPLETED ON IT, AND IT IS IN "GREAT" SHAPE. WHEN I TOOK IT FOR TEST DRIVE I MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THE BRAKES GRINDING, AGAIN I WAS REASSURED BY LUVERT ALLEN THAT THIS "INSPECTION" HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. ONCE I GOT HOME I NOTICED MORE PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE BRAKES PADS ARE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063806 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10047838 · 2003-11-12 (November 12, 2003)

WHEN FUELING, THE PUMP SHUTS OFF APPROXIMATELY EVERY FIFTY CENTS OF GASOLINE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT A REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK MUST BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TROUBLE PUMPING GAS. VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCING JERKING UPON ACCELERATION AS WELL AS FREQUENT STALLING. REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT FUEL TANK MUST BE REPLACED.*MR

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047838 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10913774 · 2016-10-04 (October 4, 2016)

I HAVE A 99 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 4 DOOR. LAST WEEK THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. MORE SPECIFICALLY, I WAS AT THE TIME IN THE HARDEE'S DRIVE THRU WHEN THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO ROLL OUT OF THE DRIVE THRU AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW MECHANICS WHO SAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MELTED ALL OF THE STEERING COLUMN, DASH, CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE HEAT, AND OTHER FIRE DAMAGE. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND UNDRIV…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10913774 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 783878 · 2000-02-08 (February 8, 2000)

WHILE TEST DRIVING VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED TORQUE STEERING PROBLEMS UPON ACCELERATION, SALESPERSON STATED IT WAS NORMAL. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 783878 at NHTSA ↗