2002 Hyundai ELANTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
342 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 243 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 342 complaints (11.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 54 | 15.8% |
| Steering behavior | 32 | 9.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 4.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 2.6% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 40 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm | 29 |
| Suspension | 27 |
| Suspension:Front | 27 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 22 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 |
| Steering | 16 |
| Structure:Body | 13 |
Air Bags: 40; Suspension:Front:Control Arm: 29; Suspension: 27; Suspension:Front: 27; Air Bags:Frontal: 22; Fuel System, Gasoline: 19; Steering: 16; Structure:Body: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 41 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 38 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 50 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 39 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 58 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 50; 75,000 to 99,999: 39; 100,000 to 149,999: 58; 150,000 and above: 17
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (58). 99 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2003 | 39 |
| 2004 | 34 |
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 41 |
| 2010 | 51 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2001: 3; 2002: 16; 2003: 39; 2004: 34; 2005: 22; 2006: 17; 2007: 11; 2008: 24; 2009: 41; 2010: 51; 2011: 19; 2012: 13; 2013: 9; 2014: 15; 2015: 14; 2016: 7; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 54 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 15 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 10004487 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
VEHICLE BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY SQUEAL, WHEN THEY ARE DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PADS ARE NOT WORN PER THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, CAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE CAUSE OF THE SQUEALING NOISE IS UNKNOWN. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016248 · 2003-04-21 (April 21, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016375 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023580 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END SHAKES AT SPEEDS OVER 65 MILES/HR AND THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT IN THE CAR. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079050 · 2004-06-30 (June 30, 2004)
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 TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091762 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013885 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
DEALER ATTEMPTED MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIX GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEMS. ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS. SOMETIMED WON'T SHIFT AT ALL. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON DURING PROBLEM BUT GOES AWAY BEFORE I CAN GET TO THE DEALER.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040038 · 2003-09-16 (September 16, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STUCK BETWEEN GEARS, AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086351 · 2004-08-07 (August 7, 2004)
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 SAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132566 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)
MY CLOCK IN THE DASHBOARD BLINKS AND LOSES TIME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WIRING HARNESSES IN THE DOORS OF THE CAR HAD CORRODED AND CAUSED SHORTAGES OCCASIONALLY IN THE DASHBOARD. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD AFFECT THE CLOCK, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, AND POSSIBLY THE HEADLIGHTS. WE HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON AFTER THEY WERE TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE COST OF THIS JOB WOULD BE $900. I'M JUST VERY CONCERNED THAT I WILL BE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND MY HEADLIGHTS OR DASH…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118831 · 2005-05-02 (May 2, 2005)
MY 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK WHICH DRIPPED JUST BEHIND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. ASSOCISTED WITH THIS PROBLEM THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL AND DIE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM INVESTIGATED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE LEAK COULD HAVE BEEN A RESULT OF MY OVERFILLING THE FUEL TANK. I HAD JUST REFULED THE CAR BUT DID NOT "TOP-OFF" THE TANK DURING THE PROCESS. SINCE I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR HAS OVER 100,000 MILES, I FEEL THAT I KNOW HOW TO PUT GAS IN IT BY NOW. THE FOLLOWING HYUNDAI PART#S W…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,883 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118831 at NHTSA ↗