2003 Hyundai ELANTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
234 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
61,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 168 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 234 complaints (14.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 57 | 24.4% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 9.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 3.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 33 |
| Air Bags | 28 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 15 |
| Steering | 15 |
| Structure:Body | 13 |
| Suspension:Front | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm | 12 |
Suspension: 33; Air Bags: 28; Air Bags:Frontal: 15; Steering: 15; Structure:Body: 13; Suspension:Front: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 12; Suspension:Front:Control Arm: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 30 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 33 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 28 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 30; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 33; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 28; 150,000 and above: 11
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 66 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2004 | 30 |
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
2002: 1; 2003: 26; 2004: 30; 2005: 19; 2006: 6; 2007: 11; 2008: 20; 2009: 26; 2010: 27; 2011: 8; 2012: 5; 2013: 9; 2014: 13; 2015: 8; 2016: 7; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 6; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 3
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 57 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 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 10002250 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 01/02/03. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER NOTICED CAR WAS CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO THE THROTTLE PEDAL. CONSUMER DECIDED TO PULL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE AND RPM INCREASED. CONSUMER APPLIED PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW VEHICLE TO A STOP AND TURNED OFF IGNITION. CAR CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED BY DEALER. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 117 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037710 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HESITATED TO ENGAGE. THIS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE PARKING, AND VEHICLE RAN INTO A BUILDING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071788 · 2004-06-29 (June 29, 2004)
THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO FILE A CLAIM WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE FLOOR MAT BEING UNDER THE BRAKE/CLUTCH. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR OR REVERSE BECAUSE A BOLT HAD LOOSENED AND TRAVELED UP THROUGHOUT THE GEARS AND WAS REMOVED BY THE DEALER. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097863 · 2004-10-27 (October 27, 2004)
BRAKES FAILED, AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 35 MPH. STEERING FAILED, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS. RECALL 03V496000 WAS ISSUED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 14,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021082 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
WE GET A WIND NOISE WHEN DRIVING INTO THE WIND AND OTHER MISC TIMES. NOISE SOUNDS LIKE AN ALARM CLOCK WITHOUT THE PAUSES IN TONE. IT SOUNDS TO BE EMINATING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, WINDSHEILD, OR THE DOORS. THE DEALER THINKS ITS THE DOOR SEALS. WAITING TO SEE. BEEN TO THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM NOW! 1ST TIME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, COULDN'T DUPLICATE, SECOND TIME THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, ORDERED DOOR SEALS. 3RD TIME THEY GOT THE WRONG DOOR SEALS, FORTH TIME, THEY GOT ONE WRONG DOOR SEAL AGAIN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118404 · 2005-04-25 (April 25, 2005)
I OWN A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT FROM A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE UNTIL 3/10/05 I HAD BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO MOTOR WORLD (WILKES-BARRE, PA) FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ON".ONE TIME THE SERVICE GUY TOLD ME TO JUST PUT BLACK TAPE OVER THE LIGHT AND I WILL NOT SEE THE LIGHT .THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR I HAD IT SERVICE EVERY 3,000 MILES FOR OIL CHANGES AND 1 TIME FOR TIRES / BRAKES. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL SERVICES. ON SUNDAY NIGHT 3/20 I WAS DRIVING MY MOTHER AND 10 YEAR OLD BROTHER HOM…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089829 · 2004-08-26 (August 26, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HESITATED AND SLOWED DOWN, THEN IT STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135033 · 2005-09-01 (September 1, 2005)
MY FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 40 MILES FROM HOME ON THE HIGHWAY ON A DAY THAT WAS NEAR 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE. WHEN PICKING MY CAR UP 4 DAYS LATER (BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK) I FIND OUT THAT THE PART WAS A RECALLED PART ON MY CAR. I ASKED THE SERVICE PERSON WHY I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS AND HIS RESPONSE WAS THAT THE RECALL WAS "ONLY IN COLORADO". KEEP IN MIND THAT CHEYENNE WYOMING IS ONLY 10 MILES FROM COLORADO AND OFTEN DEALERS IN CHEYENNE GET THEIR CARS FROM COLORADO. I AM A CONSULTANT AND I TRAVEL ACROSS TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252631 · 2008-12-23 (December 23, 2008)
I PURCHASED MY CAR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. NOT LONG AFTER PURCHASE, THE ENGINE LINE LIT UP. I NOTICED WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE RPM'S DROPPED AND THE CAR WOULD SPUTTER. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. HE CHECKED THE CAR BY COMPUTER AND FELT IT NEEDED 2 SENSORS. I LET HIM REPLACE THESE. 2 DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR THE SAME ISSUE BEGAN OCCURRING AGAIN. THIS TIME, WHEN I STOPPED AS FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR WOULD STALL, ALL WARNING LIGHTS WOULD GO ON, AND IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF TRIES TO START. ALSO, I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT ARNOLD HYUNDAI IN ROSEVILLE, MI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10252631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189043 · 2007-04-26 (April 26, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE AND DIAGNOSED IT AS THE AIR BAG SENSOR. APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES LATE, THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, CURRENTL YTHE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO ACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY, THE VOLUME INCREASED, AND CERTAIN LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE AIR CONDITIONER CONTROLLER LIGHTS, FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED . IN ADDEITION, T…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189043 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205851 · 2007-10-16 (October 16, 2007)
ON MARCH 4, 2006 I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH 33,855 MILES FROM BUHLER & BITTER DODGE LOCATED ON ROUTE 35 IN HAZLET, NEW JERSEY. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I WAS ADVISED THAT ALL USED CARS ARE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLES AND ARE PUT THROUGH A 135 POINT CHECK PRIOR TO BEING PUT ON THE LOT. THE HYUNDAI THAT I PURCHASED PASSED THIS 135 POINT CHECK AND STILL HAD THE REMAINDER OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY WHICH WAS 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. THE BALANCE OF THIS WARRANTY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW OWNER. THE CAR RAN GREAT AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,448 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205851 at NHTSA ↗