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U.S. public vehicle records

Hyundai ELANTRA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

8,426 owner complaints analyzed

57 distinct recall campaigns

59,850 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1992 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 4,575 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,635 of 8,426 complaints (19.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1,46217.4%
Steering behavior1,24614.8%
Engine operation6677.9%
Electrical and battery issues5616.7%
Transmission and shifting4395.2%
Fuel system concerns1401.7%

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.

Engine
1,635
Steering
1,109
Air Bags
964
Electrical System
898
Unknown Or Other
807
Service Brakes
583
Power Train
446
Suspension
409
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine1635
Steering1109
Air Bags964
Electrical System898
Unknown Or Other807
Service Brakes583
Power Train446
Suspension409

Engine: 1,635; Steering: 1,109; Air Bags: 964; Electrical System: 898; Unknown Or Other: 807; Service Brakes: 583; Power Train: 446; Suspension: 409

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
1,145
25,000 to 49,999
815
50,000 to 74,999
892
75,000 to 99,999
722
100,000 to 149,999
767
150,000 and above
234
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001145
25,000 to 49,999815
50,000 to 74,999892
75,000 to 99,999722
100,000 to 149,999767
150,000 and above234

Under 25,000: 1,145; 25,000 to 49,999: 815; 50,000 to 74,999: 892; 75,000 to 99,999: 722; 100,000 to 149,999: 767; 150,000 and above: 234

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1,145). 3,851 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.

1995
56
1996
36
2000
107
2001
115
2002
104
2003
157
2004
214
2005
132
2006
85
2007
100
2008
165
2009
168
2010
201
2011
174
2012
185
2013
254
2014
415
2015
398
2016
405
2017
351
2018
485
2019
570
2020
484
2021
521
2022
540
2023
658
2024
657
2025
394
2026
295
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199556
199636
2000107
2001115
2002104
2003157
2004214
2005132
200685
2007100
2008165
2009168
2010201
2011174
2012185
2013254
2014415
2015398
2016405
2017351
2018485
2019570
2020484
2021521
2022540
2023658
2024657
2025394
2026295

1995: 56; 1996: 36; 2000: 107; 2001: 115; 2002: 104; 2003: 157; 2004: 214; 2005: 132; 2006: 85; 2007: 100; 2008: 165; 2009: 168; 2010: 201; 2011: 174; 2012: 185; 2013: 254; 2014: 415; 2015: 398; 2016: 405; 2017: 351; 2018: 485; 2019: 570; 2020: 484; 2021: 521; 2022: 540; 2023: 658; 2024: 657; 2025: 394; 2026: 295

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1,462 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1,246 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 667 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 959185 · 1995-01-26 (January 26, 1995)

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE, CALIPERS ARE DEFECTIVE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959185 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983880 · 1996-05-01 (May 1, 1996)

BRAKE FAILURE, IN FOR REPAIR, CLEAN AND ADJUST, AFTER IN WHICH PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983880 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 800457 · 1996-08-05 (August 5, 1996)

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 800457 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 973822 · 1995-10-24 (October 24, 1995)

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS, STEERING IS OFF CENTERED. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973822 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 963421 · 1995-04-07 (April 7, 1995)

VEHICLE WARMS UP EXPERIENCE STALLING AND RACING OF THE MOTOR, IN FOR REPAIR. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 963421 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 890251 · 2001-06-12 (June 12, 2001)

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY WEEK. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 5-6 TIMES FOR STALLING. MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL PUMP & SOME OTHER PARTS. PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK CONSUMER FOUND RECALL 94V09, HOWEVER THIS RECALL IS FOR 1994 MODELS AND CONSUMER OWNS A 1993, CONSUMER INFORMED DEALER OF THIS RECALL AND THEY STATED THAT CONSUMER WOULD STILL BE CHARGED FOR REPAIRS, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, HOWEVER STALLING STILL OCCURS. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 890251 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 885893 · 2001-04-13 (April 13, 2001)

WHEN TRYING TO USE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY WERE FROZEN WHILE SWITCH WAS ON, WAS UNABLE TO OPERATE THEM. INSTEAD OF BLOWING A FUSE, WIRING HARNESS GOT HOT AND BURNED ALL WIRES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 885893 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 974542 · 1995-11-03 (November 3, 1995)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING HARNESS FRONT UNDERHOOD FAILURE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974542 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 482223 · 1995-03-20 (March 20, 1995)

VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD IN DRIVE GEAR, ALSO DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482223 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 963677 · 1995-04-12 (April 12, 1995)

PURCHASE AS A DEMO HAS 900 MILES ON AND THE TRANSMISSION BLOW. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 963677 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 966207 · 1995-06-01 (June 1, 1995)

VEHICLE STALL OUT, REPLACE FUEL PUMP/FILTER/BREAK IN MAIN WIRE HARNESS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966207 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2010
3
2011
5
2012
4
2013
4
2014
2
2015
3
2016
2
2017
4
2018
0
2019
1
2020
3
2021
6
2022
5
2023
2
2024
1
2025
0
2026
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20103
20115
20124
20134
20142
20153
20162
20174
20180
20191
20203
20216
20225
20232
20241
20250
20261

2010: 3; 2011: 5; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 0; 2019: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 6; 2022: 5; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 0; 2026: 1

Year-by-year records

Hyundai ELANTRA model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
1992210Not available
1993900
1994362+2
1995621-1
1996413+2
19976530
1998340-3
19991082+2
20001971-1
20013156+5
200234260
20032345-1
200418250
20051374-1
20061551-3
20072666+5
20083147+1
20092524-3
20103793-1
20114325+2
20126524-1
20131,31240
20143822-2
20152613+1
20162922-1
20177654+2
20182810-4
20192501+1
20202483+2
20211296+3
20221005-1
2023972-3
2024531-1
2025210-1
202621+1