1996 Hyundai ELANTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
41 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
92,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 41 complaints (17.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 14.6% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 12.2% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 4.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 2 |
| Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut | 2 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Structure:Body:Door: 2; Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 32 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 18 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2008 | 3 |
2000: 18; 2001: 7; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 5; 2008: 3
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10018409 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
HOOD LATCH RELEASED WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING HOOD TO SLAM BACK AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD AND TOTALLY OBSTRUCTING VISION WHILE ON MAIN ROAD. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED AND HOOD REPLACED. AUTO BODY OWNER FOUND LATCH, BOLTS, NUTS WERE ALL RUSTED. IN RECENTLY SPEAKING WITH HIM AGAIN HE MENTIONED THAT SHORTLY AFTER I HAD MY HOOD REPLACED HE HAD ANOTHER HYUNDAI ELANTRA COME IN THAT ALSO HAD RUSTED NUTS/BOLTS/LATCH. MY CAR IS A 1996 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 154,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019099 · 2003-05-22 (May 22, 2003)
TRANS. SLIPS. WHEN YOU RELEASE GAS PEDAL AT HIGH SPEEDS AND ATTEMPT TO REGAIN ACCELERATION TRANSMISSION DOES NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY,THERE IS AT LEAST A 5 SEC. PAUSE. I AM NOW GOING IN TO A SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSES DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER AND NO REVERSE GEAR PRESENT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041818 · 2003-09-29 (September 29, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL #00V095000. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST AS FAR AS SMELLING FUEL INSIDE VEHICLE. HAVE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND INFORMED WILL REPAIR BUT NOT FREE. PETERSBURG HYUNDAI [phone removed] IN VA. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041818 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045580 · 2003-11-06 (November 6, 2003)
I OWN A 1996 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. MY EX PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A USED CAR LOT. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR OVER 3 YEARS. ON MONDAY MORNING I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE DENTIST AND NOTICED A VERY LOUD "LOOSE BUMPING" SOUND..I KNOW THAT PROBABLY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE....UPON MY QUICK RETURN HOME I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER REAR TIRE (THE ENTIRE THING) SEEMED TO BE LOOSE AND WOBBLY...I HAD A FRIEND COME AND TAKE A LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. AFTER JACKING THE CAR UP, WITH THE CAR IN THE AIR AND THE TIRE STILL ON THE GROUND HE THOUGHT THAT THE STRUT WAS BRO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10045580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053366 · 2004-01-05 (January 5, 2004)
WHEN STARTING THE IGNITION TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CUT OFF. IT WOULD BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO RESTART VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053907 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE SHOOK HEAVILY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD, AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. DEALER INDICATED ONE OF THE SCREWS WHICH HELD THE STRUT FELL OFF. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053907 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061171 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR COLLISION. *LA THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067530 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 00V09002 CONCERNING FUEL TANKS, BUT NEVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. SIX MONTHS LATER CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RECALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE ALREADY. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT RECALL REPAIRS WAS NEVER PERFORMED BECAUSE HE NEVER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067530 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V095001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2000-03-28 (March 28, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS CAN APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. IF EXCESSIVE VACUUM IS APPLIED, MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION CAN RESULT. A SMALL CRACK COULD DEVELOP ON THE UPPER FUEL TANK SURFACE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER MAY NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗00V095002 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2000-07-21 (July 21, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS CAN APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. IF EXCESSIVE VACUUM IS APPLIED, MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION CAN RESULT. A SMALL CRACK COULD DEVELOP ON THE UPPER FUEL TANK SURFACE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER MAY NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V026000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
Reported: 1997-02-26 (February 26, 1997)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: THIS CONTAMINATION INTERFERES WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTINUITY AND PREVENTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROM OPERATING. INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗