1999 Hyundai ELANTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
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: . 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.
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.
| 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.
| 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10011779 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)
THE HORN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014294 · 2003-04-12 (April 12, 2003)
JUNE 2001 AUTOMATIC POWER WINDOW DRIVER SIDE STABILIZER REPLACED, ALSO SAME MONTH AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015276 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING 35-40 MPH THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE SHOULDER BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED FROM THE ACCIDENT. THE OWNERS ARE AWARE OF (4) SIMILAR CASES OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT FAILURE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022036 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONSUMER'S, AND CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022036 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 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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V259001 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2000-09-11 (September 11, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SOME SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES AND ALL ELANTRA MODEL VEHICLES MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW-SPEED ENGINE STALLING, WHICH COULD OCCUR IF THE MAF (MASS AIR FLOW) SENSOR ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IS INTERRUPTED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE VIBRATION TRANSMITTED TO THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V178000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1999-07-07 (July 7, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE SEALS DO NOT REMAIN SUFFICIENTLY ELASTIC, RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN REDUCED PRESSURE APPLICATION TO THE CLUTCHES, BRAKE, AND KICKDOWN SERVO, ALLOWING THEM TO SLIP.
Consequence: SUCH SLIPPAGE CAN CAUSE PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE FRICTION ELEMENT SURFACES AND COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE, OR NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED, WHEN THE DRIVER PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗