Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Hyundai Elantra, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags118
- Suspension81
- Structure28
- Steering24
- Electrical system21
- Service brakes, hydraulic21
- Engine and engine cooling19
- Visibility17
- Power train16
- Exterior lighting11
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 59 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 2001 Elantra vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Hyundai Elantra failed the safety check 1.38% of the time — 31% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 103,220 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
8 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 59 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 9.5 L/100 km (about 25 mpg US), CO₂ 219 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elantra · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.0 | 7.8 | 9.5 |
| Elantra · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.0 | 7.8 | 9.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra.
| 2009121 23 Apr 2009 | Suspension On certain vehicles operated in areas of heavy road salt usage (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador),… |
| 2008387 23 Oct 2008 | Airbag On certain vehicles, spilled liquid seeping through the console opening for the parking brake lever could contaminate the airbag control module connector that i… |
| 2004293 13 Aug 2004 | Brakes On certain non- ABS vehicles located in Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, after sustained exposure to temperatures belo… |
| 2003173 22 Jul 2003 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the rear brake tubes may contact the steering gear box mounting brackets resulting in rear brake tube wear and corrosion. Severe rear brak… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 160,904 MY 2001-2003 ELANTRA AND MY 2003 TIBURON VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT USED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN THESE JURISDICTIONS MAY RESULT IN INTERNAL CORROSION AND THINNING OF THE STEEL IN THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS TO THE POINT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM'S UPPER AND LOWER PANELS BECOME PERFORATED. A PERFORATED FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY FRACTURE BETWEEN ITS BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT AND THE FORWARD AND REARWARD PIVOT ATTACHMENTS TO THE CHASSIS.
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001 ELANTRA VEHICLES. IF A LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE AREA OF THE CUPHOLDER ON THE CENTER CONSOLE, IT MAY SEEP THROUGH THE CONSOLE OPENING FOR THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER AND THEN DRIP ONTO THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE SPILLED LIQUID MAY CONTAMINATE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND ITS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001-2002 ELANTRA VEHICLES. MOVEMENT OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS MOUNTED UNDER EACH FRONT SEAT, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY CONTACT FROM MATERIALS PLACED UNDER THE SEAT, MAY RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE THAT WOULD CAUSE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES PASS BEHIND THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER. TWO STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO THE CROSSMEMBER. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), THE REAR BRAKE TUBES COULD CONTACT BOTH STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS. ON VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES MAY CONTACT ONLY THE LEFT MOUNTING BRACKET. CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE STEERING BRACKETS COULD CAUSE WEAR AND CORROSION THAT COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM SIDE AIR BAG SATELLITE SENSORS INSTALLED WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED, CAUSING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Hyundai told its dealers about the 2001 Hyundai Elantra: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636888 | INFORMATION ON ADJUSTING MECHANICAL VALVES ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L 4-CYLINDER BETA ENGINE. *TT |
| 635821 | THIS TSB PROVIDES SHOP MANUAL CORRECTIONS FOR CAMSHAFT TIMING CHAIN TIMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 633922 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR SEAT BACK LATCH RELEASE BUTTON REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *JG |
| 633899 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER ATTACHING BOLT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. *JG |
| 633864 | SUBJECT REGARDING SPORTS RACK LOCK KEY PART NUMBER. *JG |
| 633785 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE HARSH AND/OR DELAYED SHIFTS. *JG |
| 633770 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE RPM FLUCTUATION - CRUISE CONTROL CABLE ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. *JG |
| 631851 | SUBJECT REGARDING 2.0 L MECHANICAL LASH ADJUSTER MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND SHOP MANUAL CORRECTIONS. *SLC |
| 631486 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE HARSH OR DELAYED PARK-REVERSE OR PARK-DRIVE ENGAGEMENT. *SLC |
| 631420 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES LIST. *YH |
| 631411 | INFORMATION REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES LIST. *YH |
| 629503 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A HARSH OR DELAYED PARK-REVERSE OR PARK-DRIVE ENGAGEMENT IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. *SLC |
| 628961 | EXPERIENCING A METALLIC GRINDING OR GROANING NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS OR WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE. *TT |
| 628959 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT BRAKE CALIPER RATTLE NOISE REPAIR KIT. *TT |
| 628956 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A 2-3 SHIFT FLARE CONDITION (ENGINE SPEED INCREASES DURING SHIFT). *TT |
| 627048 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE OIL DRAIN PLUG. *YD |
| 623960 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE SHOP MANUAL CORRECTION FOR IDLE SPEED ACTUATOR RESISTANCE CHECK. |
| 623003 | SUBJECT REGARDING FINAL DRIVE GEAR WHINE NOISE. *YH |
| 622963 | INFORMATION REGARDING SHOP MANUAL CORRECTION FOR IDLE SPEED ACTUATOR RESISTANCE CHECK. *YH |
| 622951 | CORROSION IN THE FRONT DOOR WIRING CONNECTOR. *YH |
| 622937 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FINAL DRIVE GEAR WHINE NOISE. *ET |
| 622395 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES BODY DIMENSIONS TO INCLUDE THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT DIMENSIONS FOR THE GT 5 DOOR MODEL. *TT |
| 622384 | SUBJECT REGARDING ELECTRICAL TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL (ETM) CORRECTIONS. *TT |
| 618386 | SUBJECT REGARDING ORANGE BUTTONS ON REAR SEAT BACK. THESE ARE INDICATORS FOR THE LOCATION OF CHILD SEAT ANCHORS MOUNTED BEHIND THE SEAT BETWEEN THE BACK AND CUSHION. *TT |
| 618343 | HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY DEALERSHIP STOCK / CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION SAFETY RECALL ON SPECIFIED VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE SRS SIDE AIRBAG SATELLITE SENSORS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS RUSTING
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation