1997 Hyundai Elantra — Known Issues & Recalls

You noticed a fuel smell while your car was parked and found a crack on top of the fuel tank on the passenger side. You replaced the fuel tank, but it cracked again in the same spot. There's a known recall for this issue, but the manufacturer says they need the original part to perform the repair under the recall.

Your 1997 Hyundai Elantra failed an emissions test, and you noticed the check engine light was on and a strong gas smell coming from the vehicle. A mechanic found a crack in the fuel tank, which is causing the gasoline odor and emissions failure. Even though your car has the same problem as vehicles covered under a recall, your vehicle's identification number was excluded from that recall, so you'll need to pay for the repair yourself. The fuel tank will need to be replaced or repaired to fix this issue.

Your check engine light came on while driving at 30 mph. A mechanic discovered a crack in the upper fuel tank surface. Although your vehicle was subject to a recall in 2000 and was inspected at that time, the manufacturer says you're no longer covered because the inspection found nothing wrong then. Fixing this will likely require fuel tank repair or replacement.

You received a recall notice (00V095001) for your fuel tank, but your dealer refused to perform the recall repair. This is a safety-related recall that should be addressed at an authorized dealership.

Your car is experiencing fuel loss from the fuel tank. Although this vehicle wasn't included in the official recall (00V095001) for fuel tank failure based on its VIN, it's showing the same problem that recall was designed to address. This is a safety concern that should be inspected immediately. A mechanic will need to inspect the fuel tank for leaks and likely replace it.

Your check engine light has been turning on and off for over five months. The dealer found that a fuel tank leak was causing the problem. Even though your vehicle wasn't covered under a fuel tank recall campaign, the fuel tank was repaired at the dealer.

Your exhaust manifold has developed a crack, which your husband discovered at 98,600 miles. A cracked exhaust manifold can leak exhaust gases into the cabin during long drives, which may cause fatigue or health issues if you're unaware of the problem. The manifold will need to be replaced or repaired to prevent exhaust gas leakage.

Your check engine light came on while driving. The dealer found that the exhaust manifold has a crack at the weld and needs to be replaced. Replacing the exhaust manifold will involve removing it from the engine and installing a new one.

Your airbag failed to deploy during a collision at 40-45 mph, and your head struck the steering wheel, resulting in a concussion and ongoing injuries. There was no warning light before the crash. Hyundai inspected the vehicle after the accident but dismissed your complaint, claiming the car performed as designed—despite the airbag not deploying when it should have. The repair would likely involve replacing the airbag system and having a technician diagnose why the deployment sensor or electrical connection failed.

You were involved in a front-end collision when another vehicle turned left in front of you. Your front dual airbags failed to deploy during the crash, and you sustained serious injuries including pain and muscle strain in your arm, back, neck, and chest that required emergency room treatment. The airbag system should have activated on impact but did not, which is a critical safety failure. Diagnosis will require a complete airbag system inspection to determine why the sensors failed to trigger deployment.

While braking at 40 mph, your driver's seat suddenly slid forward, trapping your lower body under the steering wheel and preventing you from controlling the vehicle. This caused you to rear-end the car ahead, totaling your vehicle and injuring your neck and back. The seat failure happened without any prior warning signs.

Both rear seat belts on your 1997 Elantra stopped working about 6-8 months after purchase — the belts won't pull out from the retractor, even though there was no accident or damage. The dealer told you repairs would be at your own expense, and the manufacturer deferred to the dealer's decision. The seat belts remain non-functional. Fixing this will likely require replacing the seat belt retractor assemblies or the entire seat belt mechanisms.

You noticed a strong fuel smell coming from your car and the check engine light came on. Your dealer found a crack in the fuel tank that needs to be replaced. Even though Hyundai performed a fuel cap replacement and fuel system service under recall campaigns, the check engine light has stayed on for the past four years and the problem wasn't fully fixed. The fuel tank will likely need to be replaced to resolve the fuel odor and warning light.

Your check engine light came on and you noticed a fuel smell inside the car. You discovered fuel leaking from the fuel tank. Even though your vehicle wasn't included in a related recall, it's experiencing the same fuel system failure. The fuel tank or its seals will likely need to be inspected and repaired or replaced to stop the leak.

You were charged by Hyundai for a recall repair, but the dealership did not actually perform the recall work on your car. Your vehicle still has the original problem, and Hyundai has kept your money without fixing the issue. You may need to contact Hyundai corporate and request a refund along with the actual recall service being completed at no charge.

Your car was subject to a 2001 safety recall for excessive fuel pressure in the gas tank. You received a replacement gas cap in the mail as the fix, but the tank was never inspected for cracks or checked to verify whether the new cap actually solved the pressure problem. Getting the fuel system properly inspected and pressure tested by a mechanic may be necessary to confirm the issue is fully resolved.

Your transmission started slipping gears around 70,000 miles and eventually wouldn't go into reverse, even though you kept up with maintenance. After installing a rebuilt transmission, the same problem happened again just 9,000 miles later. This suggests a persistent transmission defect that may require diagnosis of the transmission fluid, filter, and internal components.

Your driver's side door latch broke and won't open, creating a safety concern since you're trapped inside the vehicle. The latch appears to fail prematurely on this model year, and repairs are expensive due to both the part cost ($93+) and labor required to force the door open. Fixing this will require replacing the door latch mechanism and possibly addressing any damage caused during forced entry.

You found online that your vehicle has two recall warnings: one for the windshield wiper motor and another for a possible fuel tank leak. You haven't had the vehicle serviced for these issues yet. Both recalls should be addressed by a dealer to prevent potential problems with your wipers and a possible fuel leak.

Your windshield wiper motor may not be working properly. Although a recall was issued in 1997 for this problem, your vehicle's VIN was marked as not included in that recall—even though you're experiencing the same issue. The wiper motor will need to be repaired or replaced.