2001 Hyundai Elantra — Known Issues & Recalls

While driving at 18 mph, you heard an unusual noise and discovered that the control arm had separated from the driver's side suspension. Your vehicle had to be towed home. When you took it to a dealership, they refused to perform the recall repair, saying they needed manufacturer approval first, which delayed getting your car fixed.

Your car was subject to a recall for front control arms that can corrode and break due to water and salt exposure in snowbelt states. Hyundai's repair involved drilling a drainage hole and treating the arms rather than replacing them, but the control arm broke anyway despite this repair. The owner notes that if this had happened at highway speeds instead of low speed, it could have caused serious injury or death. Hyundai says the recall repair resolved the issue, but the owner believes full replacement of the control arms should have been done initially.

Your car is making a loud humming noise from the front passenger side when driving straight or turning right, but the noise stops when turning left. A certified mechanic diagnosed that the control arm and ball joint have failed and need to be replaced. The mechanic noted this failure is related to a suspension recall campaign, though your vehicle wasn't included in that recall. Replacing the control arm and ball joint will require removing the suspension components and installing new ones.

While driving at 25 mph, your rear control arm suddenly fractured and broke due to rust and corrosion from moisture exposure. Your car became undrivable and had to be towed. The manufacturer was notified but offered no fix or replacement. Fixing this will require replacing the corroded rear control arm and inspecting the suspension for other rust damage.

Your front driver side lower control arm fractured, causing you to safely park before a complete failure. The dealer found that your front passenger side lower control arm is also rusting and at risk. The fix will involve replacing the fractured control arm and likely addressing the rusted passenger side component before it fails.

Your airbag warning light turns on and off while you're driving. This indicates a problem with your airbag system that needs professional diagnosis. A mechanic will need to scan your vehicle's computer to identify what's triggering the warning.

Your airbag warning light came on and stayed on even after the dealership completed a recall repair (campaign 08V532000) that was supposed to fix it. The manufacturer has been notified that the repair didn't work. The issue may involve replacing the airbag control module, sensor, or wiring harness.

All four of your car's windows suddenly stopped working at the same time with no warning. This prevents you from opening windows in an emergency or to cool down the vehicle, which can lead to dangerously high interior temperatures. The owner reports this is a common problem with this model and caused heat exhaustion during a doctor visit. The fix will likely involve diagnosing and repairing the window motor control system or electrical switch.

Your headlights and dashboard warning lights are flickering on and off while you drive at night, and all four windows have stopped working completely. A mechanic found that a fuse, wiring, and door switch have failed and need replacement to restore normal operation.

Your car's power door locks are experiencing electrical problems. You're experiencing multiple interconnected electrical and engine issues that are affecting basic vehicle operation and making the car unsafe to drive.

Your brakes suddenly locked up while driving, forcing you to coast nearly half a mile before you could safely pull over. When you stopped, the brakes were smoking around all four wheels and the front driver's side brake actually caught fire. You also notice rust damage on the front control arms, an oil leak from the valve cover into the spark plug area on cylinder 3, and a weak clutch that occasionally slips. The brake system will need immediate professional inspection and repair, including checks of the brake booster, brake lines, and calipers.

Your airbag warning light is on even though your car has never been in an accident. This makes you uncertain whether your airbags will actually deploy if you get into a crash, and it's also preventing you from getting full-coverage insurance. The light came on while the vehicle was parked, and the cause is unknown. This will likely require diagnostic testing to identify the airbag system fault and may involve replacing faulty airbag sensors or wiring components.

Your brakes aren't working properly — you have to pump the brake pedal multiple times to get your car to stop completely. You're also hearing abnormal noise from the front suspension, your check engine and airbag warning lights are on, and your fuel door is refueling very slowly. The brake system will likely need inspection and repair, the suspension components may need replacement, and the engine and fuel system will need diagnostic testing.

Your car's frame has rusted significantly, causing the vehicle to swerve while driving. The rear suspension has become detached from the frame as a result of this rust damage. This is a serious structural issue that affects your ability to control the car safely. Fixing this will likely require professional frame repair or replacement and suspension reattachment.

Your front driver's side seat belt won't retract properly, making it difficult to secure. This means the belt may not hold you safely in place during sudden stops or accidents. The vehicle hasn't been diagnosed or repaired yet. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the seat belt retractor mechanism or the entire seat belt assembly.

Your car suddenly accelerated on its own as you were leaving a driveway, and you were unable to stop it, resulting in a crash into a house across the street. This indicates a potential problem with your vehicle's speed control or engine system that caused unintended acceleration. The issue should be diagnosed by a mechanic to check the throttle control system, accelerator pedal, and engine management computer for faults.

While turning out of a parking lot, you heard a clicking noise and your car started swaying side to side so severely it almost flipped with you and a child inside. The car became extremely hard to steer, and you had to drive it carefully to safety. A Hyundai dealer inspection found the subframe was rusted, and while this model was recalled for front subframe issues, the dealer is refusing to fix it under warranty and is charging $1,200 for the repair instead.

Your rear passenger side tire blew out while the car was parked in your driveway. You also noticed cracks on the lower sidewalls of your front driver, front passenger, and rear driver side tires. The tires were Dextero Touring DTR1 size 195/60R15 88H, and the failure occurred at 15,000 miles. You'll likely need to replace all four tires to ensure safe driving.

While driving at 50 mph, your airbag warning light suddenly came on without any warning. At the same time, you noticed a rumbling noise and the vehicle jerked to the right. A mechanic diagnosed that your lower control arm needs to be replaced, which is likely causing both the suspension noise and the vehicle pulling to one side.

When you accelerate from a complete stop, your transmission jerks and your steering wheel briefly locks up. This problem happens repeatedly. The vehicle hasn't been diagnosed or repaired yet. A mechanic will need to inspect both your transmission and power steering system to identify what's causing the steering lockup and transmission jerking.