2003 Hyundai Elantra recalls and problems

The 2003 Hyundai Elantra has 5 recalls and 234 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is suspension.

How the 2003 compares

Low

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 27 Elantra model years — 17th most.

5recalls

234complaints

42crashes

1fires

33injuries

62,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

5 recalls

Suspension

Apr 16, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V125000 · 160,904 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: The fracturing of the control arm could an owner's control over their vehicle that May increase the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THE FRACTURING OF THE CONTROL ARM COULD AN OWNER'S CONTROL OVER THEIR VEHICLE THAT MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the front lower control arms for corrosion damage. If specified levels of internal corrosion damage are found, the front lower control arms will be replaced with new front lower control arms incorporating additional holes in the upper and lower panels. If the front lower control arms do not require replacement, the dealer will add drainage holes to the front lower control arms and will treat the front lower control arms with rust-proofing materials to arrest the internal corrosion process. These procedures will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 17, 2009. Owners May contact the Hyundai customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.

Hyundai recall no. 091.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Fuel System

Jul 26, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V369000 · 919 vehicles

Problem: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity" a valve on the fuel tank assembly May not close properly. If a vehicle rolls over and the fuel tank assembly valve is not properly closed, fuel spillage May occur.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY" A VALVE ON THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE ROLLS OVER AND THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

Risk: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. The recall began on October 5, 2004. Owners should contact Hyundai de Puerto Rico at 1-800-981-0188.

Hyundai recall no. 066. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Fuel System

Apr 9, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V178000 · 263,968 vehicles

Problem: Some passenger vehicles contain a fuel tank assembly valve that May not close properly. If a vehicle with a fuel tank assembly valve that is not properly closed were to roll over, fuel spillage May occur.

Original NHTSA wording

SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

Risk: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. Owner notification began on June 30, 2004. Owners should contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

Hyundai recall no. 066. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Dec 3, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V496000 · 1,993 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the brake tubes for the rear brakes can contact the steering gearbox mounting brackets.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.

Risk: Contact between the rear brake tubes and the steering gearbox mounting brackets May result in rear brake tube wear and corrosion, increasing the risk of brake fluid leakage. Brake fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability, which could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS MAY RESULT IN REAR BRAKE TUBE WEAR AND CORROSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will reposition the rear brake tubes, install brake tube clips, and apply anti-corrosion material to the rear brake tubes. Owner notification began January 22, 2004. Owners should contact Hyundai of Puerto Rico at 1-800-633-5151.

Hyundai recall no. 061.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Jul 22, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V257000 · 312,292 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will reposition the rear brake tubes so they do not contact the mounting brackets, install brake tube clips to control the location of the rear brake tubes, and apply anti-corrosion material to the tubes in the areas where contact with the mounting brackets May have occurred. Owner notification began on October 13, 2003. Owners should contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

Hyundai recall no. 061.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine22

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS RUSTING

PE09011 · opened Feb 18, 2009 · closed Apr 21, 2009 · led to recall 09V125000

Summary

ON APRIL 14, 2009, HYUNDAI MOTOR CORPORATION SUBMITTED TO ODI A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT INDICATING THAT IT WOULD RECALL A SALT-BELT POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 155,317 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA VEHICLES TO REMEDY A DEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH WHILE DRIVING (09V-125).THE AFFECTED VEHICLES COVER ALL MY 2001, MY 2002, AND MY 2003 THROUGH JANUARY 13, 2003 PRODUCTION.THESE INCLUDE ELANTRA VEHICLES THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN.THE TOTAL THREE-YEAR PRODUCTION POPULATION FOR THE ELANTRA VEHICLES IS APPROXIMATELY 350,000. ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI, ROAD SALT CAN COLLECT IN THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND MAY RESULT IN INTERNAL CORROSION LEADING TO THINNING OF THE STEEL IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS.THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS TO THE POINT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM 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.THIS COULD AFFECT THE DRIVER'S CONTROL OVER THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY.HYUNDAI'S RECALL PROCEDURE INSTRUCTS DEALERS TO MEASURE THE THICKNESS OF THE STEEL IN THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL AR…

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

PE08017 · opened Mar 10, 2008 · closed Jul 10, 2008

Summary

IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 VEHICLES, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION AND AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT OR INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE.THE CONTROL MODULE IS LOCATED BENEATH AND NEAR CENTER CONSOLE CUP HOLDERS.ODI IS ALSO AWARE OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION DUE TO LOSS OF PROPER AIR BAG ELECTRICAL INTEGRITY IN WIRING AND CONNECTIONS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT SEATS.UNDER INVESTIGATION PE08-017, HYUNDAI PROVIDED 472 OWNER REPORTS AND 9,108 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THESE ISSUES FOR MY 2001 AND 2002 VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 12/14/2001.ODI IS ALSO AWARE OF SIX INCIDENTS OF SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER/AIR BAG INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENTS DUE TO LIQUID SPILLS.TO ADDRESS THE ABOVE ISSUES, ON 04/25/2001, HYUNDAI ADDED A CARPET COVER/SHIELD OVER THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AREA AND UPGRADED THE CABLE ROUTING AND ATTACHMENT POINTS TO IMPROVE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS ON VEHICLES BUILT AFTER 12/14/2008.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-012) FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF CERTAIN MY 2001-2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 12/14/2002.

2003 vs. other Hyundai Elantra years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Hyundai Elantra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Hyundai Elantra, the latest from Apr 16, 2009 (suspension). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Hyundai Elantra?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention suspension (61), air bags (48), structure (32). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.