2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA Complaints

THE LATCH MECHANISM FAILED TO HOLD THE HOOD CLOSED AFTER A MINOR COLLISION. THE HOOD OPENED UP AND FLIPPED BACK UNTO THE WINDSHIELD, BREAKING THE GLASS, DAMAGING THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 40 MPH AT THE TIME. THE LATCH POPPED OUT FROM THE HOOD THUS RELEASING THE HOOD. THIS LATCH WAS REVITTED ON TO THE HOOD ON THIN SHEET METAL WHICH STRETCHED AND RELEASE THE LATCH. IT SHOULD BE NOTE THAT I WAS BLINDED WHEN THE HOD FLEW OPENED AND WAS LUCKY TO BE UNHURT. I LOOKED AT OTHER CAR LATCH AND THEY ARE OF A SUPERIOR DESIGN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HIT A DIP IN ROAD AND SEAT SEEMED AS THOUGH IT WAS FALLING BACKWARDS. ALSO, HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM SEAT. SEAT APPEARED TO BE LOOSE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH SEAT. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 35-45 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE HIT CONSUMERS DRIVERS SIDE DOOR UPON IMPACT, DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOYED. MINOR INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *YD

CAR WAS REARENDED BY A TRUCK AT APPROX 50MPH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IS THIS RIGHT. THE HUYNDAI WAS STOPPED AND A 1978 FORD PICKUP RAMMED THE BACKEND. I AM WONDERING IF THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED? THE HUYNDAI DID HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT AFTER BEING RAMMED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 TO 30 MPH ON A WET PAVEMENT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT HEAD-ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND MANUFACTURER SENT SOMEONE OUT TO LOOK AT VEHICLE.*AK

BRAKES ENGAGING AND OVERHEATING ON THE FREEWAY, INTERMITTENTLY; THIS MAY AFFECT THE ABILITY TO STOP QUICKLY ENOUGH IN AN EMERGENCY. DETAILS: SINCE THE BRAKES WERE FIRST SERVICED AT JUST UNDER 4,000 MILES, THERE IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES RANDOMLY ENGAGING BY THEMSELVES ON THE FREEWAY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ITS NOT SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STOP, BUT THE CAR AT TIMES WILL LABOR TO MAINTAIN SPEED. THE CAR ALSO PRODUCES A LOW PITCH HUMMING SOUND AND A STIFF VIBRATION (SHIMMY) IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES WHEN BARELY TOUCHED (AT THE TIME THIS PHENOMENON IS OCCURRING). AFTER A NUMBER OF MILES THE SYMPTOMS DISAPPEAR. THE FREQUENCY OF THIS EVENT IS ABOUT ONCE EVERY 100 TO 200 MILES. I BELIEVE THE HUMMING, STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, AND PULSATING FEELING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE IN AN OVERHEATED STATE DUE TO THE CALIPERS DRAGGING. HYUNDAI SERVICE IS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THIS PROBLEM, BUT I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS BECAUSE OF THEIR FAILURE TO SUFFICIENTLY ROAD TEST THE VEHICLE; I.E., THEY MAY HAVE TO ROAD TEST THE VEHICLE FOR 2 HOURS IN VARYING CONDITIONS, HOT WEATHER, MOSTLY FREEWAY TO REPLICATE. HYUNDAI, AFTER BEING GIVEN THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEMS ON TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE CALLS, HAS NEVER RESOLVED THE ISSUE (OF COURSE, MEANING THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM REMAINS A MYSTERY). I HAVE VIDEOTAPED THIS PHENOMENON, WHICH HAPPENS ABOUT 30 MINUTES INTO THE VIDEOTAPING SESSION. I AM WILLING TO MAKE COPIES AND SEND TO THOSE WHO FEEL VIEWING THE TAPE WOULD BE HELPFUL IN DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION. PLEASE ADVISE IF YOUD LIKE A COPY OF THE VIDEOTAPE, AND IF SO, WHERE IT SHOULD BE SENT. PLEASE E-MAIL AT: [email protected]. *AK

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THIS ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THEY HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED REPEATEDLY TO TALK TO SOMEONE WITH THE ABILITY TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.*AK

THE BREAKAWAY BOLT IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD NOT BEEN SEATED DURING ASSEMBLY AS A RESULT STEERING WAS NOT PREVENTED AFTER THE IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED AS PER THE VEHICLE'S OWNERS MANUAL , THE BOLT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE AND THE STEERING FUNCTION WORKED AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE WAS HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. WAS PUSHED ABOUT 400 FEET, SPUN AROUND AND HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER WITH PASSENGER FRONT. CONSUMER SUFFERED NERVE DAMAGE IN ONE LEG/ HIS WIFE HAD A BRUISED CHEST. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE LEAK.*AK