2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA Complaints

BOUGHT A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA- NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM HYUNDAI OR THE DEALER OF ANY RECALLS-THESE RECALLS WERE DANGEROUS AND I DRIVE A HANDICAP GENTLEMAN TO AND FROM WK. 5 X WEEK- I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD BOUT 25-30 MILES SWERVED (VERY SHARP) DIDN'T THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUCH A SHARP TURN- ANYWAY SWERVED FROM HITTING A DEER- SO I DID ACCELERATE AND ENDED UP WITH A DIRECT FRONT HIT- CAR IS TOTALED- ACTUALLY LOST A PIECE OF WHAT HOLDS THE ENGINE UP THE BOLT IS BROKEN IN HALF-HOOD OF CAR CAN NOT BE OPENED - IMPACT THROUGH MY NECK AND BACK OUT- NO AIRBAGS. *TR

CK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 3 TIMES TOOK IT TO DEALER SAID NO PROBLEMS JUST NEEDED TO RESET CODES??? ABOUT 2 YRS. LATER WAS DRIVING IN MY 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN SEPT. OF 2009- A VERY HOT DAY101-WITHOUT WARNING NO TEMP LIGHTS (NOTHING) I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AT FIRST THOUGHT MAYBE HEAT WAVES- THEN CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER-PULLED OVER (VERY DANGEROUS) DUE TO LOOSING POWER ON THE HIGHWAY QUICKLY WITH MANY PEOPLE DUE TO FRI.-LABOR DAY WEEKEND 5PM- ANYWAY PULLED OVER TO SEE THAT CAR WAS SMOKING (WHITE SMOKE) ENGINE WAS SO HOT IT MELTED THE RADIATOR-WENT TO DEALER (BILL DUBE HYUNDAI) SAID WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT- BECAUSE CAR ENGINE WAS SEIZED AND DID NOT WORK PLUS THAT FACT THAT I STILL OWED SO MUCH MONEY ON BANK LOAN THEY COULD NOT POSSIBLY TRADE IT IN-SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND RADIATOR AND STILL PAY BANK LOAN. *TR

2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, 138,000 MILES. WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 9/18/10, SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SMELL (BURNING), WHITE SMOKE FROM ENGINE, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TEMP GAUGE SHOWED EXTREMELY HOT - NO WARNING BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. MECHANIC SAYS PROBLEM WAS CLAMP IN RADIATOR THAT EITHER CORRODED OR SOMEHOW CAME OFF. RESULT IS THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS DAMAGED, AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT. MY CONCERNS ARE (1) THIS SEEMED TO HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING. THERE WAS NO LEAK OR SYMPTOMS OF PROBLEMS BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WAS IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. (2) WE HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. SAME SCENARIO - DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ENGINE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSED MUCH ENGINE DAMAGE. AT THAT TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO FIGHT FOR SOME WARRANTY COVERAGE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. NOW, WE ARE WELL PAST THE LIMITS OF THE WARRANTY. I JUST FIND IT EXTREMELY STRANGE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN TWICE TO THE SAME VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE AXLE FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED OF A POTENTIAL RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V125000-SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM). THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL AND ANY FURTHER REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,540.

AFTER DRIVING MY 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS ABOUT 60 MILES ON AUG. 18, 2010 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED AT A SHOP AND WAITED UNTIL THE NEXT DAY FOR THE PURGE VALVE AND THE CONTROL VALVE (BOTH ACQUIRED DIRECTLY FROM THE MANUFACTURER) TO BE REPLACED. 2.5 HRS LATER, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, MY CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING DESPITE MY REPEATEDLY HITTING THE BRAKE. I PUT THE CAR INTO N, PULLED UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE & CONTINUED TO REV/ACCELERATE UNTIL I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND CRUISED INTO AN EMPTY INTERSECTION. ABOUT A MINUTE LATER, I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND WAITED TO SEE IF I COULD FEEL OR HEAR ANYTHING ODD. I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 0.5 MILE. I CONTACTED THE AUTO SHOP THAT REPLACED THE VALVE AND WAS TOLD IT DID NOT SOUND LIKE IT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT WAS FIXED BUT TO LET HIM KNOW AFTER I HAD ANOTHER SHOP LOOK AT IT (SINCE I WAS 1.5 HRS AWAY). I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TRUCK, ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, I STARTED THE ENGINE SO MY FATHER COULD LISTEN TO THE ENGINE AND MY ENGINE REVVED TO 7000 RPM JUST TURNING IT ON. IT WAS IN PARK AT THE TIME. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT OFF AND DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO START IT AGAIN. UPON THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER'S ARRIVAL, I EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED EACH TIME. HE STARTED THE CAR, REVERSED IT, PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN A THIRD TIME WHILE IN DRIVE. HE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND LOADED IT ONTO THE TRUCK. UPON INVESTIGATING ANY CAUSES, HE TOLD ME HE CLEANED OUT THE THROTTLE AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE. HE TEST DROVE IT SEVERAL TIMES AND SAID THERE IS NO INDICATION OF THE PROBLEM HAPPENING AGAIN BUT OF COURSE CANNOT GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS IS CLEARLY AN INDICATION THAT THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE FIXED AND NOONE CAN TELL ME WHETHER ITS SAFE TO DRIVE OR NOT. I'M SCARED FOR MY OWN SAKE AND FOR THE SAKE OF MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN. I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR ANOTHER INCIDENT MAY OCCUR. *TR

WIFE WAS DRIVING ELANTRA, MADE HARD BRAKE FOR RED LIGHT. CONTROL ARM FAILED RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, APPROXIMATE SPEED AT FAILURE WAS 35 MPH. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT RESULTED FROM THIS INCIDENT, TOTAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 800. RESEARCHED ISSUE AND LEARNED THERE IS A RECALL OUT FOR 2001-2003 ELANTRA CONTROL ARMS, HOWEVER NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL OR HEARD ABOUT IT. LOCAL MECHANIC AND DEALERSHIP BOTH CONFIRMED SEVERE RUST THROUGH OF CONTROL ARMS. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN NC AND NOT SUBJECT TO SALT, CONTROL ARMS RUSTED THROUGH ANYWAYS. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE PUBLICIZED BEFORE MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM HIGH SPEED CONTROL ARM FAILURE. I HAVE RESEARCHED ISSUE ONLINE AND BELIEVE THAT MANY ELANTRA FATAL CRASHES ATTRIBUTED TO "DRIVER ERROR" ACTUALLY RESULTED FROM CONTROL ARM FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE AN UNKNOWN CABLE WITHIN THE ONE OF THE FRONT SEATS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS LATER THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THIS WAS NOT A KNOWN FAILURE AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

I WAS DRIVING 11 MILES TO THE AIRPORT, INVOLVING 8 MILES OF 60 MPH FREEWAY DRIVING; THE REST WAS CITY DRIVING, 25-45 MPH WITH SEVERAL STOPS. AFTER I STOPPED AT THE SECURITY GATE AND PROCEEDED FORWARD, I HEARD A LOUD CRUNCHING THUD ON THE FRONT END; THE CAR SCREECHED TO A HALT; AND I THOUGHT I COLLIDED WITH A CONCRETE BLOCK OR A DEEP POTHOLE. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS TURNED NEARLY 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT, WHILE THE LEFT WHEEL WAS STRAIGHT. THE DRIVE SHAFT AND TIE ROD WERE HOLDING THE WHEEL ON THE CAR, BUT THE MAIN STRUCTURAL COMPONENT OF THE RIGHT FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED, APPARENTLY BECAUSE OF RUST AND CORROSION. MY CAR WAS PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTING THE PARKING LOT ENTRANCE AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. I INFORMED THE AIRPORT POLICE OF THE INCIDENT AND PROMISED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED OFF THE LOT WHEN I COMPLETED MY 3-HOUR SHIFT. I MET THE AIRPORT POLICE AND THE AAA TOW DRIVER AT 1:45 AM. THE BROKEN FRONT END MADE TOWING VERY DIFFICULT, AND SOME BODY DAMAGE RESULTED FROM THE WHEEL WELL AND FENDER RESTING ON THE TIRE IN TRANSIT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE AAA SHOP AT 2AM. I RESEARCHED THE FRONT END FAILURE ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A PRODUCT RECALL ON THE FAILED PART. I CALLED 800-633-5151 AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRONT END COULD HAVE KILLED ME, IF IT HAPPENED 5 MINUTES SOONER, SO I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT. I WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER AND ADVISED TO HAVE THE HYUNDAI DEALER INSPECT THE DAMAGE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT I WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT SAID IT WAS VERY LIKELY THAT HYUNDAI WOULD REPAIR THE CAR BASED ON "GOOD WILL." THE RECALL EXCLUDED NEBRASKA CARS, ALTHOUGH IT WAS PURCHASED IN MO AND DRIVEN TO WORK DAILY IN IOWA. MY LIFE WAS PLACED IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE I WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOPEFULLY, HYUNDAI WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTING AN OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS DEFECT FOUND IN ALL 2003 ELANTRAS. *TR

2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMERS STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM HYUNDAI AND TEN DAYS LATER, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS WITHIN THE VEHICLE.