10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,144 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Hyundai Elantra steering problems

steering problem

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2001 Hyundai Elantra Owner Comments

problem #17

Jul 182018

Elantra

  • 185,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

All 4 brakes started to randomly lock up. I was driving and had to run it almost a 1/2 mile for a shoulder to pull over at. Upon stopping, the brakes were smoking all around the car and the front driver side actually caught flame. I'm guessing brake booster is the cause. Also front control arms are almost rusted through. The cars been well maintained and has around 185,000 miles on it. Has valve cover leak into spark plug port on cylinder 3 and has a very weak clutch that sometimes slips.

- Union, MO, USA

problem #16

Feb 172016

Elantra

  • miles
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While accelerating from a complete stop, the transmission began to jerk and the steering wheel seized for a brief moment. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- Kerrville, TX, USA

problem #15

Sep 252013

Elantra

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving 15 mph attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle kept driving forward. The vehicle was taken to dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

- Pikeville , KY, USA

problem #14

Feb 272013

Elantra 4-cyl

  • 99,400 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was exiting off of the parkway to the right traveling approx. 25- 30 mph when I lost control of the vehicles steering causing me to crash into the curb of the median. Resulting in both of the front tires to blow out and pushing the wheel on the drivers side back into the wheel well. The control arm was broken when we looked at the damage after. The vehicle which is a 2001 Hyundai Elantra had to be towed. Also the airbags did not deploy. I am looking into this recall for that vehicle. Mileage at time was 99,400.

- Salem, OR, USA

problem #13

Jun 042002

Elantra

  • 24,000 miles
Car shimmies really bad at 35 miles an hour replaced front brakes and rotors front struts tie rod ends both inner and outer to no avail I am sick of putting money in this piece of junk.

- Pottsville, PA, USA

problem #12

Apr 032011

Elantra

  • 121,900 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 09V125000 (suspension: Front: Control arm). When leaving the dealer, he noticed that there was a leak coming from the vehicle and an abnormal oil odor. He then inspected under his vehicle and saw that the power steering line had rusted. The dealer was then contacted and they advised him that the steering was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired for the steering. The failure and current mileage was approximately 121,900.

- Mont Peliar , VT, USA

problem #11

Sep 042010

Elantra

  • 138,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 25 mph, the steering became uncontrollable and the wheel began moving right to left. The contact was able to regain control and coasted to the side of the road; when she inspected, she saw that both front tires were turn inward. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the wheel bearings, power steering, struts and lug nuts needed to be replaced. The manufacturer had not been notified. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

- North Versailles , PA, USA

problem #10

Feb 222010

Elantra

  • miles
I have received a motor vehicle recall notice under Hyundai campaign number 091. I called to schedule an appointment and asked for a loaner car as I can not afford one. I cannot miss work and do not have money for health insurance, much less a rental car. I spoke to Hyundai motor America and they said that they would not provide a rental car. My office is twenty miles from the dealership. The recall notice warns of an increased "risk of a vehicle crash without warning". I am concerned for my safety.

- Valley Park, MO, USA

problem #9

Sep 212009

Elantra

  • 88,000 miles
Front lower control arm rusted through and caused loss of steering and an accident.

- Lakewood, NJ, USA

problem #8

Aug 242009

Elantra

  • 99,000 miles
While driving with my infant granddaughter I hit the brakes to avoid hitting a deer. I was going 35-40 miles and hour and the whole control arm in the front of my 2001 Hyundai Elantra snapped. It was all rusted out. I did some research and discovered this is a safety recall which I was never notified about. There are 26 other cars at the dealership with the same problem. We could have been killed had I been on the highway!! Hyundai failed to properly notify consumers of such a dangerous situation. I also had to have my car flatbed towed an hour away to the nearest dealership at my own expense where I am still waiting for the parts to come in from Hyundai. No eta on that. Hyundai wouldn't pay for a rental until I threatened to contact the media and the BBB. Two days later, I was approved for a rental. I still feel that this needs to be made aware to the public so anyone else driving this vehicle knows to get the repairs done so you don't get stranded at night or almost killed like we did!!

- Copake, NY, USA

problem #7

May 082006

Elantra

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While driving approximately 30 mph, the brake pedal extended to the floor when it was depressed. The brakes were pumped several times before the vehicle came to a complete stop. A small amount of smoke appeared underneath the hood. The air bag and engine warning lights illuminated intermittently on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact exerted more effort to turn the steering wheel as if there were no power steering. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they replaced the power steering hose. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 98,000.

- Hyde Park, MA, USA

problem #6

Jun 152003

Elantra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,694 miles
It is back at earnhardts, for the elec. System again 4th time. It started in 3/02 and went out again last fri. 6/6/03 but they don't consider it a problem. Because I filed a lemon law on the previous accent and replaced it with the Elantra 2001 and I filled out a survey saying they had bad customer service, the normal use of a rental while they fixed it for days was not granted. I am so upset I spent a day out in the AZ sun waiting for a tow of 205 miles to the next dealership and they tell me I have a bad record with them and don't deserve the courtesy of a rental car. This is my second hyndai and I have had nothing but trouble with it and the dealership. I have sent letters to the attorney general, three on my side, hyndai and earnhardts dealership. I want out of this car and don't feel safe in it any more. I was going down the salt river canyon (if you are not from AZ picture going down the twisting road to the grand canyon) without any power steering, brakes and trying to keep control of the car with kids in it. And they tell me I shouldn't be excited! 1 1/2 hrs in the sun waiting for the tow, the next dealership 200 mi away, no rental cars authorized, so my husband has to drive up and get me (198) miles from my house and go back so he could be at work in 3 hrs. No sleep for him. The dates are 3, 4, 6 of 2002 and now 6/6/03. The mileage is 27,694. The cost is theirs because it has the 100,000 warranty. Just the mental and physical anguish and inconvience of another car that won't work right now.

- Apache Junction, AZ, USA

problem #5

Sep 152001

Elantra

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,847 miles
After 1 1/2 months of driving this brand new car I began having problems with the steering. The car would wonder in different directions on the road and freeway. I also had steering wheel shimmy. They have aligned my car at least five times on different occasions and forced balanced the car twice to no avail. In March of 2003 an independent service evaluated my car and found both tie rod ends (outers)were extremely lose and needed to be replaced. Because of the faulty rods both the front tires are now cupped on the outer edges and the dealership refuses to replace them. Hyundai performed the work and the problems got a little better, but have since gotten worse again. I am so fed up with this car and need help! I have filed complaint with Hyundai customer service, but the problems still exist!

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #4

Feb 202004

Elantra

  • miles
The steering wheel vibrates over 60-65 mph and stops at higher speeds. The vechicle also pulls to the right. I have the original tires and have had my car since new. I have had wheel alignments, tire rotations and all tires balanced. The pulling gradually returned as did the vibration on the steering wheel. Dealer says that it can't fix it.

- Livermore, CA, USA

problem #3

May 232003

Elantra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100 miles
ODI id number : 10010329 ODI id number : 10016373 please add me to the list of Hyundai Elantra owners who have severe steering wheel shake at speeds above 60 mph and Hyundai has no idea how to correct the trouble. This has occurred since the vehicle was new and numerous attempts to fix the trouble have been fruitless. Unfortunately the problem is getting worse with mileage until the steering or tires are going to fall off at 65 mph.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #2

Sep 012001

Elantra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 500 miles
Steering wheel vibration and shimmy since new. Takes place only at speeds above sixty miles per hour. Hyundai is aware of the problem and has not offered an actual solution to the problem as of yet. Numerous other Hyundai owners have the same complaint.

- Oak Forest, IL, USA

problem #1

Apr 022003

(reported on)

Elantra

  • miles
The steering wheel made a loud noise.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

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