IllustrationWHILE DRIVING, ACCIDENT OCCURRED. FRONTAL IMPACT INTO THE REAR OF A UTILITY VEHICLE, SPEED 35MPH, ONE INJURY, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, VAND EHICLE DAMAGE BEING ESTIMATED. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
1994 Hyundai Elantra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Elantra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 76 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports2 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
76 reportsBRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN 8 MONTHS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 62,000 MILES. INSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE FAILED TWICE.
UPON STARTING VEHICLE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED FOR NO REASON, CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
DRIVER'S AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO STAY ON. DEALER REPLACE AIRBAG MODULE, BUT PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. REFER TO RECALL #95V101000. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 25 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE HEATER FOGS UP THE VEHICLE AND EMITS A BAD ODER WHEN ON.
THE PISTONS ARE CRACKED, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE OWNER HAS NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK
ELECTRICALLY SYSTEM OVER CHARGE, CAUSING THE AIR FLOW SENSOR AND ECU TO BURN OUT.
GOING 35MPH DOWN STEEP GRADE, STARTED TO APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW UP; RIGHT TIRE LOCKED UP & THEN LEFT LOCKED. STARTED TRUNNIG WHEEL; TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKES, BUT WHEELS STILL LOCKED. VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW UP. HIT GUARDRAIL HEADON & DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TOWED TO DEALER & TOLD COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK
REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, EITHER GETTING INTO VEHICLE OR OUT OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE FOR SAME PROBLEM & INFORMED IT'S THE DOOR HANDLE EACH TIME. HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Official recalls
295V101000 · Air Bags:frontal
May 24, 1995
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED AND COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE FROM INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE MIGHT PREVENT THE AIR BAG FROM ACTIVATING DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO DETERMINE IF IT CONTAINS A TERMINAL HOLDER. IF IT DOES NOT, ONE WILL BE INSTALLED.
94V090000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator
May 11, 1994
IN SOME VEHICLES, THE MANUFACTURER'S PROTECTIVE INTERNAL COATING OF THE ELECTRONIC CRANK ANGLE SENSOR DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT AT HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURES. THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ENGINE STALLING HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH IF IT OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE SENSOR IS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL, AND REPLACE ANY SENSOR FOUND WITH THE DEFECTIVE INTERNAL COATING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2SQ96017 · Rear Suspension Failure
Opened Nov 22, 1996 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Structure
ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CANADIAN RECALL.FURTHERMORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS OPENED TO EVALUATE HYUNDAI'S RATIONAL FOR NOT CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE THE UNITE STATES POPULATION.
PE95060 · Scissor Jack Failure
Opened Dec 9, 1995 · Closed Mar 21, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/screw/bottle Jack/lift
There is no summary currently available